Seems like a crazy question but can I put old pads on brand new rotors ? OK heres the deal I just bought cross drilled and slotted rotors and they came with semi metallic pads that I don't like. I don't have $150.00 to get new Hawk pads and I currently have really nice Hawk ceramic pads on the car that have about 75%-80% of the pad left can I just put the Hawk pads back on with the new rotors or do I have to use new pads on the new rotors ?

 

I've thrown new rotors on my cars without changing pads many a time in both my Camaro and my 6000 and old Cutlass, and they were fine. Just treat them good for the first few hundred miles to let them wear in good (Just as a precaution). Good luck.

 

New pads come with a layer on them that gets transferred to the rotor during the bed in procedure which increases your stopping power. You can do it, but you wont stop as well.

 

I don't think it will hurt anything.

 

You should not have any problems but i would not do it.
Hell i have seen people change their oil without chaning the filter LOL.

 

I'd do it. I just did mine then redone them with C5 front brakes. (I did a lot of reading on this recently) The pad wear goes mostly with the caliper as far as thickness variations. As for grooves and surface irregularities they are usually caused by the rotor and will smooth out over time.
FWIW GM has a TSB out on these cars that says if the rotors are warped, resurface or replace and reuse the old pads if they're not worn thin.

 

I have done it before without any problems, but I normally sanded them down a little before I put them back on to try to get them flat again.

 

Old pads are shaped and glazed as your last rotors made them. Id buy new pads

 

Unless your old rotors had humongous dips & mounds around them or your pads are glazed, you will have absolutely no problems.

It wouldn't hurt, however, to run over them with a sander and flatten them out a touch IF NEEDED.

Since you have new rotors, ensure you follow the same break-in procedures you would normally follow.

 

what is the break in procedure for new rotors ?

 

I would think instructions came with the new rotors. Alternately, you might contact the manufacturer for instructions.

I just do a hundred miles or so of normal use. Normal for me means not riding the brakes, not going 100 and slamming on the brakes, and not driving like most teens/young 20's types.

After 100 miles or so, give 'em a good look over and see how they're doing.

I never get rotors turned when I put on new pads, and my rotors don't get funky enough to require that procedure. Just be gentle for a while before you start hammering them.

 

Usually rotors don't come with break in instructions. It all depends on the pads.
Theres a ton of info here if you feel like reading a few hours.
They have a write up on what happens during the break in process, etc.
http://www.centricparts.com/techsupport.htm

 

Unless you see something obviously wrong with the wear on the pads I wouldn't worry about it. Use up the old pads, then put new ones. I reused mine when I did the rotors with no problems.

 

yea its fine