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Should I get my rotors turned when getting new brake pads?

anon70anon70 Member Posts: 82
edited March 2014 in Nissan
I was hearing the warning noise from my brakes. I took it in, and they said my pads needed replacing. they also said that i should get my rotors turned since they have heat marks and there is a lip.

i felt the rotors, and they were smooth to the touch w/no warping. turning them would cost $100 because they said the manufacturer (nissan) recommends that the rotors be turned while it's still on the car.

I paid the $, but could i have lived w/the lip on the rotors if the the new pads don't touch it?

Comments

  • vidtechvidtech Member Posts: 212
    if you have a ridge,i would have them measured for thickness.todays rotors are so thin to begin with,usually your lucky if you can turn them.if you have a ridge that means a lot of stock has already worn off.i like to turn my rotors with every brake job.it seems every time i skipped turning the rotors,i usually tore it all apart again to turn the rotors before the pads wore out.
    anyways,new pads on a freshly machined surface resulted in quieter performance.
  • brorjacebrorjace Member Posts: 588
    As Vidtech explained, it can be a good idea if the shop only takes off the absolute minimum, but it is not necessary for proper functioning of the brakes.

    But, if bits of corrosion (the ridge on the end that usually comes off with turning/resurfacing) are left on, often they can prematurely wear the new pads a tad and cause light, squealing noises which can be annoying.

    --- Bror Jace
  • bburton1bburton1 Member Posts: 395
    IMO it is a waste to turn rotors unless they are warped. Depending upon how your brake rotors are designed, it maybe far cheaper to just put on new ones than have them ground. Honda before 98 has a rotor design that involves pressing the rotor into the wheel bearing. Replacing one of those puppies is major expense.

    Helped a friend with an older Chrysler product with warped rotors. Simply take the tire off, slide off the rotor and take it to a machine shop and for $8 per rotor turn it. Then replacement rotors were less than $30. Now that is the way rotors should be designed.

    Went with a friend to a BMW dealership to get his BMW serviced. Went along with him to the desk and the service writer said well we will have to true up those rotors. I had driven the car and knew the rotors were not warped. Asked him to explain why and that "We always do that" was not an explination-the rotors did not get turned-it's 10 years later and this BMW has yet to get the rotors turned-only damage was to the dealership's bottom line.

    Regarding the rusty bits sticking up on the edge of the rotors-take a hammer and gently give it a whack all the way around this edge and this stuff falls off. If you do not-will just grind groves into your new pads.

    Think about replacing your own pads-can do mine in less time than it takes to go to a garage and my last set of pads cost around $15 and do not squeak a bit.
  • brorjacebrorjace Member Posts: 588
    Bburton1, I do not turn warped pads. In my opinion, it is a waste. You don't always get the warp out of them and they are thinner afterwards and more prone to warp again ... faster.

    I turn rotors only to remove scratches ... and possibly corrosion.

    I've done the hammer bit to rotors before. Works well enough.

    --- Brior Jace
  • 0patience0patience Member Posts: 1,712
    $100??
    What are you driving? That hundred doallars,you could of just about paid for new rotors.
    If you tell me what year and model, I can tell you what new rotors run.
  • anon70anon70 Member Posts: 82
    n/t
  • rmyers76rmyers76 Member Posts: 34
    At the autoparts store I go to, they will turn your rotors for free if you buy the pads(premium) at their store.

    My rule of thumb is turn the rotors once and replace next brake job.
  • mookie14mookie14 Member Posts: 252
    this to anon70 i got a ford explorer 2000 xls 4.0 engine what should i expect to pay in ohio willoughby that is for a complete front barke job rear rotors turned plus new pads some clown said like 500.00 which i think is excessive tell me what you think plus is it a good idea to change shocks the back is to low monroe is good is they better original equipment thanks.
  • 0patience0patience Member Posts: 1,712
    BENDIX
    141445 [ROTOR Front] $65.59 each
    WAGNER
    BD125129 [Rotor] Frt. $62.34 each
    AUTOSPECIALTY
    JBR-366 [Brake Rotor] Frt.; Vented; 16.0mm Min. Thickness $46.47 each
    18A517 [ROTOR ASSEMBLY] 2.0 liter, Antilock Brakes, Rotor Only., Japan Made VIN E E, VIN E GXE, VIN E SE, VIN E XE Listing $71.82 each
    18A219 [ROTOR ASSEMBLY] 1.6 liter, Rotor Only. VIN E E, VIN E GXE, VIN E SE, VIN E XE Listing $62.55 each
  • alcanalcan Member Posts: 2,550
    If the rear of your Explorer is low it has sagged springs. Shock absorbers do NOT control vehicle ride height, they dampen spring oscillations. Suggest you have an alignment shop measure the ride height to see how far out of spec it is.
  • imariquinnimariquinn Member Posts: 96
    a grinding sound only after I have been driving for hours on the turnpike or expressway and then I reach a time when I am stop and go, I come to a stop and hear the grinding off and on. It sounds like the front brakes. It does not happen all the time, but mostly when I have been driving a while and then get close to home on the streets. Sometimes it has happened on a short trip around town, but rarely. I know there is a service bulletin for my car from 11/00 titled Brake Rotor-Refinishing Guidelines. Does it sound like I need pads or rotors or what? Please help. Thanks!
  • bburton1bburton1 Member Posts: 395
    Some repair shops and dealer service organizations make a career of selling unnecessary services and this is one of them. Do not turn your rotors unless they are warped. Rotors can get warped when people use impact wrenches to tighten lug nuts-even if they use "torque sticks". Use only a quality click type torque wrench.

