FSportIS

iTrader: (13)

Based on several good reviews and members' recommendations, I have purchased ceramic Akebono brake pads instead of the OEM because of less dust, more quiet, and similar performance.

I'm now considering the brake rotors to go with these pads. After reading several reviews throughout various car forums. I narrow my search down to the following:
1. Centric blanks.
2. Stoptech drilled and slotted rotors. Cryo version is also considered.
3. R1 Concepts drilled and slotted rotors.
4. Adams double slotted rotors.

Please and please don't go into the discussion about how bad drilled rotors is because that is not the main concern of my post. I already drilled is for look only. I know that

My IS350 is a daily driver with occasional autocrosses and track events. My priority is less dust and noise on street driving, and more brake fade resistance on tracks.

RangerJoe

iTrader: (1)

If you track your car, go for blanks. I ran centric high carbon front and normal centric blanks on the rear. Make sure your pads are appropriate and you're good.

For the street, get what looks good to you that's in your price range. Anything name brand should be perfectly fine.

FSportIS

iTrader: (13)

Aren't slotted better than blanks for track because of better cooling capacity?

For name brand, what are your opinions on Stoptech, R1 Concepts, Adams...??

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

Stoptech or PowerSlot slotted rotors.

I'd also recommend having a dedicated set of "track" pads, if you want a good track pad but less dust for DD'ing. Perhaps EBC Yellows or Carbotech?

Sportskid1

iTrader: (1)

I do about 6 track days a year on my IS350 and I run StopTech slotted rotors and EBC Yellowstuff pads. I really like the stoptech rotors. I have about 12 track days on them and about 15K street miles and they have held up very well. I think I will have to replace them after my next track day. The EBC yellowstuff pads were good when I was just starting out but now that I am getting more aggressive on the track I get a lot of fade with them. They are very quiet on the street but do dust a lot. All in all a very good day to day pad minus the dust. I am thinking my next go around I might have to go with a dedicated set of track pads (Carbotech or Raybestos ST-43)

As far as your options the Akebono pads are not anywhere close to track pads. They might be fine for a beginner but will fade very quickly once you start pushing in. Great street pads though. Sadly I have not found a good pad that works at the track and street. As for rotors there is nothing wrong with a good quality blank (Centric high carbon or premium). Just don't get cheap rotors and you will be fine street or track. Slotted rotors do help cool and deglase the pads and can be helpful once you get good on the track. For the amateur track guy you will not notice a difference though. Plus with slotted rotors you can expect more dust and about 30% less life from your pads. They do look cool though. Drilled rotors are for looks only and can crack at the track once you push them. From your options above I would recommend the Stoptechs or Adams depending on which one you can get cheaper.

TheLoyolan

I don't believe that cross-drilled rotors are bad and can crack. If that's the case, why do high end auto manufacturers offer cross-drilled rotors on their top-line performance cars? Think M3, Z06. Cross-drilled rotors are lighter and dissipate heat much quicker than blanks. They also dissipate water faster and more efficient than blanks for superior wet weather performance. If the rotor cracks it is most likely from poor manufacturing practices or extreme performance, a blank rotor can suffer the same failures if exposed to those same conditions. Before my IS I owned a full size V8 truck (Tundra) and I upgraded to cross-drilled + slotted brakes at all four corners and believe me they were far superior to the stock blanks. I replaced the stock rotors at 100k miles due to severe wear (mostly the front, you could snowboard of that lip at the edge), and when I sold the truck at 165K the cross-drilled rotors had barely begun to show any lip.

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

^I think people make their own assumptions from seeing a few pictures floating around the net of cracking cross-drilled rotors. I believe they have their place, but I'd much rather stick with slotted or blanks for DD'ing and track use.

I personally ran drilled and slotted Brembo rotors on my Mitsu 10 years ago; never had a problem.

Sportskid1

iTrader: (1)

TheLoyolan I agree with your point for cars that are street driven or lightly tracked from time to time. Drilled rotors are fine and do have their benefits. For a car that is heavily tracked drilled rotors are not desirable as the holes create stress points in the rotor and are the first place to crack after numerous significant thermal cycles. If you go to the track 95% of those M3's and ZO6's with OEM drilled rotors have been replaces with slotted rotors. There are exceptions to this in very high end drilled rotors that are cast with the holes already in place (ie they do not drill the holes in after the rotors are cast as most cheap rotors are). These are generally seen on very high end sports cars or any car with carbon ceramic rotors but you will not find them any where the $200 price range.

TheLoyolan

I see. That makes sense. I did not know that about the carbon ceramic rotors cast with the holes already in place.

FSportIS

iTrader: (13)

Thank you everyone with your recommendation.

It seems like Stoptech is the brand to go to. Second is the drilled and slotted rotors. As a driver kid, not sport kid yet , I do more autocross (~3 a year) and track (once a year) and most of the time it is on the street so I guess it will be fine.

Here are some additional questions:
1. I also see there is the "Cryo" version with the Stoptech rotors which essentially makes the rotors even more stronger and last longer. Is it worth the extra $20/ rotor??
2. Can someone give me the part numbers (front and rear) for Stoptech drilled and slotted rotors on 2007 IS350 (assumed USA version since bought in USA)? Different vendors give me different part numbers and they were saying some rotors are for Canadian IS which would not work on USA IS. I want to make sure it fits before I buy lol. Thanks.

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

Here's some helpful info on cryo-treating to help you could to your own informed decision :

https://www.frozenrotors.com/help-su...ake-rotor-faq/

ELexis

Understand this to be older post however, am reviewing the same parts for possible installation and thought I'd provide the part numbers to assist others that may be interested (2006 - 2015 IS 350);
SLOTTED:
126.44137SR Stop Tech Front right slotted vented rotor
126.44138SL Stop Tech Front left slotted vented rotor
126.44141SL Stop Tech Rear Left slotted vented rotor
126.44141SR Stop Tech Rear right slotted vented rotor
DRILLED:
128.44137R Stop Tech Front right Sport Drilled Disc
128.44138L Stop Tech Front left Sport Drilled Disc
128.44141L Stop Tech Rear left Sport Drilled Disc
128.44141R Stop Tech Rear right Sport Drilled Disc
BLANK:
125.44170 Centric 125 series Front Left U.S., High Carbon alloy brake rotor (334mm / 13.1")
125.44171 Centric 125 series Front Right U.S., High Carbon alloy brake rotor (334mm / 13.1")
120.44141 Centric 125 series Rear U.S, premium rotors with an Electrocoating finish (310mm / 12.2")
125.44137 Centric 125 series Front Right Canada, High Carbon alloy brake rotor (334mm / 13.1")
125.44138 Centric 125 series Front Left Canada, High Carbon alloy brake rotor (334mm / 13.1")
120.44141 Centric 125 series Rear Canada, premium rotors with an Electrocoating finish (310mm / 12.2")
906.44013 Centric Disc brake upgrade kit, Canada (Included front / rear brake pads with shims & front / rear brake rotors) Front Pack - 909.44009 - (1 x 104.11180 Pads - 1 x 125.44138 and 1 x 120.44137 Discs), Rear Pack - 909.44511 - (1 x 104.11130 Pads and 2 x 120.44141 Discs)