Brake disc types: pros and cons of each one

Brake discs, for many people that great mystery within the car’s braking system. Today we will show you what types exist and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

We all know the basic function of brake discs. A caliper pushes one or more brake pads against the disc, causing friction on it, and the rotation slows down its speed and ultimately stops the car.

However, although all brake discs follow this same operating principle, the components used during the process can improve or worsen the result.

Below, we will look at what types of brake discs exist, what features each one offers, and which is best:

Solid

It is the simplest type of brake disc you can buy. As its name implies, its structure consists of a solid metal block, usually iron. The problem with these discs is that they are not the best at withstanding heat…

Vented (ventilated)

These are probably the most common type of brake disc sold on modern cars. Their design includes air channels that dissipate heat better thanks to improved ventilation, allowing the heat to escape. This also helps prevent them from cracking due to heat and extends their service life. Over the years, these discs have evolved in design to allow even better ventilation.

Drilled (perforated)

When a brake pad is close to wearing out, it releases gases and particles, preventing that pad from touching the disc. In this type of brake disc, holes are made to give the gas a way to escape, while also reducing the weight of this part. However, in the process, the rotor is compromised.

The disc acts as a heat sink, so the use of holes can make this task harder by concentrating heat more intensely in certain areas. In addition, the holes can act as stress points, which can lead to the disc breaking during very hard braking. In any case, brake pads no longer produce as much gas as before, so the use of drilled brake discs has declined.

Still, you will most likely not run into these problems on the road, and this is why drilled brake discs are so common on many sports cars today: they also look great as a design, and with new materials they can be made very strong to prevent breakage should it ever occur.

Slotted / Grooved (slotted and grooved)

This slotted design tries to solve the same problem in a different way.
The slots or grooves on the disc surface allow gases to escape with additional benefits. The “scraping” action of the slots can clean the pad, and the edges of the grooves increase friction, although all of this comes at the expense of the pad type used. And of course, there is also the fact that these brake discs look amazing behind the wheels.
Slotted brake disc designs vary, but the most distinctive is the “jhook” shown above, which is designed to offer the same properties we have discussed, with the interesting addition of reducing vibrations. And let’s be honest, it has a great design.

Dimpled (dimples)

Here is another option for getting rid of those gases. The surface only has perforations in a small part, leaving the disc’s structural integrity intact while also giving the gases a place to escape.
The dimples are combined with grooves on some discs, and sometimes you will see discs with holes combined with slots. As for their appearance, this is not one of my favorites.

Waved (wavy)

Waved brake discs have been available for many years, especially in the motorcycle world. Audi began introducing this type of brake to some of its faster cars a few years ago. The main advantages of this type of brake disc are a weight reduction and better heat dissipation. Without a doubt, the design of these discs is among the most attractive in my opinion, which will surely motivate many people to buy them.

Carbon ceramic (carbon-ceramic)

The best option for fighting heat is carbon-ceramic brake discs, and at the same time, they are the most expensive. Carbon-ceramic material is much more resistant to heat and is much less likely to crack or deform under high stress, for example, in sporty driving conditions. In addition, this type of brake disc is much lighter than its metal counterparts.
The main reason they are not as common as the rest, despite being the best option of all, is, of course, their price. As an example, carbon-ceramic brake discs for an old Audi RS3 cost 5000€ each. And of course, don’t forget you will also need specific pads for this type of disc, which will drive the price up even further.

And with this we conclude our tour of the different brake discs available on the market. We hope the information has been useful to you, and now that you know everything about them, which one would you choose?