What is gonna happen if I don't change my rotors????

[sportyaccordy]

I recently changed my pads... one of them was worn to the point that it was actually grinding on the rotor. I drove it for maybe 2 miles just to get to a shop and have the work done.

I also noticed my rotors have little ribs in them. The brakes work alright now, though on hard stops I can really smell the pads cooking.

In any case, do I have to change the rotors immediately???

[VTEC_Inside]

You don't have to, but those rotors are going to eat up your new pads until they conform.

I've done it before. Just ended up having to replace the pads again when I finally got new rotors.

[Soup DeVille]

I recently changed my pads... one of them was worn to the point that it was actually grinding on the rotor. I drove it for maybe 2 miles just to get to a shop and have the work done.

I also noticed my rotors have little ribs in them. The brakes work alright now, though on hard stops I can really smell the pads cooking.

In any case, do I have to change the rotors immediately???

Just have them turned.

[280Z Turbo]

Little ribs?

I hope you're not driving on the vanes.

[Secret Chimp]

If the Maxima doesn't have retarded rotor-sandwiched-inside-of-impossible-to-get-off-hub-assembly brakes like 97-and-below Accords do, just go for it. Replacement rotors aren't too expensive if you don't go all fancy-pants.

[280Z Turbo]

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brakes.jsp?&make=Brembo&model=Replacement+Rotor&group=Replacement+Rotor&autoMake=Nissan&autoModel=Altima+SE&autoYear=1999&autoModClar=&perfCode=P

$53 a piece from tirerack for high quality Brembos.

I'd go for it.

[S204STi]

The Brembos are great.  My wife's focus used to warp rotors if you looked at them funny, but not once I put those on.

[VTEC_Inside]

The Brembos are great.  My wife's focus used to warp rotors if you looked at them funny, but not once I put those on.

Likewise on my Accord. ALWAYS had warped rotors on that thing until I put a set of those Brembo rotors on.

[S204STi]

Oh and BTW Sporty, usually only cheap shit pads smell like they're burning when you bed them in.

[Middle_Path]

Just have them turned.

[L. ed foote]

Just have them turned.

The guys @ the shop'll probably try to sell him new ones.

[sportyaccordy]

I was gonna splurge on Hawk HPs + Brembo Blanks but some medical bills have put car stuff to a screeching halt (no pun intended )

[280Z Turbo]

I was gonna splurge on Hawk HPs + Brembo Blanks but some medical bills have put car stuff to a screeching halt (no pun intended )

You don't need Hawk HP's. Those are pretty harsh, from what I understand. I'd just get metal masters.

[Soup DeVille]

The guys @ the shop'll probably try to sell him new ones.

And they'll probably say stupid shit like "Ooh, looks like you got them a little hot."

Of course I got them hot, pepboy jr., they're frikkin' brakes!

Just tell them to turn them.

[Secret Chimp]

And they'll probably say stupid shit like "Ooh, looks like you got them a little hot."

Of course I got them hot, pepboy jr., they're frikkin' brakes!

Just tell them to turn them.

He'll tell him they're warped and that you can't turn warped rotors because they're already warped and if you turn something that's warped it'll warp again.

[Soup DeVille]

He'll tell him they're warped and that you can't turn warped rotors because they're already warped and if you turn something that's warped it'll warp again.

Yeah, I've heard that too, which is again bullshit because I've done it for years.

[BimmerM3]

Yeah, I've heard that too, which is again bullshit because I've done it for years.

I'd imagine that it makes it more susceptible to warping since it's the same rotor, only thinner.

[Soup DeVille]

I'd imagine that it makes it more susceptible to warping since it's the same rotor, only thinner.

Probably, but it'll take a while to do so anyways, so if you can opt for the $20 resurface rather than the $100 rotor and get half the service life, well, there you go.

[Secret Chimp]

I just got a good PROTIP from Miata.net - NAPA rotors are just unbranded Brembo blanks, apparently.

[omicron]

You will get chlamydia and die.

[rohan]

Likewise on my Accord. ALWAYS had warped rotors on that thing until I put a set of those Brembo rotors on.

