Budget NAPA Rotors for C4 Rear are not made in Canada
04-13-2006, 09:57 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Budget NAPA Rotors for C4 Rear are not made in Canada
Many posts about the budget C5 rotors have stated that they are
cast in Canada and finished in McHenry IL all under the banner of
United Brake Parts Company (UBC), the parent company of Raybestos.
This is not the case for the budget C4 rotors NAPA sells under the
TruStop lable in Canada, these boxes are marked 'Made in China'.
A check at Napaonline.com shows three grades of rotors for C4s
P/N 4885996 is the one made in China. I don't know but I suspect
that 85996 may be a domestic version of the same rotor.
At first glance P/N 4885996 appears to be well made. One rotor
weighs roughly 14 lbs. I will try to check the balance before
installing them but as they stand, I don't have any issues with
using them. I'm going to order a set of the 85996 and take pictures
of both for future reference.
.
cast in Canada and finished in McHenry IL all under the banner of
United Brake Parts Company (UBC), the parent company of Raybestos.
This is not the case for the budget C4 rotors NAPA sells under the
TruStop lable in Canada, these boxes are marked 'Made in China'.
A check at Napaonline.com shows three grades of rotors for C4s
P/N 4885996 is the one made in China. I don't know but I suspect
that 85996 may be a domestic version of the same rotor.
At first glance P/N 4885996 appears to be well made. One rotor
weighs roughly 14 lbs. I will try to check the balance before
installing them but as they stand, I don't have any issues with
using them. I'm going to order a set of the 85996 and take pictures
of both for future reference.
.
04-13-2006, 10:48 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
When I had my C4 I got a set of the high perf rotors from NAPA. I beleive the part number is the PR85996. They are drilled and slotted. Made by Raybestos. If it is the same one. Clean of the oil, sand the hats, and spray paint them while brand new. The hats rust in a heartbeat. I ran the front ones just for looks when I had the sawblades off and open spoke wheels on. I still have an almost new front pair sitting in my garage somewhere...
04-14-2006, 09:08 AM
#4
Team Owner
I had been ordering rotors for my 87 autocross car through the shop where I work and had been getting the generic "white box" rotors for a great price and none of them said "made in China" or Taiwan or anything like that.
I got a pair of Brembo front replacement rotors last time and they had Made In Canada cast into them. No heavier than the generic ones but the finish did look better.
I wonder if the difference between the C4 and C5 rotors is due to demand of those particular designs? Maybe more are sold of one kind than another?
It could also be that Raybestos has to contract out orders for large quantities of rotors because they provide rotors for packaging under other brand names and no single plant can handle all of it.
Sometimes we get the "white box" rotors in for cars and the small box label says a product of Raybestos Corporation on it but if we order rotors specificially by the Raybestos brand name, they come in a multi-color box with the Raybestos design and logo all over it.
I got a pair of Brembo front replacement rotors last time and they had Made In Canada cast into them. No heavier than the generic ones but the finish did look better.
I wonder if the difference between the C4 and C5 rotors is due to demand of those particular designs? Maybe more are sold of one kind than another?
It could also be that Raybestos has to contract out orders for large quantities of rotors because they provide rotors for packaging under other brand names and no single plant can handle all of it.
Sometimes we get the "white box" rotors in for cars and the small box label says a product of Raybestos Corporation on it but if we order rotors specificially by the Raybestos brand name, they come in a multi-color box with the Raybestos design and logo all over it.
04-14-2006, 09:40 AM
#6
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
On these rotors, the TruStop label on the side has 'Made In' along
the bottom edge and nothing below. The bottom edge of the label
was loose so I checked to see whether it had folded up underneath
- nope. The white box itself is prominently imprinted with the origin
on one of the top flaps - right underneath the Purolator shipping tags.
I know what you are saying about demand for the generations but
the thought occurs to me that demographics might reverse the trend.
(How can I say this in a PC way that doesn't alienate either crowd?)
While the word is out among C5 track rats, as a group, C4 owners
might be more likely to shop NAPA these days.
AU_N_EGL pointed out some time ago that UBC has rotor operations
in several places around the globe, including China. So it is possible
these are made under their auspices. Business sensitivity to
consumer sentiment may drive the decisions about what gets sold
where. Canada has a long established history of trade with China.
Interesting to read that the bargain rotors are less prone to cracking.
I also noted NAPA's comment about the 2nd-tier rotors anti-noise
qualities. I don't hear well and the pads I use are somewhat noisy
anyway, so squeal isn't really a criteria here, either.
.
the bottom edge and nothing below. The bottom edge of the label
was loose so I checked to see whether it had folded up underneath
- nope. The white box itself is prominently imprinted with the origin
on one of the top flaps - right underneath the Purolator shipping tags.
I know what you are saying about demand for the generations but
the thought occurs to me that demographics might reverse the trend.
(How can I say this in a PC way that doesn't alienate either crowd?)
While the word is out among C5 track rats, as a group, C4 owners
might be more likely to shop NAPA these days.
AU_N_EGL pointed out some time ago that UBC has rotor operations
in several places around the globe, including China. So it is possible
these are made under their auspices. Business sensitivity to
consumer sentiment may drive the decisions about what gets sold
where. Canada has a long established history of trade with China.
Interesting to read that the bargain rotors are less prone to cracking.
I also noted NAPA's comment about the 2nd-tier rotors anti-noise
qualities. I don't hear well and the pads I use are somewhat noisy
anyway, so squeal isn't really a criteria here, either.
.
04-14-2006, 01:39 PM
#7
Drifting
I just ordered a set of All Safe brand rotors from RockAuto.com. They were $16 each & were drop shipped from McHenry, IL. The rears have "Canada, 211129-C, Min Thk. .964" cast into the backside. As far as I know these are the same as the Raybestos rotors I got from them last year for $25 each. I have a NAPA rotor on the back of the car right now, and I believe that had "Canada" on the inside too. The OEM rotors have "Made in Brazil" cast into them.
They all crack equally well.
They all crack equally well.
