Napa 11-3/4" brake rotor issue, FYI

[Duodec]

I picked up a pair of the Napa 4885579 brake rotors on their sale this week (Napa online, 20% off and free shipping); they just arrived.

The website pics look correct, and show the reinforcing ribs inside the hub between each stud head, but the actual disks only have one pair of those ribs; the other four locations look just like the early unreinforced disks.  I contacted them to get an explanation  (probably chinese foundry finding another way to cheapen the product) but FYI, be on the lookout for yet another degraded product.

[moreparts]

I had a similar issue when I was doing my front 11 inch drums.  The max diameter on the drums was at the same internal diameter the new drums were already at.  After doing a lot of shopping I found some Raybestos that actually had the meat for turning when the time came.

[Duodec]

Having fun with Raybestos also, boxes marked made in USA that have components inside that are made in china

[Katfish]

I can't make out any details through the plastic?
What exactly is the issue?

[HP2]

In original form and in the article espousing the use of these rotors, it highlight all the reinforcing ribs on the inner hub as a highly desirable feature to have. Somehow, this rotor only has one set of reinforcements instead of five.

IMO, don't worry about it. These reinforcements were the result of supporting police spec requirements of continuous , sever, heavy duty use without always consistent maintenance. I sincerely doubt any of us ever drive these cars hard enough to necessitate this need. I would also add in my experience running B bodies in oval track, I never, ever, broke a rotor from around the hub where these ribs reside.

[moreparts]

Having fun with Raybestos also, boxes marked made in USA that have components inside that are made in china

I knew that going in.  Not a lot I can do though unless I want to carve some out of mahogany.  Sadly, nearly everything is from China these days.  And worse, with the drums I bought they were starting to not even carry those in that size.

[Duodec]

Glad to hear that @HP2 but the ribs were added in response to problems with hub separation on the earliest unicast rotors, not just police spec; they were applied across the line within a few years and you know the beancounters wouldn't let that happen if it wasn't necessary.

Yeah, my car will lead a more pampered life once its back on the road than it did when I was a teenager but seeing something like this raises significant qualms.  Seriously, had they removed all of the ribs it would be more logical; the only thing I can see about this is a foundry making an error or jerking with the specifications; coming from china anything is possible.  Either way I'm pursuing this with Napa.

@Katfish the attached image is what the Napa website shows and what should be expected on these rotors; sorry about the plastic but you can see that only one set of ribs is present on the rotors I received...

[Katfish]

I get it now, thx for the pic

[Duodec]

Well after several days of email tag I called Napa yesterday and was able to make the issue clear to the call taker.  Unfortunately as far as Napa is concerned, this isn't a problem, its just the way their supplier is supplying rotors now.  They have no explanation for the change.  They are going to take them back however, and I'll try to find some that are closer to expected.   

They are making me ship them back instead of just going to a local Napa, but did send a UPS label.  Acceptable customer service at least but Napa used to be my most trusted 'normal' parts store. 

A little bummed because I got these on the Fathers Day sale at a good price.