Unfortunately, the best rotors for towing are not a luxury when dealing with tricky roads and towing. Why? Because towing strains your vehicle's braking system.
Just as you want to care for your exhaust system, you want to ensure that you're taking good care of your braking system. Therefore, you want to ensure that your truck's best brake rotors are functioning properly.
The best brake pads also influence your vehicle's performance and functionality. In previous times, brake pads were often made from carbon fiber material.
Thankfully, this has changed, and today's brake pads are more equipped to handle the stresses and properties of towing. A common material being used today is ceramic, thanks to its quiet nature. We'll help you get the best rotors for towing so that you can focus on other important tasks at hand.
What Is A Rotor?
If your vehicle uses disk brakes, the rotors are these discs. The rotors are found inside each wheel and spin at the same pace as your wheels. The brake pads compress around these rotors and stop or slow down your vehicle when you want to brake.
You'll need to replace your rotors after every 50,000 - 80,000 miles. This is less frequent than you'll need to replace your brake pads, often after about 10,000 - 20,000 miles.
You'll need to replace your cool brake pads more frequently because the frictional material that aids in braking wears out faster than the rotor material.
Now that you know a bit about brake rotors and brake pads let's dive into the best brake rotors for you.
Which are the best rotors for towing?
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Best Rotors for Towing
1. Power Stop K2069-36 Z36 Truck & Tow Front Brake Kit - Best Overall
Sale
Power Stop K2069-36 Z36 Truck & Tow Front Brake Kit
- Proprietary Carbon-Fiber Ceramic Materials Enhance The Strength...
- Low Dust Braking Validated Through On-Vehicle 3Rd Party Tests In...
- Drilled & Slotted Performance Rotors For Maximum Cooling
- Includes Stainless Steel Installation Hardware And High...
We begin with an option that will give you a complete setup for your tow truck. This truck and tow front brake kit come with brake pads and rotors. Talk about a complete brake kit.
The only drawback is that this brake kit was manufactured for the front of your vehicle. However, this is a thought-out design because front wear is more common than rear wear.
Nonetheless, this brake kit is designed to handle the weights of towing, making it the best option. In addition, this brake kit doesn't lead to ambient vibrations and is designed to generate very little dust.
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The brake pads are also superior to your typical ceramic brake pads because they are made from Carbon-Fiber Ceramic materials.
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2. ACDelco Silver 18A1412A Rear Disc Brake Rotor - Best Budget
ACDelco Silver 18A1412A Rear Disc Brake Rotor
- Manufactured with multiple alloys for improved heat dissipation...
- Mill-balanced for proper rotor function; no extra weights are...
- Quality validated for proper metallurgy and correct brake plate...
- Rounded radius for added strength. Rotor Diameter- 13 inch. Rotor...
- Some ACDelco Silver parts may have formerly appeared as ACDelco...
This rear disc brake rotor is made to give you superior stopping power. This is especially important when you're towing because it ensures stability.
Affordable and created to give you efficient heat dissipation, you won't have to worry much about frequently replacing your rotor due to overheating causes. These best rotors for towing are designed using multiple alloys for better performance.
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You won't need any extra weights because these brake rotors are mill-balanced for incredible rotor function. In addition, the rounded radius adds to the strength of these rotors.
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3. ACDelco Advantage 18A1705AC Coated Brake Rotor - Best Reliability
ACDelco Advantage 18A1705AC Coated Front Disc Brake Rotor
- Fits: Escalade 07-20; Escalade EXT 07-13; XTS 13-19; Avalanche...
- Mill-balanced for proper rotor function; no extra weights needed
- Quality validated for proper metallurgy and correct brake plate...
- Rounded radius for added strength
If you want reliable and durable braking power, this is the rotor for you. Tested for quality and safety, you can be sure that you're getting a quality product to use with your brake pads.
Another thing that makes this rotor outstanding is that it comes with a baked-on coating that minimizes brake pulsation. In addition to minimized brake pulsation, this rotor comes with superior rust protection.
Image Source: celebritycarsblog.com
Just like our previous option, this rotor is made with multiple alloys for efficient heat dissipation. Therefore, you won't have any problem braking even in extreme temperatures.
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4. Power Stop Brake Pads & Slotted Brake Rotors Kit - Best Braking Power
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Power Stop K6562 Rear Z23 Carbon Fiber Brake Pads with Drilled & Slotted Brake Rotors Kit
- Custom-matched components are engineered to work together for...
- Z23 Carbon-Fiber ceramic formula ensures dust-free braking...
- Premium rubberized shims provide virtually noise-free braking.
- Drilled & Slotted performance rotors for maximum cooling.
- Includes premium stainless steel hardware kit and ceramic brake...
Here's another brake kit that will allow you to replace your brake system in one go. Thanks to the drill holes in these best brake pads, you're assured of superior braking power.
Another thing that makes these brake pads and rotors the best is that they are made from high-quality components. The drill holes on the rotors also ensure that any gas or debris is removed from the surface.
Image Source: powerstop.com
You can say goodbye to worrying about dust or corrosion with these ceramic brake pads and high-quality rotors.
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5. Centric 120.40072 Premium Brake Rotor - Best Efficiency
Centric 120.40072 Premium Brake Rotor
- Package Dimensions: 34.036 L x 33.528 W x 6.096 H (centimetres)
- Package Weight: 15.3 pounds
- Country of Origin : China
- Included components: Kit
- Fit type: Vehicle Specific
Even the best brake pads can let you down if you don't have an efficient rotor. Luckily, you don't have to worry even a little about that with this rotor.
