2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission front rotor surface

[BKenny]

Hi , my front pads are getting close to replacement time. Im planing on just just puting on new pads and cleaning/greaseing every thing up. The question is do i need to do any thing to the surface of the rotors ? Do they need to be slightly scuffed up? thanks Brian

 

[Joe Mc]

I would say if your rotors are smooth to leave them alone. If they are gouged and rough turn them. I've replaced the pads on mine 3 -4 times without doing anything to the rotors because they looked fine. I think you'd be totally OK to just add new, lube up the slides and be done. My $. 02.

 

[cyborg]

No Hijack Intended

Same here, Front and Rear discs.

I have a ridge on the outer circumfrance (sp) of my rotors. I could go cheap and replace the pads only,

or have them turned,

or go major upgrade, slotted rotors. Are they really worth the extra $500+ ?

 

[I-6DZL]

Kenny and Cyborg the rotors on your trucks just slip right off after you take the caliper off. My suggestion would be to at least pop the front off and have 'em turned if not the rears as well.



After machining you want a smooth non-directional finish to the rotors.



With new pads drive the first 200 miles or so with an egg under your foot. Your seating in the pads, the easier you are on them, the longer they'll last ya.



Good Luck

Curtis

 

[nps]

If the braking action is smooth (no warps on the rotors) I always like to save the surface of the rotor for when I might need to take some off later.



Turning the rotors will make the new pads last longer, but pads are cheaper than rotors.



Knock off the ridge rust with heavy grit sandpaper (to eliminate a squeak source) and throw new pads on.



Just my opinion.

 

[BKenny]

Cool thanks for the advise i think im going to go with not touching the rotor serface. Im still trying to decide on what type of pads theres alot of reading in here on them. This place has saved alot of us time and money . Thanks Brian

 

[SDrake]

Absolutely don't touch the rotor unless it is warped or otherwise giving you a pulsating feel as you brake. Nothing can be gained and you just loose that much wear potential. I ran the pads down to the metal and gouged my rotors up pretty bad when the truck was new. They wore out in less than 20K miles. By the time I got home they were pretty bad. What to do, --- find a shop that could turn them on the truck or go through the expense of removing the hubs. My rotors are not removable like yours. I decided to put some new pads on and drive around while I hunted for someone who could do the work. I just kept driving and my brakes have great feel. By the time those pads wore out my rotors were smooth but groovy. The truck has 235K miles on it now and my pads last 40 or 50 K miles and the brakes are silky smooth. As I came to this experience, I did the same thing to a couple of cars the kids did their thing to, and they have turned out the same way. If no pulsating leave them alone and enjoy the wear.



I expected that there would be a pulling to the left or right with one rotor groovy and the other flat but if that occurred it dissappered within just a few miles of driving. I expect that the way this all turns out would depend on the kind of material in the pads. I forget at the moment the kind of pad but I keep the old box behind the seat and buy the same thing again each time. They are much better than what came on the truck both for braking power, feel and wear. Your milage may vary but for sure the pads will smoth out the rough rotor.