Where should I buy Rotors and Drums?

Usually there is nothing wrong with MADE IN CHINA parts. America is full of "hip-hop crowd putting neon on their hoopties" who think that answering a telephone or preparing a cappuccino constitutes manual labor, so you are going to have a tough time finding MADE IN USA parts. Look around and you might find HECHO EN MEXICO or FABRIQUÉ EN CANADA. :o(

Earle

Honestly, I had a service manager at a car dealer tell me that rotors are pretty much rotors unless you're buying something cross-drilled or something.

That service manager would be way off then... factory rotors went to ultra-lightweight composite material rotors right after the EPA fuel economy mandates. Automotive manufacturers lightened everything possible, including our brakes and brake rotors. The lighter weight composite rotors are far less able to withstand heat and are thus very prone to warping.

For that reason, aftermarket all-cast rotors are popular and a very good investment... these are what used to be used on vehicles. My first rotor replacement was to an all-cast design which holds up very well.

So there are very real differences in factory and aftermarket rotors, if you know what to ask for. Which reminds me, few sales clerks in auto parts stores know the difference between composite and cast rotors and will likely give you a blank stare if you ask for cast rotors... as happened again recently to me when I had to buy new rotors while installing new larger diameter front manual hubs on my TJ.

Jerry

-- Jerry Bransford To email, remove 'me' from my email address KC6TAY, PP-ASEL See the Geezer Jeep at

The Warn manual hubs have a larger hub diameter, too large for a standard rotor to fit over. So I had to have the center hole for the rotors turned to a larger inside diameter to fit over the new Warn hubs.

Jerry

-- Jerry Bransford To email, remove 'me' from my email address KC6TAY, PP-ASEL See the Geezer Jeep at

Oh, I thought you might have gone from the small Warn hubs that fit stock Wrangler wheels, to the larger hubs that fit CJ wheels. Do you have any thoughts on that? I am going to go to Warn hubs sooner or later, and I don't want to have to buy new hubs twice...

Earle

Well if anyone is interested PepBoys sells Raybestos rotors that are made in USA and drums that are made in Canada. Was 62K a reasonable amount of milage to get on the factory stuff? (one pad change)