I've never replaced my own brakes pads, but whenever I took my car somewhere to have the pads replaced, the rotors would get resurfaced as part of replacing your pads. Well no more taking my car to a shop to have the pads replaced. From now on.....anything that needs to be done to my car, I want to do damnit (unless its just a real pain in the ass or i don't have the right tools or knowledge on how to do it). I'm sure resurfacing is only done when needed, but how do you know when they need to be resurfaced? This might be a stupid ass question, but then again I never claimed to be a smart man. :)

MaddMatt is more the expert on brake systems, but here's how I understand it. You should resurface the rotors if you are changing to a pad with a different material that what you have been using, or if the rotors are "warped." If you feel a shudder in the pedal when you stop the car, the rotors are probably warped.

Ben

MaddMatt is more the expert on brake systems,

Once again: I'm the expert?!?!?

Those guys at the shop are probably doing this without knowing why. Probably because "It says to do it in the manual..." Plus it's a way for them to release ~$40 more from your wallet.

If you change brands of brake pads, you might get into trouble with the two different materials interacting and causing deposits to form and/or pad material to be transfered unevenly. This is the shudder you'll feel. According to Carrol Smith, rotors do not warp: http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/warped_rotors_myth.htm

Turning the rotors removes these deposits and gives you a clean slate to start over with.

Originally posted by MaddMatt


Once again: I'm the expert?!?!?



You have a lot more information about brakes than a lot of people on this board.


According to Carrol Smith, rotors do not warp: http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/warped_rotors_myth.htm


I read that from when it was posted before. That's why I had warp in quotes. If you do get uneven deposits on the rotors, one way to remove the deposits is to resurface them. That's what I should have said.

Ben

what about bedding the pads and rotors? what does that entail?

well i sorta agree on the no warping of rotors. while on a car i find it really hard to believe they warp. but after working at a place and my dad still does, that makes rotors for cars ive seen it all. run out, out of round, all sorts of things. warping of rotors is really hard but it can happen, we seen it happen at Bosch :D.

resurfacing is hardly ever needed unless you have your peddle pulsate while brakeing, and then its probaly the deposits that they are removing. I honestly suggest never resurfacing the stock rotors on se-r's, they are just too thin. ad22's i wouldnt have a problem resurfacing but never had to. If you want the old school trick is to take some really fine sandpaper and go around in circles on the rotor like you were buffing it. gota make sure you put a nondirectional surface on it. but for how cheap rotors are alot of the time its easier to just replace them

I believe it says in the article that MaddMatt posted, but heres some tips.

Always bed new pads on old rotors or new rotors on old pads. In other words, don't put brand new rotors and pads on a car and expect to bed them correctly.

Usually, bedding the pads means slowing from higher and higher speeds without coming to a complete stop and letting the pads and rotors cool in between stops. As an example, I believe the Metal Masters bedding procedure is something like stop from 30mph to 5mph about 5 times with a mile of driving in between. Then, stop from 40 to 5, drive a mile, then stop from 50 to 5, drive a mile, then stop from 60 to 5. Something like that.

Ben