I'm looking to replace my worn out front rotors and pads on my 04 2wd xlt. I've had them turned once but they are finally shot. What pads and rotors would make a good replacement? I'm looking for a step up in performance and rotor life. Thanks,
Jim

 

Depends on how much money you want to spend.

The easiest set up would be this:
StopTech Stage Kit 01-08 Ranger

I have it, and i love it. The pads are definitely better than stock, and the rotors just look cool, lol. they might help too.

 

what about rear drum brakes? If you got that stoptech kit, what would be ideal for the rear?

 

idk, i'm still running stock rear drums....but not for long. I'm building up an 8.8 to swap in which i've put 12inch vented cobra discs on, so i think i'm set there.

 

12in rotors in the rear? i hope your going to run a proportion valve. I think thats kind of overkill but itll look flippin sweet.

On Topic- I'm running stoptech rotors and axxis pads. They arent bad but they do like to glaze over if you do a lot of stop and go, but nothing 2000grit paper doesnt fix.

 

Don't need to run a proportioning valve....ABS does it for me. 12inch is only a little bit bigger than expo rears, only I'm vented and they are solid.


I'll have to look for the glazing on my rotors, I've only driven them maybe 500miles....mostly interstate driving.

 

Just go to autozone and buy some replacements...it will get the job done.

 

Or you can get some Centric rotors that are about the same price as the Duralast Rotors at autozone.

Centric Rotors

IMO I don't care what most people say but you don't really need slotted or vented rotors, non slotted and vented gives you more surface area to stop. Unless your a rally car, or indy/ nascar racer you don't really need them. But that just me. I'm going to upgrade to Centric rotors and pads for my next brake job.

 

But when you throw on big tires raise the center of gravity and use your truck to pull. They get hot quick. Hence the reason for the drilled and slotted rotors. Theres guys on here that praise theres.

 

Slotted...yes

Drilled...no

 

Iv always wondered what the diffrence was fill me in bama!

 

Drilled...

Pros-None that I can think of...
Cons-Less metal to dissipate heat, potential for warping or cracking is greater due to the holes being drilled in giving you a sort of connect the dots crack. Sure it saves a tiny bit of weight, BUT, it also lowers the surface area of usable rotor for the pad to grab. Longer stopping distances then a slotted rotor.

Slotted...

Pros-More material equals better heat dissipation. The slots direct water away from the rotor during wet conditions. Less potential for warping and cracking.

Cons-None that I can think of.

 

Yea and depends on what you use your truck for. Towing, Offroading. I am running 33" tires and no there not 35" or 38" but I still find non vented rotors to do a good job. The only time I would see them over heat is when towing a load and going down hill a lot.

Well then I guess I learned something new today. I figured the vented ones would be like the slotted ones, less surface area. I have never tried the vented ones, but if stoptech made them for the explorer rear then I would give it a go.

 

From what I understand...the basic rundown on surface area is this.

Solid- 100%(obviously)
Vented- 92%
Drilled- 85-87%

 

Wait, you do know the difference between vented and slotted rotors right?
I don't think anybody makes vented rotors for expo rears. I know they make upgrade kits to run cobra vented rotors (like i did, but for my ranger 8.8)

 

can you just run those rotors and not bother with those pads and brake fluid??

 

I'm running slotted rotors on my Expo rear, with the regular fluid and Centric Posi-Quiet pads, and it work very well. Need to upgrade the front to Cobra 13" Brakes now.

 

Sure why not? But why not switch to it because you bought it already?

I didn't put in the brake fluid, but i did do the pads and rotors. I definitely noticed an improvement over stock (that is why you're buying them after all).

My brother has them on his truck, it has 35inch tires, and he said he noticed a good improvement in braking too.

 

Hmm think this might be my next mod when my brakes go