new pads old rotors?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 65
From: Rochester Hills MI
new pads old rotors?
Im going to be replacing all of my brake pads and my front rotors. Im getting the powerslot cryo-treated slotted rotors for the front and hawk hps pads all around. Right now all of my pads are standard oem pads. I'm wondering if it would be a bad idea to put the hawk pads on my used rear oem rotors that are now using a different pad. I'm going to stick with solid rotors for the rear even if i do change them. ive read that a rotor should always use the same type of pad throughout its life. So my question is should i get new rotors for the rear or not? What kind of negative effects would be involved with keeping the old rotors which used different pads previously? I'm thinking they might not bed in correctly. thanks for your help.
-Dan
-Dan
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 5
From: Holly, Michigan
The only concern would be pad transfer to the rotor (i.e bedding), and this really only a real issue when going from one type of pad to a very different type of pad. If you burnish the old rotor (sandpaper), using new pads on old rotors is no issue at all...
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
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From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I replaced the OEM pads with new ceramic pads, using the original rotors, and have no issues what so ever.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: North New Jersey
I've done many, many brake jobs and I have used the same rotors numerous times. I have never turned or sanded any rotors, and never had a problem. As long as the current brakes aren't pulsating right now you will be fine with just pads.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
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BUT THEY LOOSE PRECIOUS METAL THEN CAN CAN LEAD TO OVERHEATING THEM AND THEN THEY WARP
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
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From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
Brake rotor heating under high braking loads is one of the factors taken into consideration when calculating the minimum allowable thickness stated in the service manual.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
With less iron mass, the rotor will heat up faster and become hotter.
This can, and often does, cause the rotor to warp.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 2
From: Houston Texas
IMHO- If ever in doubt about the condition of existing rotors, best to replace them with new rotors meeting or exceeding oem quality specs.
I do not believe in resurfacing rotors - too many variables not the least of which would be the operator of the resurfacing equipment.
I do not believe in resurfacing rotors - too many variables not the least of which would be the operator of the resurfacing equipment.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 5
From: Holly, Michigan
A lesser mass will result in a higher temperature. The brake system turns kinetic energy into heat. The same amount of heat applied to a lesser mass results in a higher average temperature for that mass.
Sure, they can design the system to withstand that heat within the design specifications, however, the hotter it is, the more opportunities for non-uniform cooling, which can locally distort the rotor surface, resulting in "warpage".
Sure, they can design the system to withstand that heat within the design specifications, however, the hotter it is, the more opportunities for non-uniform cooling, which can locally distort the rotor surface, resulting in "warpage".