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I have noticed that all 4 of my rotors arent "shiney" anymore.. The are drilled/slotted and when I bought the car they looked nice even though they were used.. Now they have a grey "film" all over the rotor.. Kinda looks like the 70k mile flywheel I just removed with heat spots and stuff.. I'm guess the previous owner was either much more gentle on the brakes than I am or maybe the pads are too old?? (never hear of such a thing but its a thought).. Just confused what I can do to get the rotors looking nice again and keep it from happeneing again
(1) How is the stopping power?
(2) Weak?
(3) Still the same?
(4) Noisy?
(5) Have you pulled a wheel and inspected the pads to see the depth left on them?
(6) Do you know the brand of Pads you have?
(7) Do you know the brand of rotors? (GM or aftermarket?)
(8) Got any pictures? that will help too!
Sounds like your rotors are GLAZED from hard stopping and got too hot, that can happen. Especially when when real spirited driving has happened or driving fast and having to come to a stop in a very very short distance and overheating the pads and rotors!
Dont know brand of pads but they have TONS of life left.. although have a brownish color to them like they have wiped the rust off the rotors one too many times.. The Rotors are unknown as well.. they are drilled/slotted (best pic I have at work).. One row of holes then a slot, black center..
Have not noticed a reduction in stopping force, no noise either.. With the car on jackstands, grab the front wheel like I'm playing wheel of fortune and I can get maybe 2 full rotations before the drag stops it.. Im not a hulk but I put some force behind it.. so yes they drag but its not like its "hard" to turn the wheel by hand.. The car spends a decent amount of time at the dragstrip so hard braking happens.. I just thought the street miles of driving might clean off any glaze from the dragstrip.. I will snap a picture this evening of the rotor as it is right now..
No street driving unfortunately will not knocj=k any glaze off!
Suggestion: (if already done recently disregard)
I would bleed the entire system of the brake fluid, use a different color fluid or continue to bleed them until you have clear clean fluid coming from the calipers!
This should help, it almost seems like the pistons are not retracting all the way and contaminants are in there!
I work at a dealership and we have a power bleeding system.. one of the mechanics bled the system for me but I know he did a pretty crappy job as the fluid was still dark after he was done and he also said he could only do three of the wheels since one of the bleeders was "frozen" and he didnt want to break it off.. Once the clutch is in I will do it again myself to make sure its done correctly.. Aside from having the rotors turned is there anyway to bring back their color?? Or can you even turn a slotted/drilled rotor?
I work at a dealership and we have a power bleeding system.. one of the mechanics bled the system for me but I know he did a pretty crappy job as the fluid was still dark after he was done and he also said he could only do three of the wheels since one of the bleeders was "frozen" and he didnt want to break it off.. Once the clutch is in I will do it again myself to make sure its done correctly.. Aside from having the rotors turned is there anyway to bring back their color?? Or can you even turn a slotted/drilled rotor?
Yes!
(1) You can have a drilled and slotted rotor turned - just do not take off too much, just a de-glazing job!