brake rotor materials

[Christopher Chow]

I hear motorcycle units are typically 420 stainless steel (true?) but cast iron is better.

We have access to a laser cutter. Our past experience with steel brake rotors were in our Mini-Baja cars which had a rear steel rotor.

Are there benefits of (trying to)find cast iron rotors that are cheap and fit, or would it be better to have laser cut steel rotors that are the 'perfect size/mounting'.

So far we have choosen a rotor size of about 10" x 3/16" thick. Calipers, either Dynalite Single, or something similar in size.

http://i18.ebayimg.com/02/i/02/3e/27/0f_1_b.JPG

thanks for any input,
Christopher Chow

[Christopher Chow]

I hear motorcycle units are typically 420 stainless steel (true?) but cast iron is better.

We have access to a laser cutter. Our past experience with steel brake rotors were in our Mini-Baja cars which had a rear steel rotor.

Are there benefits of (trying to)find cast iron rotors that are cheap and fit, or would it be better to have laser cut steel rotors that are the 'perfect size/mounting'.

So far we have choosen a rotor size of about 10" x 3/16" thick. Calipers, either Dynalite Single, or something similar in size.

http://i18.ebayimg.com/02/i/02/3e/27/0f_1_b.JPG

thanks for any input,
Christopher Chow

[MikeWaggoner at UW]

You can find 10" rotors off cars that are cast iron, that you can turn down. (VW Vanagons?).

[bigfella]

You can get an aluminium composite from a dude in California that is suitable for brake rotors, but getting friction material is a bit of a hassle. Most non-asbestos friction materials are too aggressive on the ali rotors. You'd have to get the rotors waterjet cut as well, the ali is no good for lasercutting for some reason.
Cheers

[Gordon Drennan]

Lotus Elises had alloy brake rotors for a while.

[MikeWaggoner at UW]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gordon Drennan:
Lotus Elises had alloy brake rotors for a while. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Finally, a cheap and common source. (sarcasm)

[Brian Smith]

Does anyone have coments on cutting rotors from plate (3/16") as opposed to cutting rotors from huge barstock? We cut our rotors from barstock lastyear and it took forever. It would save so much work if we could cut them from plate.

It seems like the barstock would be less likely to warp because of the grain orientation. I bet plate would warp easily.

[Christopher Chow]

hmmm, interesting, we have always used plate steel (cold rolled) for our Baja rotors. =) Not the same amount of heat in tho.