Why turn rotors

The rotors develop a wear pattern with the old pads. Just slapping new pads on means they need to conform to the old wear pattern, which takes longer and forces the pads to wear faster. And the odds of bad brake behavior, like chattering, noise, and warpage increase. In my shop, we turn or replace rotors with every brake job to reset the brake wear pattern and greatly reduce the odds of bad brake behavior. Shops will always machine or replace the old rotors for the reasons cited by Bustedknuckles.

Eventually the rotors will wear down to a point where their thickness is below spec. If you do a brake job yourself and just replace the pads here is what happens. Therefore the new pads will not mate to the new rotors immediately. How long will this take? That depends on the pads you buy and how deeply the rotors are grooved.

The new pads will also wear out faster as they go through the intial mating process with the rotors. With softer pads you might be looking at changing pads every 20 to 30K miles and getting 2 or 3 sets of pads worn before you need to get new replacement rotors. If you know what you are doing and replace the pads correctly a DIY brake job is not too hard. Vehicles that are equipped with drilled rotors have holes drilled in them.

Their holes ensure that there is less surface area for the pads to grab in order to prevent friction, gas buildup, and water from affecting the stopping power.

Slotted brake rotors have grooves cut along the face of the rotor where the brake pads make contact. Their groves are essential for moving gas, heat, and water away from the surface. Drilled and slotted brake rotors have both holes and groves on them for enhanced performance. When you bring your vehicle in to have their brake rotors turned, it means that a mechanic will be machining your rotors to remove any additional brake material from the brake pads.

Some older types of brake pads cause gas to form between the rotors and the pads. This gas limits the stopping power. By turning rotors, you can ensure that the drilled brake rotors are working at the most efficient level and preventing gas build up. The third benefit deals with water. If you drive through a puddle or a high body of water during a rainstorm, the brake rotors can get wet.

After a brake rotor gets wet, it is difficult for the brake pads to firmly press down on the rotor. Having holes drilled into the side of the brake toro ensures that water can quickly get away from the surface, letting the pads clamp down securely. Turning rotors ensures that the drilled brake rotors are working well, and prevent water from harming the stopping power.

The second type of brake rotors is slotted brake rotors — this kind of rotor uses little clots in the side of the flat surface to move gas, heat, and water away from the surface. These slots move the debris that is unwanted out of the way. This type of brake rotors is popular due to the durability, and the ability to handle more stress placed on the rotors. Turning rotors is crucial to this type of brake rotor, since they are generally used in high-performance cars.

Although slotted brake rotors are more durable, they have their downsides. They wear down quicker due to the high friction and stress placed on them. Even though they can wear down quicker due to the high amounts of pressure placed by the brake pads, turning rotors can lengthen the lifespan of slotted brake rotors.

Knowing when it is time for turning rotors is crucial in saving you money and ensuring your car remains safe. Turning brake rotors refers to machining brake rotors to remove the additional brake material from the brake pads.

This prevents any warping and grinding from happening to the parts. Turning rotors extends the lifespan of your brake pads, lets your brake smother, and creates less friction and heat generated than those that are warped or in bad condition. Usually, you will want to undergo the process of turning rotors every other brake change. This allows you to be confident that your brake rotors are free of debris and will not warp.

If your rotor surface is smooth, then you might not require the turning rotors to take place. However, if you have warping or tough spots on your brakes, then it is time to start turning rotors. If you have the financial ability, you may choose to have your rotors turned each time you have your brake pads serviced. This ensures that your brake pads and rotors are constantly in good condition, and shows how turning rotors can be a crucial part to maintaining the efficiency of the braking system.

Although this is not expensive, turning rotors is a routine maintenance procedure that must be carried out to enhance the lifespan of the brake pads and brake rotors. Of course, you will have less problems buying a new rotor. However, turning rotors offers a quick and easy solution.