How often should rotors be resurfaced?
As a general rule of thumb, most rotors need to be resurfaced every other time that your brake pads are replaced. However, in some vehicles, the thin rotors are used to keep weight down, such as in most luxury sports cars. These cars need to have their rotors replaced every time the brake pads are replaced.
How often do brake rotors need to be replaced?
Like brake pads, brake rotors don’t last forever. The rotors wear every time the brakes are applied.
What happens when you resurface a brake rotor?
Resurfacing restores a flat, smooth surface that provides the proper friction characteristics, minimizes noise-producing vibrations and allows for maximum pad contact. Installing new pads on a grooved rotor causes the pads to ride on the high spots of the rotor.
What happens when you put new pads on a rotor?
Installing new pads on a grooved rotor causes the pads to ride on the high spots of the rotor. Eventually, the pads will wear down and make full contact with the rotors as they seat in. But this increases pad wear and decreases overall pad life.
How often should you machine your disc brakes?
Brakes, as with tyres, are one area you don’t want to skimp on. A good mechanic in most instances will at least advise to machine the rotors when replacing the pads, otherwise you’re really only doing half the job. Comes down to dollars and cents though I guess!
Can a brake lathe be used to resurface rotors?
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.
Like brake pads, brake rotors don’t last forever. The rotors wear every time the brakes are applied.
What should the surface finish of a brake rotor be?
The surface finish on the rotors also is important because it affects the friction characteristics of the brakes, pad seating, break-in, wear and noise. Most new OEM rotors today have a surface finish between 30 and 60 inches RA (roughness average), with many falling in the 40 to 50 RA range.
What should I look for in a brake lathe?
You would never come close without a quality lathe. Each manufacturer also has specifications for minimum total thickness, side to side variance for vented rotors, the smoothness of the finish and run-out which is the difference between the highest and lowest spot on the brake surface.