Im not very familiar with the term "turning rotors", i believe it gets rid of all the grooves or something. SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN :D, but im getting new brake pads and my friend wants to "turn" the rotors making sure the brake pads get a good connection to the rotors... im pretty sure the rotors have 50,000 miles on them but the car is hardly driven, most of the time it was in the garage with ... so should i "turn" them then put on the pads or just put the new brake pads on? im thinking of Hawk HPS...

 

they basically put the rotor in a lathe resurface it to remove a small layer. This smooths out the rotor because over time they can warp and not be perfectly even

at 50,000 miles, might not be a bad idea to get them turned

 

Thanks for the clear up Jedi, i was a tad confused... so you think i should? i mean it got all the mileage on it from a few trips to Arkansas, but other than that it is hardly driven at all...

 

Anyone know the cost to turn a rotor?

 

For $99 Midas turns rotors, for $8 more (per pair) they install new brake pads.

Personally I like my Redstuff brake pads, but to each their own and normal brake pads work fine.

 

Thanks, lol i can install the pads, just needed to know how much turning them would cost...

 

You might check around your mom/pop shop, sometimes they'll beat the bigger companies just to get some business. **** I had a place put on my exhaust tips for $30 a side.

 

right, well will do, thanks everyone

 

the rotors are so thin from all the car compaies that by the time you need them to be turned, they can't.

You are better off replacing them.

 

most rotors are good for 1 turn. Check a few shops, they'll measure and see if it's better to turn or replace.

 

ok well this will be my first turn... wish me luck :D

 

I'm taking my car in Tuesday to see if they can be turned for $90.

 

have to agree - my rotors were looking like they could do with a resurface but when I measured them they were right on the minimum (22mm)
The new rotors were only 24mm (i think) so not much room for resurfacing ....

 

It's my understanding that stealerships refuse to turn OEM rotors for just that reason (the 2mm variance between new and junk).

Also, you'd be surprised the number of auto parts stores that have the equipment to turn rotors. Give you local Pep Boys, Advance, etc store a call ask them if they'll do it. Most will do the rotors down to the legal minimum.

 

turning rotors is only a cheap fix to get rid of oscillations in the rotor. why would you want to get rid of metal??

the right thing to do is replace the rotors.

 

The correct answer is have them measure the rotors using a caliper.

If its within spec and doesn't have noticable ridges on it don't worry about it.

If its out of spec or right on the minimum you might want to replace them. Also if it has noticable ridges and it goes out of spec when you get them turned.

 

That's correct. Minimum rotor thickness is stamped on the back of the rotor hat.
Just machine and measure or replace if necessary.

 

right right.... well i hope im ok cus i got this car from my mother, yes yes i know but she never drove it and its a pretty bad *** car, even it being AT... so i was hoping i can get by by just getting them turned if needed... cus like i said she never drove it and for having 50,000 miles on it, most of it came from trips to arkansas then back in the garage, or sun cus she was too lazy to clean the garage... so they might need to be turned might not. we will see, and if they do o well, but i really dont want to bust out the cash on some new rotors for a 05' 4 port/ 4 speed AT... : /

 

There's another important reason to turn your rotors. You want to machine off the layer of metal with the transferred compound from your old rotors. This will make sure you have a new clean metal surface to bed your new brake pads with their different compound against.

 

Again guys thanks a lot for all these posts and all the info, heh somewhat new to changing things kinda young (16, well just turned 16 about a few months ago) so >_< , BUT i have been reading about cars since i was about 9... so i know alot, just not under the hood...

 

16 is a good age to learn about trivial things like changing brake pads and rotors. It sounds like your dad, or someone else influencial, is "steering" you in the right direction.

 

heh well to be honest bro, mom married then divorce and married again so... my so call real dad is the actually one helping me under the hood, its weird cus my step dad had like a sweet *** camaro back in the day that he fixed up but hes not interested in helping me, maybe i just have to get him used to the fact that i have this car, cus he didnt want me having it as my first. all his other kids had shitty cars so hes not too happy me getting this one... : ( , but yeah... i was into cars before i started trying to work on them, just needed someone to get me started...

 

btw before this gets TOO of topic i have planned to turn the rotors, put on the new brake pads and paint my brake calipers white, thats the color of my car... and maybe do the auto tranny fluid... anything i should know before i start? lol because i really dont want to start then be like "**** how does this go on" so any tools i would need or directions would be greatly appreciated. Just in case my dad forgets...

 

check out the DIY section. There are a number of DIY threads on changing rotors and pads. They're really helpful.

 

right right... saw a couple just thought maybe you did the same thing and had a problem so you could tell me before it was a problem... i dont want no big explanation heh, thats what the DIY is for...