Brake rotors are one of the most important components that make up the braking system of your car. It contributes the most to make your vehicle come to a halt.
Thus, they should be changed every once in a while, to make sure that you remain safe on the road.
Power Stop is one of the top brands that provide you with a variety of options if you’re looking to upgrade.
This article will focus on the power stop brake rotor review to inform you of what the best options are on the market from this trustworthy company.
Before we dive right in the reviews, it’s essential that you know why you should get brake rotors for your car in the first place.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Brake Rotors
Here are some of the benefits of brake rotors that you should know about.
Halts the Car
Brake rotors are basically disc-shaped, metallic structures that are connected to the central bolt of the tires.
Whenever you need to stop your car, you press down on the brake pedal and the brake rotors take care of the rest.
What happens is that the brake calipers push the brake pads together, which in turn press onto the rotors.
This causes friction between the two surfaces and generates heat at the expense of the vehicle’s kinetic energy. Ultimately the car slows down and comes to a stop.
Makes the Brakes Smooth and Fast
Brake rotors are indispensable to the disc braking system of your car. In addition, they come with features that provide you with faster and smoother brakes.
Rotors that are made of two discs connected by a number of ribs are called vented rotors.
They excel in releasing heat energy quickly. The faster it is released, the faster the car stops.
Helps the Tires Look New
Some rotors come with specific patterns that allow them to achieve other functions. Like slotted rotors limit the dust that gets on the tires upon braking. This helps to keep the tires looking new.
Holes on the surface allows them to live longer, surviving extreme conditions. Dimples on the rotors allow for a good grip between the calipers and the rotors for a smooth brake.
Prevents Accidents
As you can see, brake rotors are a crucial part of a vehicle that uses a disc-braking system.
It provides you with a shorter braking time that can prevent accidents while extending the life of your other braking components.
Top 5 Power Stop Brake Rotor Review
As mentioned earlier, brake rotors are important. It is also essential that you choose the best one for your car. Here are a few options for you to consider.
Power Stop K6560-36 Z36 Truck & Tow Front and Rear Brake Kit
This brake rotor kit is perfect for you if your work involves towing heavy weight or you like to get away every once in a while to explore the off-road terrains.
With this kit, you won’t have to make any changes to your vehicle. It features G3000 metallurgy of highest quality and a tight tolerance for OE.
This makes it a smooth bolt-on upgrade that enables you to install the kit easily with just the use of the stainless steel hardware that comes with the product.
The disc has holes drilled through them for a quick release of heat which enables them to survive tough conditions.
Arched slots make the rotors easy to clean and help to keep their performance high.
A plating of silver-zinc dichromate keeps them sleek and shiny while protecting them from rust or corrosion.
The Z36 Truck & Tow brake pads that are included in the package, go finely with the rotors.
Made with a unique combination of ceramic and carbon fibers, they increase your stopping power in addition to resisting wear and tear.
Carbon fibers help keep your tires free of dust every time you brake and a noise-free brake is an added advantage.
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Power Stop K137 Front Brake Kit
Fitting with your car, truck, or your SUV in a lock and key manner, this one is the go-to product if you want a superior braking system for your daily transport.
Though it covers only the front wheels of your vehicle, this braking kit comes with a complete package of the rotor, brake pads, and high-quality lubricant.
The rotor is engineered to dissipate a high amount of heat through the holes drilled in them, in a small amount of time, in turn lowering the stopping period.
This quality makes the product suitable for extreme conditions.
They are also slotted to make them strong enough to withstand high pressures and temperatures without cracking. Moreover, you can clean away the dust and gasses with a wet cloth easily for an unfaltering performance.
With a plating of zinc, these rotors keep themselves free from rust and corrosion. This ensures the braking kit lasts for years to come.
The Z23 Evolution Sport braking pads that accompany these wonderful rotors, work for higher stopping power, owing to the high quality build with ceramic and carbon fibers.
While the ceramic gives you durable braking pads, the carbon fibers allow you to avoid the flying brake dusts. You can also rely on Power Stop for a quiet braking experience.
This braking kit is also really easy to install. All the installing instruments are provided with the kit, so you won’t have to break a sweat.
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ower Stop K2069-36 Z36 Truck & Tow Front Brake Kit
From the expert hands of Power Stop, comes the K2069-36 front brake kit to make exploring the mountainous terrains and towing heavy weights stress-free.
This one features top-notch G3000 metallurgy that has a fine restriction for OE and fits perfectly in your vehicle as easy as just bolting it in.
All the installing items come with the product so you won’t have to make a run for the right tools.
The kit is capable of high performance in high energy driving situations like towing a trailer or pull a heavy load on the truck or to tackle rocky roads.
While other rotors are either drilled or slotted, this one comes with a combination of both in addition to the plating of zinc and silver on the surface.
Drilled holes and slottings help to keep the temperature of the rotor low while braking and the plating help to protect against rust and corrosion. Altogether, the rotors are durable with a long life span.
