How do you know when to replace rotors?
#1
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How do you know when to replace rotors?
I know it's time when it's very obvious and the rotors are thin, cracked, or you can see the ribs coming through the face of it. But, what if the edges are just rusty-ish and brittle? Should I just hit the edges with a wire brush and maybe even paint them with the left-over caliper paint just so they don't look so bad?
I can get a full set of blanks here for $134 which seems pretty damn good to me.
What do you guys think?
I can get a full set of blanks here for $134 which seems pretty damn good to me.
What do you guys think?
#2
TECH Addict
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SE VA
Posts: 2,255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
if you see ribs coming through, you are WAY past the rotors life. the only way to check is take them off, read what the minimum thickness is (imprinted on the rotor somewhere), and measure the thickness with a caliper or micrometer. rust on the edges/vanes doesnt matter. every rotor has rust on it, it doesnt affect braking. if its so old the rust is actually rot, then yeah replace them, but im sure its not that bad.
#3
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah the rust isn't terrible and I can't see the ribs through the face but I'm not sure how good brittle edges are.
Oh, and do I need to loan a special caliper tool for the rears or will a simple c-clamp work for them just like the fronts?
Oh, and do I need to loan a special caliper tool for the rears or will a simple c-clamp work for them just like the fronts?
#4
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Apopka, Fl
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would find a set of Brembo blanks....even if it is not essential due to wear and tear to replace them. If you are like 99% of the fbod owners on here......we all had warped stock rotors after no time at all
#6
TECH Addict
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SE VA
Posts: 2,255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
to remove the caliper, yeah a c-clamp. but i meant if you want to measure the rotor thickness yourself, youll need a micrometer, some people call them calipers, dial indicators is another term. that will measure the rotor thickness and tell you if its still good or bad. that is, of course, AFTER its been fully cut by a machine shop.
Trending Topics
#9
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know how to measure them lol. I have a set of calipers that my dad gave me a year ago. I will probably just order the blanks this weekend and replace both when I receive the rotors. I've got a set of Hawk HPS pads sitting here ready to go on.
#10
TECH Addict
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SE VA
Posts: 2,255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
you dont know how much meat youre going to take off when you turn the rotors. thast why you measure AFTER you cut them. i worked in a parts store, we turned rotors, sometimes a dozen every day. every rotor was measured, before, yeah, but mostly AFTER the cut. if you measure before a cut and its fine, then turn them, only to cut them down under the min. diameter, whats the use of measuring before?!? only after doing the full cut and then measuring will you find out if the rotor is still within its set thickness.
#11
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
I should have mentioned the last person I measured rotors for had a heavy brake foot. He would were his brake pads down past the pad material and start eating away at the rotors themselves. I'd measure the rotors where they had been gauled out by the backing material to see if there was enough material left to even bother to have them turned which there ususally wasn't. A person like that deserves to have to buy new rotors, but most people change pads long before that happens so all they need are a few thousandths taken off. In that case it is a good idea to measure AFTER as well,.
#12
Originally Posted by Kalgorn
I can get a full set of blanks here for $134 which seems pretty damn good to me.
What do you guys think?
What do you guys think?
#14
TECH Addict
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SE VA
Posts: 2,255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by eallanboggs
I should have mentioned the last person I measured rotors for had a heavy brake foot. He would were his brake pads down past the pad material and start eating away at the rotors themselves.
#15
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by toofless916
let me tell you something....i ordered a set of blanks from that vendor you mentioned ^ on 1/25/07...i have yet to receive the rotors and communication with anyone in that company is mad slow and ineffective...i ordered some other stuff from WS6store the same day and they are sitting right here collecting dust waiting for the rotors to arrive (if they ever do)...it sucks
#17
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (16)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by billybadd
Mine had cracks in them @ 8000 miles. Now 49,000 and still braking fine.....