

| Subject: | Rotor thoughts |
| From: | Kim Brennan |
| Date: | Mon, 16 Aug 2004 14:53:58 -0400 |
Okay, let's give this some thought about Rotors. They are made out of steel (not iron). Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon (often times with a few other miscellaneous additives). Steel (and Iron) will oxidize (rust), given exposure to Oxygen. Certain factors will accelarate this rusting such as salt. What can be done to minimize this rusting? Well the typical solutions are to coat the material so as to prevent exposure to Oxygen. This is impractical (paint) or unsafe (oil/grease) with brake rotors. Brake rotors are an ablative surface...i.e. it intentionally wears as it is used. This removes the rust from the wear surface. it does nothing on the other surfaces. Other ways to prevent rusting are to make the rotor out of non-rusting materials. Stainless steel is not a good choice as it's thermal characterics are horrible (it would warp or crack far too quickly.) Porsche has ceramic rotors. Incredibly expensive. Also somewhat fragile. Eric says his rotors are poorly manufactured. Most listees with experience find this a doubtful statement. It is not impossible however. Until or unless there is photographic evidence and micrometer measurements to support this, the rest of us will likely never know.
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