Can you resurface rotors without changing pads?
And the thinner the rotor is, the faster it heats up and wears down. Rotors can usually only be resurfaced once, if at all, before they must be replaced. Ultimately, resurfacing rotors when you install new brake pads is a middle price point and a good compromise if you don’t want to spend more money on new rotors.
How often should I resurface my rotors?
Some vehicle manufacturers even require that you replace your rotors rather than resurface them. Otherwise, most industry experts suggest that you should replace them every 30-70K miles. In any case, if the rotors are beyond resurfacing, replacement is your only option.
How are brake pads changed without changing rotors?
Resurfacing involves removing a thin, microscopic layer off of the front and rear face of the brake disc or rotors. This process eliminates any grooves, pits, and residual friction material from worn brake pads and creates a smooth surface for the new brake pads to grip onto — allowing the brake pads to wear down evenly.
How can I get my brake rotors resurfaced?
The key to having the rotors resurfaced is having enough thickness to accommodate the process. The brake lathe needs to shave off enough metal to create a new surface for the brake pads to grab. So, a technician will visually inspect the rotors for signs of damage and take precise measurements to determine if there is enough material to work with.
When to replace the rotors on a car?
The time to replace rotors is when they are warped, damaged by worn pads, or ground down too thin for further resurfacing. (On some makes, a single resurfacing is all the rotors can take.) For most cars on the road, the rotors are in fine shape.
How often should you replace front brake pads?
Normally a front brake job inludes pads,and turning the rotors if necessary. Unless you live in San Francisco and this is your 4th set of pads, you do not need rotors. For those of us who keep their cars a long time, a new set of rotors once very 8 to 10 years is normal.
Resurfacing involves removing a thin, microscopic layer off of the front and rear face of the brake disc or rotors. This process eliminates any grooves, pits, and residual friction material from worn brake pads and creates a smooth surface for the new brake pads to grip onto — allowing the brake pads to wear down evenly.
The key to having the rotors resurfaced is having enough thickness to accommodate the process. The brake lathe needs to shave off enough metal to create a new surface for the brake pads to grab. So, a technician will visually inspect the rotors for signs of damage and take precise measurements to determine if there is enough material to work with.
Why do brake pads need to be resurfaced?
Along with the already mentioned and more common reasons of Gouges, Warped or being too thin there is another reason for getting them turned/resurfaced. When using some higher quality brake pads, they will tell you if you are changing from one pad compound to another (either changing brands or product lines) to use new or re-surfaced rotors.
Is it cheaper to replace rotors or resurface them?
The low price of many replacement rotors makes it easier and cheaper to simply replace the parts rather than have them resurfaced. Most technicians recommend replacing rotors as a pair. Even so, this option avoids the time and expense of resurfacing.