Stick with Balo rotors or try new Bosch QuietCast

[glenmore]

I have changed rotors several times on my w202s and w124 and have always used Balo. They have always worked well with no issues and seemed to be high quality.

Noticed the parts sellers are now offering Bosch QuietCast rotors for a substantial savings (fronts $63 vs $38). If the pictures are an accurate indication, the Bosch don't have the machined look like with Balos or Zimmermans.

Any feedback on these Bosch rotors? Nice to see that most rotors available now are coated.

[oldsinner111]

My next rotors will be chilled in lquid nitrogen to stabilize the metal then turned.

[mbdoc]

Stick with OE MB rotors from dealer OR you can try Zimmermann

[Hirnbeiss]

Putting Bosch rotors on my VW next week. Will post if there are any concerns. I just put Bosch pads on the W210 front, after 40K or more of ceramics there. No issues so far.

[pawoSD]

The Bosch QuietCast are from CHINA. Stick with Zimmerman or ATE Premium, or OEM dealer.

[uberwgn]

Originally Posted by glenmore

I have changed rotors several times on my w202s and w124 and have always used Balo. They have always worked well with no issues and seemed to be high quality.

And you have answered your own question!


I'll use BALO when available.

[Hirnbeiss]

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The Bosch QuietCast are from CHINA. Stick with Zimmerman or ATE Premium, or OEM dealer.

No, the Bosch rotors on my VW are from ITALY, and the pads are from Mexico. I was expecting them to be from China, too. See also this: QuietCast

I go with Zimmermann discs on the MB. I just put the coated ones on, and they make a grinding noise for the first few minutes until the coating is worn off.

[Volker]

Originally Posted by oldsinner111

My next rotors will be chilled in lquid nitrogen to stabilize the metal then turned.

Don't you "stabilize" in hot temperatures not cold?

Maybe if you heated them and then dropped them in the nitrogen (quenched) but even then probably will crack

[ps2cho]

Balo (OE), ATE or Zimmerman. They are the safe bets every time. I wouldn't pick Brembo over any of the aforementioned...lots of good reviews, but some bad too -- you will seldom find a bad review on Balo, ATE or Zimmerman.

[glenmore]

So I went the cheapy route with my front brakes and rotors. The Bosch QuietCast rotors are from Italy and the Bosch pads were from Mexico.

The Bosch rotors are coated and I can see where this would help in getting them off next time. The inner well is coated and I think this is where a rotor typically rusts itself onto the hub, making it difficult to get off.

Quality and fitment look good. On a quick test drive, they were nice and quiet.

First photo shows the parts. MBZ calls for caliper bolts to be replaced with each rotor change. They also call for the pivot bolts to be changed also but I forgot to get them.

Second pic shows the little cut outs in the rotors to measure wear.

Third photo shows old rotor with substantial lip. This is after 2 sets of pads, about 60m.

[oldsinner111]

thats the new thing now,GM froze the bores on their diesel,and it stabilizes the metal.We had hardened bearing (roller) grow a 1/32 before shipping.these bearings were heat treated and quenched,and ground to size.
Metal is some strange stuff.
I'm happy with my replacement rotors,that and using ceramic pads,for a year,no ground off metal.No warpage either.
so any way with the bearing we started freezing them.

[Ferdman]

glenmore, the pictured cutouts in the rotor are for balance purposes AFAIK.

[glenmore]

Originally Posted by Ferdman

glenmore, the pictured cutouts in the rotor are for balance purposes AFAIK.

Ha! I thought those were the minimum thickness indicators!

[Ferdman]

glenmore, as mentioned previously best to buy genuine MB rotors.