I'm not totally convinced on the NOT turning the rotors comments; (yall have probably done more than I, but I'll chime anyway!).
IMO, the reason warpage and bad results occur from turning the rotor is a bad job. Too many of these places have kids who take a huge big chunk of surface out or don't get the rotor in there exactly right. It takes a lot of patience, and too many are in a hurry to get on to better things to do.
On brake jobs when I did not turn the rotors, the pads never lasted as long, and did not perform as well. Could have another coincedence.

 

For the price I got mine ( $55.00 for stock ones )
I just replace them :cheers:

 

Gee Herb, Parker-Robb replaced my rotors, Pads, plus an oil change for $357. This did not include the parts.

 

Tom

 

I would disagree in that turning rotors you are actually machining them to near true flat surface. New pads would mate better with a perfect flush contact print. All rotors wear and will have some signs of uneveness at time of normal brake pad replacement. Why would you put new pads on an irregular surface. GM does not recommend new pads on an worn rotor. It is acceptable , however to keep existing pads on a matched worn rotor as it mates well.

 

Is there really something fundamentally wrong with brake discs that are exposed to the American climate almost everyone I speak to, no matter what car they have, tells me that when they had the pads changed they also paid through the nose for the discs (rotors) to be refinished or replaced? Please, though, read the rest of my post before getting bent out of shape :blueangel:

Just for an experiment I went to a couple of brake places and asked for quotes to get my pads changed. They all added in the cost of new brake discs without even asking mileage or checking for wear.

Well, folks, I have to say that prior to moving here from Europe I only ever had to change one set of discs as they were really scored and that was my fault -- oh, and that's called taking responsibility for one's actions if it seems an a strange thing to have said.

Also, it's true, the GM service manual says only to refinish or change if you need to.

Finally, as to all my friends who had their discs changed, when I asked them. They all told, "oh, my mechanic told me that that's what you always had to do".

I'm wondering if the the mindset of changing the discs is a sort of common practice to beef up the bill (3K oil changes anyone?) or is life here so fast and tough that even the brake discs can't take it? ;)


[Modified by chocoholic, 11:03 AM 7/27/2002]

 

Refinishing the disc is giving you a perfect brake job. While you are in there it only makes sense to me to set the new pads to a new machined surface. The pads are expensive so putting them on a rough or uneven surface will wear the pads faster only to lose the cost of resurfacing anyway. Depending on where you drive in USA will determine pad wear. Dusty sandy areas (western USA) will wear pads as well as mountainous regions as well. type of driving jabits will influence wear as well. I have replaced pads many times without resurfacing with good results , but if you want the best fit and mate you should refinish the rotor. The price to refinish discs here is 5.00 per rotor. Not so costly , if you drop them off at Pep Boys. Just take enough metal off to clean them up and true the surface. No more.