To ensure a smooth braking system in any condition you put your vehicle through, a braking lubricant that can overcome the high temperature is included with the rotor and braking pads.
With high strength braking pads that contain carbon fiber infused ceramic, this package is suitable to tackle the heaviest load you haul every day.
Carbon fiber ceramic keeps the brake dust at bay, producing 30 percent less dust on average against OE. This claim is further confirmed by third party tests.
With fewer dust productions and less accumulation of gasses on the rotors due to slotting, cleaning them is a hassle-free task.
Furthermore, with cleaner rotor and pads, an uninterrupted contact on the rotors can be ensured for a reliable brake.
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Power Stop CRK3053 Coated Brake Rotor & Ceramic Brake Pads
This one fits perfectly in almost all types of vehicles. You can rely on them for a smooth, quiet, and dust-free brake in even demanding situations.
The brake rotors come with a Geomet coating that effectively prevents the rotor from giving in to rust and corrosion without hampering its performance.
This makes a great difference in improving their life span. They are built in such a way that they can be connected to your vehicle’s tires by bolting them in.
Ceramic brake pads help to increase stopping power and are engineered to resist the dust that keeps flying around when you brake.
With their double layer of rubber shims, you can opt for a quiet brake without acquiring the unwanted attention of those around you.
The carbon fiber formula along with the Geomet coating keeps your tires relatively dust-free, retaining that new car vibe for a long time.
Power Stop proves that they have your comfort in mind, by providing everything you will be needing to sustain the rotors in one package.
It includes Z17 clean ride brake pads, braking lubricant of high quality, and all hardware needed for attachment, in addition to the Geomet coated rotors.
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Power Stop K6268-36 Z36 Truck and Tow Front and Rear Brake Kit
This braking kit comes with a promise to fulfill all your needs in all conditions.
Capable of tackling weights on the heavier side of the scale in any terrain, this kit is suitable for trucks.
The rotors are engineered with drilling and slotting to keep themselves cool when things get heated up.
Rounded slottings help to keep away the dust and gasses, thus making it last.
Moreover, they are plated with silver zinc dichromate to keep them in top-notch condition so they can fight off the rust and corrosion for years to come.
This kit opts for ceramic carbon-fiber braking pads that provide you with the stopping power wherever you need it, while also surviving the most demanding situations.
The carbon fiber formula helps the tires to keep clean from braking dust and the rubber shims ensure a low level of noise to keep the peace of your surroundings.
Cast with premium G3000 metallurgy with a very limited allowance of OE, this kit ensures that you have faster and smoother braking and enjoy every ride.
All the hardware needed for installation comes with the product, so you can bolt it in yourself and avoid any extra hassle.
To keep this kit going for a long time, a high-temperature braking lubricant is included in the package as well. With this, you have everything that you possibly need.
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Features to Look for Before Buying
Now that you have read the power stop brake and rotor reviews, let’s take a look at some of the factors that you need to consider, lest you end up with a product that does not fit your car.
Manufacturer
This is the first thing you need to watch out for. A car is equipped with a braking kit to ensure your safety at all conditions.
Not all companies guarantee a braking kit with modern features that serves you with this purpose.
So you have to be mindful of which company you choose for such an essential part.
That being said, there are some reliable brands that offer you exactly what you need. It is of some relief to know that Power Stop is one of them.
This brand has been working with braking kits, bringing suitable upgrades and modifications over the years to fit your purpose.
There are, however, other worthy companies like Power sport, Max Brake, R1 concepts, etcetera, that deliver a high quality product to ensure your safety.
Rotor and Brake Pad Material
What the rotors and brake pads are made of should make the kit stronger and durable.
However, some contain substances that take the focus to a particular need.
For example, a rotor that is given a plated finish of silver and zinc has a better capacity of resisting rust and corrosion.
The rotor, in turn, will last longer. And the same goes for brake pads. They can be made of ceramic, iron, steel, or carbon fiber ceramic combination. Carbon fiber better resists rust while others do not.
You will have to know what features you want your braking kit to have and research the pros and cons of the build material of a particular product.
Only then you will be able to evaluate the product according to your suitability.
Protection Against Rust And Corrosion
These have been enemies to metals for as long as one can remember. It is of utmost importance to protect your essential metallic equipment from decaying with rust.
Look for the rotors that feature protection against rust in some way or another.
That way you will not have to keep them in check as often as you would have to with an unprotected item. They also last longer.
Rotor Design
Some rotors have a plain surface while others have certain designs. They are put there to increase their efficiency as braking kits and prolong their life.
There are drilled rotors, slotted rotors, plain rotors among others. What type you should buy depends on your purpose.
While cross-drilled rotors work better in rough terrains and with heavy loads, slotted rotors are more suitable for race tracks.
If your daily transport consists of smooth, simple, and regular driving, a simple rotor could serve your purpose.
