What happens if you put new brake pads on grooved rotors?

If new brake pads are put onto a vehicle with damaged rotors, the pad won't properly contact the rotor surface, reducing the vehicle's stopping ability. Deep grooves that have developed in a worn rotor will act as a hole-puncher or shredder and damage the pad material as it is pressed against the rotor.

Can you put new brake pads on grooved rotors?

Yes, but it depends on the condition of your brake rotors. If they aren't damaged or thinned beyond the discard thickness, you can definitely change just the worn brake pads.

Will new brake pads smooth out rotors?

If there is enough thickness left in your rotors when you go to have your brake pads replaced, some shops will offer to resurface your rotors on a machine (called a lathe) to bring them down to a smooth surface for the new brake pads to wear against.

Are grooves in rotors bad?

Deep grooves in rotor

Brake pads that are severely worn down often leave deep, circular grooves in the rotor. If such grooves are visible, brake pads and hardware must be replaced, and rotor service or replacement will also be needed.

What happens if I change the brake pads but not the rotors?

A: Unless the rotors are worn beyond the mandatory discard thickness, we prefer to replace the pads only. Not only does this obviously save money, but time. New pads must be burnished into new rotors before the best braking performance is achieved.

Slapping new brake pads on old brake rotors

What causes grooves in rotors?

When the rotors get hot during braking, it softens the metal enough to allow the 'grooving' you mentioned from the pads. The pads are more heat resistant because of what they are made of (asbestos, ceramic, etc.), so they withstand the heat better than the rotors, and produce the grooving in the super-heated rotors.

Why do my brake pads have grooves?

Braking generates heat, which can vaporize water or materials in the brake pad. Grooves allow these vapors to escape. Braking also generates vibrations, some of which occur in our hearing range.

What are signs of bad rotors?

How many times can you resurface rotors?

Even resurfaced rotors need to be replaced every 70,000 miles, doesn't matter that they are in good working condition. Look for signs of uneven wear, excessive runout, and heavy pitting, spotting, grooving, hard spots, or cracking.

Can warped rotors be resurfaced?

Can You Fix Warped Brake Rotors? Depending on how warped your rotors are, a mechanic may be able to straighten them. The process of “fixing” brake rotors is called turning or resurfacing. Brake rotor resurfacing involves scraping down the warped metal to achieve a smooth surface.

How long will brake pads last with grooved rotors?

According to brake pad manufacturers, most last between 30,000 and 70,000 miles depending on the type and quality of pad you choose and driving conditions.

How long will new brakes last on bad rotors?

The variance depends on your driving style and typical driving conditions. Using data provided by Federal Highway Administration statistics on how many miles people drive annually, typical brake pads will last between 3 and 7 years. Brake rotors last roughly 70,000 miles, but they need to be inspected for uneven wear.

Is it cheaper to resurface or replace rotors?

Resurfacing these rotors with an on-car lathe can virtually eliminate runout problems, but it requires investing in the equipment. Some installers tell us it's cheaper and easier just to replace the rotors.

Is it better to resurface rotors or replace them?

In the long run, it's likely less expensive to replace your rotors when there are consistencies in the face of the rotor. New rotors won't wear as quickly on your brake pads as damaged rotors, and resurfacing the rotors means you'll only get one last "hoorah" out of them before they need to be replaced anyway.

How much should it cost to resurface rotors?

Resurfacing cost per rotor can vary widely. If you remove your rotors yourself and take them to a shop or parts store for resurfacing, the cost can range from as little as $15 to over $45 per rotor. To have a repair shop remove, resurface and reinstall your rotors can cost up to $100 per wheel, $400 for the whole car.

Can bad brake pads damage rotors?

You can damage the brake rotors and calipers.

However, when the pads are excessively worn, exposed metal on the pads grinds against the rotors every time you brake, producing a grinding noise and likely damaging the rotors.

Are rotors supposed to be smooth?

A healthy brake rotor will be a smooth and uninterrupted surface, free of dust, grooves and grit.

How do you tell if a rotor needs to be replaced?

Can you resurface rotors?

Resurfacing Your Rotors

Sometimes your rotors may need to be resurfaced because they have worn unevenly, warped from heat, or become damaged by worn brake pads or pitted from corrosion or rust. Resurfacing rotors removes some of their metal, until the surface is smooth and even again.

Do I need to replace pitted rotors?

If your brake discs are rusted and pitted and your braking is affected, you'll need to have them replaced as soon as possible.

Can I drive with grooved rotors?

Groove marks on the brake discs may affect its ability to slow down the vehicle. Bad rotors may also cause the vehicle to vibrate, which may create the scary sensation that the car is not going to stop altogether. The inability of the brakes to stop the car can be extremely dangerous, especially during high speeds.

What would cause new rotors to warp?

There is a lot of heat that the brake rotors withstand in the process of braking; the need to dissolve the heat in a quick manner is there so the brake pads can be pressed down again. The surface of the brake rotors can become uneven over time all due to the mass amount of heat… this is also known as warping.

How much does it cost to turn rotors at Autozone?

The cost for turning a rotor runs anywhere from $15 to $25 per rotor. Purchasing new rotors typically will cost from $20-$30 per rotor and of course you will have a lot less problemsand a much longer rotor and brake pad life span.