Rotor/Brake Pad Wear Opinions

[Swifty1638]

tlc= tender lovin care! Anyway, where are you getting this from?

The reason people machine their brakes is so that they can get the rotors to last longer. When machining brakes, you are turning the rotors in a lathe. This lathe has a diamond tip (about 80 bucks to replace) that scrapes your rotors. It basically gives you a fresh surface to drive with. Also, a lathe can fix a warped rotor (when you get a pulsation in the brake pedul under braking). Those are the main reasons to machine the rotors. Now, there is a minimum thickness that a rotor can be. Every shop should have a book with the specs for each make and model to turn each rotor to. If you machine it past that point, then the rotor looses rigidity, and starts flaking apart. Pads are usually always replaced when you turn your rotors. You cannot turn these. Also, it's most likely more cost-effective to just replace the rotors and pads when you pressed-on rotors. That's because you will need to replace the bearing in the middle. The rotor is pressed onto the hub itself, and those bearings don't usually last when they are punched out to remove the rotor from the hub. So, clifnotes: machine rotors = longer life, safer braking. If not pressed on rotors, it's also mroe cost-effective. Anything else?

-A. Swift

[MATCHBX]

Most cars do not have pressed on rotors. Most slip over the hub. There are some very unique ones out there though that do. DSM's don't have pressed on hubs. Older cars with from disk brakes were one piece where you would have to take off the nut that held the bearings in and slide the rotor off of the spindle.

If your rotor is warped, 9 times out of 10 they can not be machined and stay within spec. It is more time efficient to just replace the rotors. But more cost effective to have them machined. It usually costs around $8-10 per rotor to have them turned. But the prices of most rotors are so cheap now that it's better to just replace them.

The minimum spec is also cast into every rotor. Although, with as much rust that gets into the non-friction areas, you usually can't read it anyways.