• Cross-drilled rotors dissipate heat more effectively than stock rotors.brake image by Jan Will from Fotolia.com
  
  Rotors are the components in the brake system that are squeezed by the caliper and the brake pad when the brake pedal is applied, thereby slowing the vehicle. There are several types of rotors, all of which provide varying levels of performance. Cross-drilled rotors are considered an upgrade over normal rotors, since they dissipate heat better and provide more consistent braking when used repeatedly. They are also slightly lighter than rotors that are not cross-drilled. However, cross-drilled rotors have also been known to crack around the holes. Cross-drilled rotors are a common upgrade on high performance cars.
  
  

Cross-drilled Rotors

• The most basic cross-drilled rotor is a rotor that has simply been cross-drilled across the surface with which the brake pad makes contact, for increased heat dissipation. These are the most inexpensive of the cross-drilled rotors because they do not have additional cooling features such as venting and slotting of the rotor.
  
  

Cross-drilled and Ventilated Rotors

• Cross-drilled and ventilated rotors are brake rotors that have vents on the edge of the rotor cast into it during the manufacturing process. The vents serve the same function as cross-drilling, which is to help dissipate heat build-up more quickly. To see if a rotor is vented, look at the outer edge of it to see if there have been vents hollowed into the metal that extend into the rotor. Frequently, rotors are only vented and not cross-drilled as well, though there are rotors that are vented as well as cross-drilled.
  
  

Cross-drilled and Slotted Rotors

• Cross-drilled and slotted rotors are modified with a series of slots that are machined across the face. This helps dissipate heat and is often used in combination with cross-drilling for maximum heat dissipation. Some rotors are slotted, cross-drilled and ventilated.
  
  

Carbon and Ceramic Cross-drilled Rotors

• The ultimate in cross-drilled brake rotors are reinforced with carbon or ceramic material. These rotors are derived from motorsport applications and are used on extreme performance cars such as the Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT (and 997 Turbo, 997 GT2, etc.) and the Corvette ZR1.