To Resurface Front Brake Rotors Or Not?

[landar]

Interesting discussion. This machining while on the car would not, by any chance, result in more profit to the dealer, would it? :whistles:

[1990LS400]

Interesting discussion. This machining while on the car would not, by any chance, result in more profit to the dealer, would it? :whistles:

I'm pretty sure that the mechanic who explained it to me wasn't watching out for the dealer. He seemed like a complete "techie" and launched into an enthusiastic detailed explanation about the interrelationship of components that got my eyes glazing over pretty fast.

So, I did some Internet searching ... it must be true if it's on the Internet ... right?

I quickly found web pages that said the same thing including the following one from good ol' Pat Goss who says "Most manufacturers have stated that you no longer machine a brake rotor off the car. It has to be done on the car such as what we are doing here." --> http://www.motorweek.org/features/goss_garage/turn_turn_turn_that_rotor

Gosh, I think I am learning something new!

[landar]

Who knows, the mechanic may be bucking for that service manager position. They get paid a commission for selling. ;)

The in-vehicle truing all sounds a little bit too anal to me for most cars. I suspect profit is involved somewhere along the line. Or maybe I need a liberal swig of the Kool-Aid?! ^_^

[1990LS400]

The in-vehicle truing all sounds a little bit too anal to me for most cars. I suspect profit is involved somewhere along the line. Or maybe I need a liberal swig of the Kool-Aid?! ^_^

Drink up, Randy ... and enjoy the benefits of improved methods and equipment.

[SRK]

Pat Goss. Gawdam. I haven't heard that name for a while. I remember watching him years ago on some eastern PBS channel. I think I destroyed my TV one day throwing my shoe at him.

Every "on the car" rotor turning machine bolts to the caliper bracket mounting holes - that's where it gets it's reference and it's foundation. Imagine all the adapters needed.

If the hub is confirmed at zero run-out, and the brake lathe can produce zero run-out on a rotor, then it only makes sense that any rotor as machined can be mounted on any hub, as long as both have zero run-out. Spark plugs are not select fit - they are machined accurately so that they can be installed in any location.

A new rotor is delivered with zero run-out. A used rotor can be machined to the same tolerance with good "off the car" equipment.

[landar]

A little Vodka in that Kool-Aid and I will never even notice my lighter wallet, Jim. Improved methods or better milking of customers? That be the question. B)

[curiousB]

... however, you'll be far better off if you have the rotors turned on the car, otherwise known as matched to the hub, ....

Overkill in my mind. I just change pads if the rotors aren't unusually scored.Once rotors gets scored up (actually more commonly warped) I just replace them with new ones. In 130k miles I've changed pads 3-4 times and rotors once on each wheel. What I saved in dealer labor to machine the rotors more than paid for the new rotors over the past ten years.

Maybe if I was driving on a track at 150+ MPH and hard braking into turns I'd want pristine rotors milled in place to null out any stackup error of tolerances. I don't know about you but my lumbering comfy couch LS doesn't get a lot of track time...