Rotor Surface (88)
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,835
Likes: 30
Rotor Surface (88)
greetings all,
it's been a while but, when you purchase a set of rotors (stock, NO holes, slotted, etc) from a retail outlet, does the rotor surface appear to have a "cross-hatching" (similar to cylinder bore) OR, is it very smooth (almost a semi-gloss), OR, is it a bit rough?...
...i have had rotors that i have had turned which appeared to be rough after the episode but, i's been too long since i bought 'em new from a retail outlet....
it's been a while but, when you purchase a set of rotors (stock, NO holes, slotted, etc) from a retail outlet, does the rotor surface appear to have a "cross-hatching" (similar to cylinder bore) OR, is it very smooth (almost a semi-gloss), OR, is it a bit rough?...
...i have had rotors that i have had turned which appeared to be rough after the episode but, i's been too long since i bought 'em new from a retail outlet....
Last edited by Da Mail Man; Jul 7, 2007 at 07:07 AM. Reason: spelling
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,956
Likes: 706
From: WI
I have got both types. Just recently I got some new C4 front and back NAPA rotors that were smooth. I also just got Centric C5 rotors from racepages.com that have heavy cross-hatch. Maybe someone will chime in with what the different finishes mean.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,835
Likes: 30
....thanks for the reply...i have the fronts that are cross-hatched and teh rears that are smooth......just curious if i was sold a "turned" rotor set....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 1
From: OR
Back in my mechanic days I'd leave the cut a little on the rough side. No squeaks that way. I noted that when they were cut smooth, or weren't cut at all because they were within specs, had a lot of customers coming back complaining of brake noise.
Some of that is determined by the machine the shop has to turn them. Some use a carbide blade that cuts kind of like a needle on a record. Some use a grinding wheel.
Some of that is determined by the machine the shop has to turn them. Some use a carbide blade that cuts kind of like a needle on a record. Some use a grinding wheel.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,110
Likes: 6
From: Red Sox Nation! RI
Yes, the cross-hatch finish on your new rotors is intentional. The finish is recommended for cars that use semi-metallic brake pads and helps prevent the rotors from glazing over and squeaking.
What Newbecorvetteguy said is very true. Most places just do a quick cut on fast speed. I used to manage a parts store that had a machine shop and this is the way we would do it: 1 or 2 fast cuts to level the rotors, the final pass was done on slow speed to give a nice smooth surface. Then with a DA and sanding disc, you put a non-directional finish on the surface. Quality work is hard to find now days.
What Newbecorvetteguy said is very true. Most places just do a quick cut on fast speed. I used to manage a parts store that had a machine shop and this is the way we would do it: 1 or 2 fast cuts to level the rotors, the final pass was done on slow speed to give a nice smooth surface. Then with a DA and sanding disc, you put a non-directional finish on the surface. Quality work is hard to find now days.
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