    IMO if a repair shop or dealer service person tries to get you to turn rotors that are not warped-they are being less than honest-find another repair shop.
  • packman4packman4 Member Posts: 3
    I have had used cars for 24 years and have never turned the rotors. I take the rotor off to repack the beaings, then deridge and deglaze it with a $50 angle mini air grinder (very useful)with a 3" rubber pad and stick-on sandpaper disc. A straight grinder is about $20. A few times I just spun the rotor on the car and ground it. I drive junk, and realize that newer brakes are alot more sophisticated. But my attitude is they're just dirty brakes, not a precison .0001" space shuttle part. I always use a torque wrench. I would turn them only if they're warped, but they never have, even the thinner FWD ones. Just don't hit a big puddle or snowbank with hot brakes.
  • revkerrevker Member Posts: 33
    Hello all. I've got 2 '98 Blazers, 4x4 LS and LT. I pull a 4500lb boat w/trailer. both trucks have just about 70K miles. I am just changing the brake pads for the first time since owning it. problem i'm having is that i can't take off the rear brake rotor. the brake rotor has a score and i'd like to have it resurfaced at autozone. i've got 4 wheel disc brakes. the rear brake rotor is the drum type. i just can't pull it off like the ones in the front. i'm thinking maybe the parking brake is holding it. i tried tapping it with a mallet lightly but it's the same thing. is there something i'missed? calipers are already off the hub. anyone have done this before? any input on this matter is greatly appreciated. thanks.
  • bburton1bburton1 Member Posts: 395
    Before having them turned-check the price for a new rotor. Neighbor paid a shop $10 to turn a couple of rotors off the car-they came back worse than ever. For a few bucks more he was able to buy new ones. Some domestic cars have really inexpensive rotors.
  • 0patience0patience Member Posts: 1,712
    packman4,
    . I drive junk, and realize that newer brakes are alot more sophisticated. But my attitude is they're just dirty brakes, not a precison .0001" space shuttle part.

    Hmmm,
    I hope you aren't driving around my family.
    As for your comment about the precision, you evidently have never dealt with any newer vehicles with ABS. They are precision and very finicky about tolerances. On newer Cadilaacs, a flat tire will be enough to throw the tolerances out and trigger the ABS light.
    In my professional opinion, there are 2 areas that you should never be a cheapskate on, steering and brakes. Going cheap on either of these systems can create problems. If you want to risk your life, that is fine, but you aren't just risking your life, you are risking the lives of people around you.
    I am continually amazed at what people will do on their brakes and the condition I see alot of brake systems.

    revker,
    The emergency/park brakes will have to be backed off to get the rotor to come off of them, more than likely, there is a ridge and it is catching on the park brake shoes. It takes a tool to back the park brake off.

    As for the price of the rotors, usually they are not a whole lot more than the price of having the rotors turned.
  • zr2randozr2rando Member Posts: 391
    This is just a copy from another post about Blazer rear disk brakes, you may have already seen it, but for what it's worth.

    Have you been able to fix them yet?

    #322 of 330 Check those lug clips, by zr2rando Jan 24, 2002 (04:59 am)
    Like CLIFFWILLSON said those lug clips are put on at the factory as an assembly aid and need to be cut off before you can get the rotor off. The design on those rear disk brakes leaves a lot to be desired...The drum portion is nothing like normal drum brakes.
    The parking brake caliper is only a partial ring of very thin brake material and your parking brake mechanism only bends it out at the end of the "c"-shape. If it has ever been accidentally left engaged and you drove off (which is easy to do because they don't grab very well) they are toast...literally...and will need to be replaced.
    Mine were replaced under warranty, My parking brakes did not work when I picked up the vehicle so I took it to Chev...they were clearly (visibly) overheated and did not function at all. Someone probably didn't realize they were on during one of the first test drives and there they went.
    The Chev mechanic told me that the retract mechanism had therefore locked up (overheated in the extended position) and therefore were locked into a groove in that mini-hub...whole rotor assembly had to be replaced...under warranty luckily. If that is the case for you, you may want to check with Chev for any hints how to get the rotor off, There is no opening on the back side to mechanically retract that parking brake caliper..like I said ....design leaves ALOT to be desired.
    Possibly may be so expensive you may just have to replace the pads and go with it as is, next time it is up for replacement then replace the whole thing, frequently the rotor cannot be resurfaced twice anyway.
    Good luck.
    Rando
This discussion has been closed.