Our department uses Brembo OEM rotors and Hawk ceramic pads- they are amazing.  One question though- past practice is that anytime they have to change pads they buy new rotors as well because I'm told the alloys in the newer rotors won't take resurfacing well-- any truth to that?  If not and the rotors aren't warped is there any real need to replace "good" rotors- and remember it's on police cars.  I'm trying to figure out if we're wasting money on new rotors every pad replacement.

[S204STi]

Our department uses Brembo OEM rotors and Hawk ceramic pads- they are amazing.  One question though- past practice is that anytime they have to change pads they buy new rotors as well because I'm told the alloys in the newer rotors won't take resurfacing well-- any truth to that?  If not and the rotors aren't warped is there any real need to replace "good" rotors- and remember it's on police cars.  I'm trying to figure out if we're wasting money on new rotors every pad replacement.

I don't think they really know what they're talking about if they claim the rotor surface has an "alloy" that doesn't take to resurfacing well.  The disc is almost always cast iron, but there are many cars that utilize an aluminum "hat".  That part isn't being touched though, so I don't think there is any reason to believe that.

[AutobahnSHO]

Seems to me anyone saying you HAVE to buy new rotors when the old ones are real thick just wants your $$.

Real technical, I know, but the thing is, it's just pads squeezing a piece of metal. As long as that piece of metal is still thick enough it won't matter WHAT it's made of yada yada

But yeah, resurface for new pads since the little (sometimes invisible) grooves will tear up the new pads otherwise...

[rohan]

The guys who do our basic maintainance stuff are state certified county mechanics- so they say- I don't think they're trying to sell anything just for money but who knows they may be buying the parts from some relatives store.  Let me ask this would Ford Chevy and Dodge be recommending this on their patrol cars?  We currently have all three and are tryign to switch over to all Chargers over the next 4 replacement cycles.  Maybe I should track down manuals for each and see what they say- or should I call someone for that info?  I'ld like to not have to buy these parts if I don't need to because it comes right out of my patrol budget- and it gets pretty pricy pretty quickly- any idea where I can go online to get some ammo on this?  Appreciate the help fellas.

[Soup DeVille]

There's usually a minimum allowable thickness for the rotors either stamped on the edges of the rotors themselves or listed in the shop manual. That's the only definite stat that I know of. The other guidelines are more of a judgement call kind of thing: and mind you, I'm not claiming the mechanics recommending replacement of warped rotors are trying to bilk anybody: most likely they are doing what they've been taught to do.

[Soup DeVille]

I don't think they really know what they're talking about if they claim the rotor surface has an "alloy" that doesn't take to resurfacing well.  The disc is almost always cast iron, but there are many cars that utilize an aluminum "hat".  That part isn't being touched though, so I don't think there is any reason to believe that.

The rotors may be of a harder grade of iron than most OEM cast iron discs. If that's so, its probaably because that rotors will chew up the tool steel cutter on their brake lathe and they don't want to (or don't knoow they can- mechanics are not usually machinists) buy a higher grade cobalt or high carbon steel cutter.

[S204STi]

The rotors may be of a harder grade of iron than most OEM cast iron discs. If that's so, its probaably because that rotors will chew up the tool steel cutter on their brake lathe and they don't want to (or don't knoow they can- mechanics are not usually machinists) buy a higher grade cobalt or high carbon steel cutter.

This is certainly a valid theory. 

[r0tor]

I just got a good PROTIP from Miata.net - NAPA rotors are just unbranded Brembo blanks, apparently.

My father got some extremely nice rotors from Napa for an extremely good price.  The were the "premium" ones and I was skeptical at first but when I saw them in person I approved very much so.  I'm fairly certain they were actually from Performance Disc Australia because they are the only ones with the crazy venting.  http://www.dba.com.au/kanga_paw_design.asp

oh, and sometimes pad manufacturers like to recommend new rotors or a turning between pad changes because of sometimes mixing of different brake compunds on the rotors can hurt performance

[rohan]

This is certainly a valid theory. 

So are they right- or are they wrong?  We're getting ready to do our fourth quarter budget planning in the next week or so and having that info might come in handy.

[Soup DeVille]

So are they right- or are they wrong?  We're getting ready to do our fourth quarter budget planning in the next week or so and having that info might come in handy.

What I said is just what I think might be: I don't have any proof of that.

I just don't see any other reason why the rotors shouldn't be turned.