Recommendations for long lasting rotors?

[plastermaster]

I've read a lot of posts about pad wear but not much on rotors. I've heard that a lot of the German cars design their rotors to not outlast their pads. I assume this could be attributed to the steel used, or they could be thin to begin with so that they wear to minimum allowed thickness sooner than a thicker rotor.

I have not carefully measured mine, but the lip on the edge of my rotors appear to be about 1mm per side which is getting close to needing replacement, while my pads are only about 35-40% worn.

When I do need to replace I would like to get the most life I can out of them. Heat management isn't an issue as I am pretty easy on my brakes. My spirited driving is more about the gas pedal than the brakes.

Any experience to be shared on rotors that wear significantly better than OEM for the MK7 would be appreciated!

 

[BigLips19]

If you buy rotors through FCP Euro or ECS you can use their lifetime replacement policy.....you gotta pay to mail em back but that's still worth it to me

 

[scrllock]

I've read a lot of posts about pad wear but not much on rotors. I've heard that a lot of the German cars design their rotors to not outlast their pads. I assume this could be attributed to the steel used, or they could be thin to begin with so that they wear to minimum allowed thickness sooner than a thicker rotor.

I have not carefully measured mine, but the lip on the edge of my rotors appear to be about 1mm per side which is getting close to needing replacement, while my pads are only about 35-40% worn.

When I do need to replace I would like to get the most life I can out of them. Heat management isn't an issue as I am pretty easy on my brakes. My spirited driving is more about the gas pedal than the brakes.

Any experience to be shared on rotors that wear significantly better than OEM for the MK7 would be appreciated!

If you are just after rotor life, OEM is hard to beat. They're already generally high-carbon alloys and QC is usually better than aftermarket. Tolerances do affect run-out, which reduces rotor life.
The reason behind rotors not lasting as long is because German OEMs spec their brake pads for cold bite and high friction for safer autobahn driving, as well as avoiding squeal. Classic pick two problem: friction, noise, wear.

If you are particularly easy on the brakes, you're ironically wearing your rotors faster, since your pads are probably spending less time at temp. If you just want your rotors to last longer, switch to ceramic/NAO pads and/or brake harder but for less time.
As far as rotors themselves, I like the Brembo coated blanks. Pretty cheap, high quality, easy to source. Zimmerman is also popular if you're into mailing rotors back to FCP.

 

[plastermaster]

Thanks scllock. I reached out to FPC and they also recommended OEM, but didn't address my question as to why my rotors are wearing faster than my pads. I appreciate you answering that. Looks like its not that the rotors are inferior, but more that the pads are long lasting. I'll check my rotors this week and order new if needed, and go with ceramic pads.

 

[Salami]

I have a 2019 R that I bought with 7200 miles on it. The dust from the front OE pads drove me nuts along with grabiness I experienced almost every time I lightly to moderately applied the brakes. There was already a noticeable lip on the original rotors.

At 11k miles I changed the front rotors to Zimmerman blanks and changed the pads to ATE ceramic. Dust is significantly less and braking I found to be much easier to modulate. I am currently at 53k miles. I have not measured rotor thickness but there is absolutely no lip at all on either rotor.

From my experience I would suggest to get a good rotor (OE or other) and good ceramic pads.

 

[scrllock]

Thanks scllock. I reached out to FPC and they also recommended OEM, but didn't address my question as to why my rotors are wearing faster than my pads. I appreciate you answering that. Looks like its not that the rotors are inferior, but more that the pads are long lasting. I'll check my rotors this week and order new if needed, and go with ceramic pads.

Wouldn't even call them long-lasting really, just a bit more aggressive than domestic people might be used to. It's a common complaint, along with dust. Personally I can't stand how ceramic pads feel but I'm sure they'll help your issue.

 

[salvatore_calzone]

I was conned into trying ceramic pads from posts on this forum and other sites and I’ll never buy them again. all I see is “low dust!” and never “the brakes are absolute ass now” lol. never again.

 

[jay745]

I was conned into trying ceramic pads from posts on this forum and other sites and I’ll never buy them again. all I see is “low dust!” and never “the brakes are absolute ass now” lol. never again.

Lol seems wild to me that people care so much about dust as well. Normally people upgrade brakes to make them perform better, not to make them crappy with low dust but here we are on the golf forums

 

[JerseyDrew77]

Lol seems wild to me that people care so much about dust as well. Normally people upgrade brakes to make them perform better, not to make them crappy with low dust but here we are on the golf forums

Yeah, I never understood that. The majority of people are more concerned about the dust than the performance of the pad.

 

[Salami]

Lol seems wild to me that people care so much about dust as well. Normally people upgrade brakes to make them perform better, not to make them crappy with low dust but here we are on the golf forums

Yeah, I never understood that. The majority of people are more concerned about the dust than the performance of the pad.

Spoken by the only two people on the forum with because racecars on jack stands!

 

[scrllock]

Spoken by the only two people on the forum with because racecars on jack stands!

I'd be offended but my car isn't on jackstands just yet.

 

[jay745]

Spoken by the only two people on the forum who dont grandma drive

Fixed

 

[jay745]

Also my car isn't on stands

 

[plastermaster]

I think we can all agree ceramic pads aren't the choice for optimum stopping power. For me, as long as they can activate ABS, I'm fine with them, and less dust than OEM would be appreciated. My original pads had 8mm front and 7 rear at 65000 miles, 10K miles ago. My rotors are more of a concern with about a mm lip on the outside. The face of the disc is very grooved (like a vinyl record but deeper) compared to vids I have watched on changing pads and rotors. I noticed this shortly after buying the car new. Maybe some sand got worked between the pads and rotors?

 

[JerseyDrew77]

Spoken by the only two people on the forum with because racecars on jack stands!

Pssh... Jack stands are for peasants. My car isn't even on any lifts right now, it's sitting in my garage.