turning brake rotors

[SuperBuickGuy]

In the latest edition of Hot Rod there's an article on brakes - with this bit of advice: don't turn the rotors when you put new pads on unless there is pulsing or gouges in the rotors..... I used to do that advice, but because I was broke and hauling rotors on a bike 10 miles to a shop just did not see like a good idea..... however, I wonder if (inadvertantly) I was doing the right thing..
Thoughts?

[squirrel]

Re: turning brake rotors

That's what I do, if the pedal/steering wheel don't wobble, and there's no noticeable grooves, I leave the rotors alone (although I repack the bearings when needed). If there's a noise issue then I might try turning them to solve it.

Cast iron costs money, why shave it off if you don't need to?

[joebogey]

Re: turning brake rotors

I don't turn them unless there's some pretty bad gouges. Depends on the vehicle though, on the Exploder I could get three sets of pads on a rotor before I needed to replace it. The VW is a stick so I get more miles out of the brakes and the rotors are pretty well destroyed by the time the pads are done. As long as the rotors are good and you seat the pads right you should be fine.

[min301]

Re: turning brake rotors

If not warped, scarred w/ deep grooves, and if still above
the spec for thickness, I'd put a non-directional finish on
em w/ an angle die grinder, and a roloc disc.

As Jim said, clean and pack the bearings, and install new grease seals.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: turning brake rotors

I turn them if warped or I cooked the brakes and there is a glazing on the rotor. I cooked the brakes on my Centurion once, and that car wouldn't stop for crap, thought I had air in my brake lines (even though I didn't see a reason for there to be...). Bled the brakes twice with no luck, finally pulled the front wheels off and the rotor wasn't cracked or blue, but there was a glaze on it I think came off the pad. Had the rotor's turned and new pads and the car stopped like a champ again. My usual MO is to not turn them though, they be getting expensive to be needlessly turning them. I turned all four rotor's on the Skylark simply because they were junkyard pieces and suspect for warping, etc.

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: turning brake rotors

I hit mine with 200 grit sandpaper followed by green scotchbrite in a swirling pattern. Works great on plain discs, sucks on the grooved or drilled one. I put new rotors on if the squeeler hit (did on my truck right after I bought it) or if there is a big enough feature to catch a fingernail on solidly. Though I'm never buying another set of drilled rotors again!

[SpiderGearsMan]

Re: turning brake rotors

always turn the rotors
glazed rotors squeak

[DanStokes]

Re: turning brake rotors

I've had good luck with Milner's method. Never had an issue but I don't do as many as Spidey - my data base is smaller.

Dan

[Smack]

Re: turning brake rotors

if it ain't broke, why fix it?

[FIREBALLMONZA]

Re: turning brake rotors

If I had a brake lathe I'd turn them.....only cause I like to play with machines ;D

[98ciHemi]

Re: turning brake rotors

At school we were always turned the rotors. But my instructor was a bit of a fruit loop, so I don't know how good that advice was.

[yellomalibu]

Re: turning brake rotors

always turn the rotors
glazed rotors squeak

That's been my experience as well.

I still have the original 2 piece rotors on the Chevelle. They are right at the minimum thickness, so when I did brakes last time, I only gave them one light pass. It didn't get all of the shiny spots out, but it did give me enough of a flat, new surface to properly(?) break in the new pads. No squeaks, no pulses.

[IRONHEAD]

Re: turning brake rotors

On other peoples cars/trucks that I'm being payed and my time is money.. I turn them.. less chance of it coming back..
on my junk, I don't turn them unless the pulse, just a lite scuff to get the glaze off..800 grit works good, for me anyway
only time I turn then on my junk is if it's the rotors/drums that you can grease the bearings.. as it's less work to turn them while they're apart anyways.. but with new cars that a lock washer is the only thing holding it on the hub..
I'll throw it together and see what happens.. as it's only a ten minute job to get the rotors off the car if they chatter..
dragrace cars I turn them no matter what.. don't need brake issues at the fAR END

[min301]

Re: turning brake rotors

On other peoples cars/trucks that I'm being payed and my time is money.. I turn them.. less chance of it coming back..
on my junk, I don't turn them unless the pulse, just a lite scuff to get the glaze off..800 grit works good, for me anyway
only time I turn then on my junk is if it's the rotors/drums that you can grease the bearings.. as it's less work to turn them while they're apart anyways.. but with new cars that a lock washer is the only thing holding it on the hub..
I'll throw it together and see what happens.. as it's only a ten minute job to get the rotors off the car if they chatter..
dragrace cars I turn them no matter what.. don't need brake issues at the fAR END

Generally, this is my point.

If my DD stuff has a pulsation, I can but new rotors for
what most folks would pay to turn them.

My performance minded stuff always gets whatever it needs to be 100%.
I don't wanna question it at 100+.

[SuperBuickGuy]

Re: turning brake rotors

so, to summarize, the consensus is that other then doing someone else's car or non-flat surface it's no biggie to simply scuff and forget...... would that consensus change if you went with a different compound pad (such as non-organic to metallic/semi-metallic)?