can anyone help with deglazing your own drums and rotors?

ok, when I do brake jobs I often have some drums and rotors that don't "need" replacing but are often "polished" and need some friction added back to the surface so what is the best way to do this without damaging the surface.

I hate just buying new rotors to throw perfectly good ones away just because they are polished smooth or reusing them and have the new pads glaze over because of lack of friction so neither of these is the best option so what else can i do?

granted you have to, by definition, do "some" damage it to scuff it but you know what I mean, I don't want to cause imperfections that could create an uneven matting surface, i just want to deglaze it by hand somehow.

what is the least aggressive tool to basically "hone" the surface when doing a brake job? is just going at it with some 80 grit sand paper ok?

EDIT: you can read the thread but as it turns out, all you can do is buy new rotors or drums if you cant get your old ones turned

 

I've repadded/reshoed many a rotor/drum with no turning, just a good cleaning with brake cleaner.

If they need resurfacing for some reason, a brake lathe is the only way to do it right.

On the last car I had that needed rotor attention, a new Bembro blank was only $10 more than having the old one turned. Since I pushed that car pretty hard, new was a no brainer at that point, rather than running a significantly thinned rotor.

I've not owned anything with rear drums that needed attention since the mid 80's, so I don't know how their current pricing compares to the cost of turning.

 

I've used 3M Scotch Brite pads on an electric drill to break up the surface glaze before. Worked well.

 

I always just buy new rotors.

The original front brake pads on my 2011 went over 75k. The cost of rotors over that many miles is negligible.

Haven't touched the rear drums.

 

thanks, that's why im searching for opinions

 

well I have too, and I even have reused some drums and rotors that were "iffy" with just one or two small grooves but it sucks when you have a mirror polished rotor that you know will squeal or squeak until the pads scuff it up yet "no one" turns rotors within 100 miles of me and there are plenty of auto stores on every corner.

last time I found an out of the way shop that I was directed to and they set the machine up wrong and instead of just deglazing then then cut my drums wrong (off centered) and ruined them. needless to say Tyrone's auto detailing and wrecker service will never be getting my business again

I think the specialty racing shops are the only ones that still have turning machines and most don't have anyone who even knows how to use them.

you ask the guy behind the counter where to get rotors turned and you get this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3oOTGKzL0U

 

You really should get them professionally machined on a lathe. It's the only "proper" way to do it other than replacing the rotors. However, there is a width specification that the rotors have to meet before they can be machined. If you machine them below that spec, you risk overheating the brakes and thus getting brake fade or complete loss of brakes. IMO brakes are one of the most important systems on any vehicle and should be done properly.

 

I would have to drive over 100 miles and "leave the state" to find a place that still turns rotors. its cheaper to buy new ones then just the cost of gas to do that so im looking for another option.

I agree its best to turn them but that is not a reasonable option here so short of throwing a perfectly good rotor in the trash just because its glazed, im asking for what can be done in your own driveway as another option.

don't worry, i hear ya and I have no plans to break out the power tools or the side grinder on it lol.

glazed rotors need the glaze knocked of them and that's what im asking for options about doing if there is no possible way to turn them on a machine.

 

Ive contemplated using a hand held electric sander before. The kind for wood work. I think if you attack it with a 3m abrasive pad as mentioned before you'll be ok. Hell even a grinder with a flappy/sanding disc would work. Just dont go hog wild. Use a minimal amount of pressure. In order to remove any metal with said disc you gotta put your ass into it. And yes im aware I've just opened the flood gate for the haters. So hate on! Again, these are merely suggestions and ideas. If you're not comfortable with any, dont do it. One.other idea is type "diy deglaze rotors" into Google. Good luck!

 

I've done this multiple times on various vehicles, and had rather good success. Unless there are some massive grooves in the rotor or cracking, breaking the glaze just exposes the metal on the rotor to allow it to "bound" with the new pads. I mean, there's a lot more going on here, but again, I've always done this and not had any issues.

 

3M pads with a angle die grinder is what I use.

 

My old rotors always get used for something they make great bases .

Around here no one turns them either just installs new cheap China made junk.

 

I remember years ago seeing special abrasive pads you installed then drove for a couple of miles hitting the brakes lightly, the rotor was resurfaced and ready to go....pop out pads, put in new ones, and away you go....haven't seen the abrasive pads in awhile, I thought it was a good idea....maybe it didn't work so well....

 

Getting mechanical work at a place named like that. Scary.

 

Not sure what the fuss is about, I've done numerous brake jobs and so long as there was no indication that the rotors were warped I just put in the new pads and carried on my merry way without a problem.

 

well glazed rotors will give you that irritating brake squeal but the biggest problem with glazed rotors is, they can cause the new pads to glaze over and not give the best braking.

if you just slap new pads on a glazed rotor and go with it, then yes it will work fine that way, but it will not have the best stopping power it could.

 

Plenty of NAPA's in your state that do rotor/drum machine work.
https://www.google.com/maps/search/...hops/@30.9733766,-91.4299096,7z/data=!3m1!4b1

 

yep, you are right, there is a carquest right on the corner and there are lots of napas around, there is one a mile away that used to be my "go to" place to get them done and another of their big full blown retail box stores 3 miles away and two more regular outlet stores around 20 miles from here and AFAIK every one has a turning machine but they will not turn rotors or drums anymore. some BS about DOT or NHTSA liability issue and such about proper training certification needed to operate the machine, blah blah blah "buy a new rotor dude" was the reply from all of them.

its frustrating as hell I tell ya, to be able to see the machine there and they wont use it. one of em even told me if they would let him do it he would have to charge like $20 to turn it anyway.

I cant tell you if its just based on how cheap the replacement rotors have gotten but for some reason "everyone" stopped turning rotors in south Louisiana and I have searched from New Orleans to Hammond and no one within this 40 mile area does it or knows anyone who still does it. I do hafta kinda admit its hard to justify spending $15-$20 on turning a rotor when a new one only costs $30 at the local auto store but if your rotor isn't bad why throw it away and spend that extra $15 if you can avoid it?

if they still turn rotors up north or somewhere near you then you are lucky but its like it has become an outlawed practice not to be done anymore down around here.

 

Places may still list they turn Rotors and drums but call or ask in person They Don`t!!!

Just asked my Local Napa if they Knew of anyone still doing it The answer was no!!

 

you keep saying "throw it away" dosnt anyone pay for scrap metal where your from? Just save them up along with all you other scrap metal and take it to the metal recyclers and they will give you money for it, im assuming you do have a pick up truck to haul some scrap metal right?