turning rotors!!??!!??

im getting ready to go ahead at my 30k interval, upgrade my brake pads to a set of hawk ceramics pads. i've done brake jobs for a long time and normally, i will turn the rotors before putting on a set of pads. anyone think its necessary for me to take the rotors off and turn them with only 30k on them?? i've heard pros/cons about why to and why not to turn rotors when putting on new pads, and reason im asking is since i've got relatively low miles on the stock rotors.........just wondering if it would be a waste of time??

i ask this question, however i havent made my mind up if, while im upgrading the pads, i go ahead and upgrade the rotors to a nice set of power slots at the same time. im really thinking this is what i want to do.

my stock brakes arent that bad, but i want something with a little more bite......sometimes it feels as if it takes a little too much effort to get the truck fully stopped. and when i do my upgrade, i'll be pulling the drums and cleaning/adjusting the rears too!!

so......................what ya'll think??

 

I recently had a pulsation in my brakes and when I asked around about getting the rotors turned, everyone told me it's not really done anymore. Rotors are cheaper than they used to be. I just replaced my rotors and brake pads for about $80. I checked out the power slots, but I had to go budget and just get rid of pulsation.

 

No idea, but I normally replace the rotors when I replace the pads. Then again, normally the rotors are just as bad as the pads when I change them.

 

i think i will probably go ahead and upgrade to the powerslots while im at it. its a little expensive, but ive heard theres alot less brake fade with slotted rotors, which may be why it seems that my truck wants to roll a little far when im stopping. or it could just be rears needin gadjusted, but either way,im dead set on the hawk ceramics anyway.

 

If you haven't had any problems with the brakes, if the rotors are smooth and consistant (no ruts or ridges, not warped, no uneven wear) - then you shoudln't have to turn them.

If they've got stress cracks - they should be replaced. If you've had pulsations, they could be warped and should be replaced.

 

It's a judgment call. If they are warped, you have no choice but to change them. Personally, I upgrade to performance rotors on my vehicles when the OEM's wear out.

 

thats what i was figuring. i am kinda wondering though, sometimes i get a slight vibration when braking, but most of the time, i cant really feel it. kinda like how it feels when a tire gets a little out of balance. if thats the case, upgrading wont hurt a thing, and should improve it all if anything.

 

Well, it could be many things. It could be suspension related and not the rotors. But, since you're doing the brake work anyway, hopefully that will fix it.

 

if this is the case...nothing wrong with them, is there a certain way that i need to go about cleaning the rotors or scuffing them with sandpaper before i put new pads on?? or do i just leave them as they are and install the new pads?? is there a surefire way to tell if a rotor is warped besides it pulsating when applying the brake?? just wondering before i decide what im gonna do.

 

if you got the money to upgrade the rotors that would be a good idea but if not i would turn the stock ones no matter what i made the same mistake once you are just going to end up wearing away your pads very quickly

 

If you don't have any pulse to your breaking I wouldn't turn them or replace them until you need to... save some money. The pulsing is usually due to a "soft spot" in the metal of the rotors. I have had this on every car I have ever owned and I just had them turned when it got bad... If I did it when I had new pads put on they only charged me around $5 bucks a wheel. Don't toss out perfectly good rotors if you don't need to.

 

if i end up keeping my stock rotors for now and go ahead with the hawk pads, do the rotors need to be sanded down any, or can i just install the pads and do the "pad break in" procedure thats normally done for that certain pad??

 

here is the set up im gonna go with(if i decide to get rotors too)!!

http://www.autoanything.com/brakes/61A2911A0A0A2067936.aspx

and

http://www.performanceproducts4trucks.com/productpage.aspx?cid=7&sid=82&pid=105054

what yall think about these?? should be a pretty good setup i think. i;ve heard so-so stuff about customer service from p.p., but if i get the rotors, hopefully they will be pretty decent to deal with. and i;ve bought from autoanything.com before and i've had really good experience with them.

 

Don't do anything to them. No sanding. Just clean them off with Brakleen or similar brake cleaner.

You can put the new pads on without doing anything.

It's really hard to tell if there's any warpage (even slightly). A very slight warp can be removed by having them turned. A slight warp won't be *felt*(driving). But something of that slight - can only be checked by a person who turns them. At that point - you might as well have them turned anyway.

If you can SEE a warp - it's beyond repairing and need replaced.

Rotors can only be turned so many times. Each time they get turned, it removes substance and makes the rotor slightly thinner. Once they get to a certain thickness (I don't know what that is) - they can't be turned anymore.


You could follow the 'break-in' for the pads..... However, that's not as critical as the break-in for new rotors.

 

yeah, i've seen warped rotors before.....my wifes honda accord after she hit a speed bump doing 45 mph. they were so bad, running 70 on an interstate and braking,even the slightest, would pulsate/shake like hell and pull to the right hard..... replaced rotors and pads...all was excellent.

in my case, i dont really think my rotors are too bad, except for the occasional bit of pulsating sometimes, which may also be abs to some extent too. in the end, i may just go with new hawk pads, then rotors later on down the road.....just unsure yet. i will know more when i pull my wheels off this wknd to rotate my tires......i'll be able to see more of the stock rotors and make sure there are no ridges or cuts and really what shape they are in. then i'll make my decision. im also thinking if i clean/adjust my rears, my stopping may increase a bit.....just a thought anyway.

 

just buckle down, man-up and throw on a pair of brembo's...who needs money, the crap is just paper anyway (anyone have any extra?!?!)

 

this is where i got a really,really good quote for a set of the hawk brake pads, just havent been back on the site yet to see about rotors. i my buy from these guys depending on how much i gotta pay for shipping and handling.

 

I think brakes are the most controversial subject about a car when you ask a mechanic.
Personnally, I prefer turning the original rotors than putting cheaper rotors just because of the quality of the part. The rotors your car came out with are better on every aspect than the aftermarket ones.
Also, while we are on the subject, putting brand new pads without turning the rotors...
Your car is gonna brake but you are gonna lose stopping power because the rotor and the pads won't have the same surface, the pads are rough and your rotor is clean and smooth, sometimes icey...
When you turn the rotors, you not only get them straight but you also give them a good contact surface that is rougher so that the pads can have a surface to work on. I don't know if you understand, i find it hard to explain because english is not my maiden language.
So in my opinion, you either turn the rotors and add new pads or brand new rotors and pads but never new pads without turning the rotors.

 

I'm like Wilson, anytime an OEM part wears out i replace it with a high end performance part (if i can afford it at the time)