These premium brake rotors have a solid design that ensures you get the maximum efficiency that rotors have to offer. In addition to efficiency, you also get stability and durability.
Image Source: Amazon.com
This tow brake kit also comes with a powder-coated surface to ensure that no rusting or corrosion takes place. Therefore, if you live in areas that receive heavy snowfall and thus get heavily salted, you know that you can rely on this kit and your new brake pads.
The cross-hatching design gives you a better stopping power as you haul the other vehicle. Something that you very much need.
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What Should You Consider As You Choose the Best Rotor for Towing?
Compatibility
Before we even look at the quality and all those other important factors, we have to ensure that the rotor you choose is compatible with your truck.
Before settling on the best pick above, ensure that the specifications align with your truck. You don't want to invest in a good quality rotor and ceramic brake pads only to find that they are useless.
Once you've ensured that they are compatible, you can now move to these other factors.
Type of Rotor
There are various kinds of rotors. Some of these include smooth and drilled, and slotted rotors. Therefore, you need to decide on the best rotor for your truck and choose it. The truth is that the choice comes down to a personal preference.
All of these various types of rotors have their advantages and disadvantages. Nonetheless, there are some that are more common than others.
For example, the drilled and slotted one seems to be a popular one for most people. The reason is that this type of rotor combines the benefits of slotted and cross-drilled rotors.
Some of the advantages include keeping the temperature down as you brake and ensuring that gas and debris are removed from the surface.
Although smooth rotors are not as popular, they are amazing while driving under normal conditions. Therefore, if heat dissipation is not a priority and you drive on normal and good roads, you can consider the smooth rotors.
Another advantage of the smooth rotors is that it doesn't crack as often as the drilled and slotted options. Therefore, the option for the type of rotor you want comes down to what suits you best.
Coated Vs. Uncoated
Coated rotors are obviously more advantageous than their uncoated counterparts because they offer extra protection. The coat often protects the surface of the rotor from rust and corrosion.
The result is that your rotor will last longer and service you better. Another advantage is that your rotor will look cleaner. Two of the most common coatings include zinc dichromate and silver-zinc dichromate.
For the uncoated rotors, the only advantage is that they are cheaper. However, if you think about the fact that you may have to replace the rotor sooner than if you had a coated one, you find that it's actually not as cost-effective as it seems.
Nonetheless, if you are thinking of getting a good budget option, you can get an uncoated rotor.
Front Vs. Rear Rotor
When we were looking at the options above, we mentioned rear and front rotors. Therefore, as you choose the one you want to replace, ensure that you choose the right one.
More often than not, the front rotors and ceramic pads may wear faster than the rear ones. Nonetheless, ensure that you're getting the rotors and new brake pads for the right wheels.
Now that we've looked at rotors let's look at some brake pads.
What Are the Different Types of Brake Pads?
What brings about the difference in brake pads? The difference is brought about by how the friction material or lining is attached to the brake pad.
Let's look at the two common ways that these linings are attached before we dive into the types.
a). Riveting
For riveted brake pads, the friction material is attached to the brake pad using copper or aluminum rivets.
Most of the semi-metallic pads are riveted. The working mechanism of riveted pads is that the flexing between the brake pad and the lining absorbs noise and vibration.
This is partly what makes this technique popular when attaching the friction material.
b). Bonding
Bonded pads are very durable but are not as flexible as riveted ones. Bonding is a method of attaching the lining using a high-strength adhesive.
This adhesive can withstand high temperatures resulting from braking.
Now that we know how these brake pads work let's look at a few types of brake pads.
Ceramic Brake Pads
The one thing to note when dealing with ceramic brake pads is that they aren't compatible with all vehicles. Therefore, as you choose the pads you want for your truck, ensure that they are compatible.
An advantage of ceramic brake pads for towing is that they are quiet. Ceramic brake pads are made of dense ceramic and embedded copper fibers. These fibers help to reduce friction and allow for heat conductivity.
Another thing to note with ceramic brake pads is that they don't absorb heat very well. Therefore, you may find that you are replacing other parts of your brake system faster.
Semi-Metallic Brake Pads
These pads are also called metallic brake pads. This type of cool brake pad is made from iron, steel, copper, and composite alloys.
You can use this type of brake pad in any weather. This is because this brake pad conducts heat very well. Therefore, you can relax when it comes to other braking system components.
You won't have to replace the other components of your braking system as often as you would when using ceramic pads.
However, the disadvantage of these brake pads is that they have is that they are noisier than the ceramic options and produce more brake dust. Therefore, you may have to clean your wheels more often. Nonetheless, they are cheaper than most ceramic brake pads.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Rotors for Towing
What are drilled and slotted rotors?
These are brake rotors with slots and holes in them. Drilled and slotted rotors are made to evacuate any brake dust and moisture generated during braking.
These drilled and slotted rotors also ensure the cooling of your brake disc. Even as you consider the best brake pads, keep in mind that drilled and slotted rotors aid in superior brake performance by increasing the contact friction.
What are the best brake pads to use for towing?
The best brake pads for towing are the ones that are most compatible with your towing truck. The brake pads you choose should also have high levels of friction to ensure stability.
Other properties to look out for include less vibration, more heat control and less dust production.