Front, Rear or Both
Some braking kits cover both front or rear tires while others cover either the front or the back. You should keep in mind to check if they will cover the tire you need.
However, sometimes we need to replace the kit of only one tire. This somewhat retards the function of the axle.
A solution to this problem as experts recommend is to replace 2 kits at the same time.
All the 5 options mentioned above provide you with either a pair of rotors or for all four of your tires.
Types of Brake Rotors
Brake rotors, like many other objects, are of various types. They are discussed below.
Flat Rotors
Also known as blank rotors, these consist of a single, smooth disc. They are suitable for smaller cars due to their light weight, though they have sufficient stopping power.
This is ensured by the large surface area that comes into contact with the braking pads, generating more friction.
They are also susceptible to damage due to the accumulation of byproducts like dust and gasses.
Vented Rotors
When two discs are connected by bars, they are called vented rotors. The main advantage is faster heat release which allows the rotors to keep themselves cool in heavy-duty driving.
They are less likely to crack under high temperatures as a result and have a prolonged life span. A heavy weight makes them suitable for hauling or towing jobs.
Cross-Drilled Rotors
This type has small holes drilled throughout the disc. These holes allow excess heat to escape along with some other waste products.
Through this property of quick heat release, they increase their longevity and are mostly used for heavy-duty driving and in rough and wet roads.
With some material taken out of the disc, they have a reduced tolerance to heat and are vulnerable to breakage under high temperatures.
Slotted Rotors
The discs have grooves that enable quicker heat dissipation in addition to resisting the accumulation of brake dust and gasses.
They can withstand high temperatures and are suitable for the race tracks, heavy loads, and rough terrains.
Combination of Slotted and Drilled
These provide supreme braking performance as the rotors consist of both drilled holes and slots. They can keep cool in demanding situations, without a crack.
Slots also enable them to avoid dust and waste gasses.
Dimpled Rotors
This type is given incomplete holes, unlike the cross-drilled ones. Though it has a reduced capability of staying cool, it is more durable than the one with complete holes.
How to Install It?
Power Stop braking kits feature a bolt-in installation. With all the hardware supplied, you can do it yourself by following some steps.
When you have gathered all the necessary tools, follow the steps mentioned below and you’re good to go.
Step One: Raise Your Car
The first thing that you have to do is to make sure that the car is securely parked.
Place a brick or a block of wood or concrete behind the tires of the other side so that they don’t move when its raised.
Work on the lug screws. Don’t remove them completely, just give them a few turns so that they can be removed easily later.
Now, use your jack and jack stand to raise your car and support it to keep it that way.
Step Two: Remove the Tires
Remove the bolts and screws that you have loosened before and take the tire out.
You can use the tire for additional support as a safety precaution, in case the jack stand is broken.
Step Three: Take Out All the Components
Start with the bolts of the calipers. Remove them and carefully place the caliper in the wheel to keep it safe.
Then remove the brake pads and clean the area where the pads were in contact with the calipers.
With a mallet to make the rotor loose, take it out and determine its thickness.
Step Four: Clean and Replace
When you have all the components set aside, evaluate their state. Replace the ones that are damaged and clean the other components like brake pads and calipers with a wire brush to prevent rust.
The rotors can be cleaned with mild soapy water and a cloth. Try to give it a sandpaper finish to make sure that all the debris is removed.
Step Five: Install the Cleaned and Replaced Components
With the brake lubricant, lubricate the edges of the brake pads and other areas as required. This will help to prevent noisy braking.
Start with the rotor and calipers. Fix them to the wheel hub following the process in which you loosened them.
When they are in place, fix the brake pads and tighten the bolts and screws.
It is recommended to press the pads backward to allow room for movement of the rotor.
Step Six: Return the Car to the Ground
Remove all the air bubbles via the process of brake bleeding. When you are done, put the tires in place, aligning the bolts and screw them in.
Use the jack again to lower your car and when it is back on the ground, tighten the screws. Put aside all your instruments and you are ready to take your car for a ride.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though they have a little allowance for OE, they make their products compatible as they have to work with other OE equipment in your vehicle.
Dimpled Rotors have a lower chance of cracking in high temperatures, though they lack in heat dissipation.
Drilled rotors, in that sense, is more durable, but can crack when temperatures rise.
A rotor that is both drilled and slotted serves daily drivers best. That way, they can keep their cool in most conditions and resist dust and debris for a cleaner look.
No, it can’t. Power Stop rotors and brake pads come in the size required by the vehicle to ensure optimum safety.
This can be determined by measuring the lowest thickness of the rotors.
The point of minimum thickness is indicated on the rotor surface and is usually the point where the pads come in contact with the rotors.
Use a micrometer to measure the thickness and if it’s lower than it should be, its time to get a new one.
Final Words
If you have come this far down the article, you know everything that you need to know about rotors, including Power Stop brake rotor reviews and how they keep you safe.
So how about getting the much needed braking kit and install it over the weekend for a safe and sound ride?