when is time to change the brake rotors on a car?

Answer 1

If the rotors are scratched by worn down brake pads or if the surface is heavily dimpled (kind of like an orange skin) by use and heat then the rotors should be resurfaced or replaced. I would check the price of new rotors before resurfacing because new rotors are cheap for many cars. It can cost more to pay a machine shop to resurface the rotors and resurfaced rotors are thinner and do not dissipate heat as well. The rotors on some small cars are sometimes just too thin to resurface.

I just looked at brake rotors for the last car I answered a question for ('99 Cougar) and new Raybestos rotors are $11.

Answer 2

I would say that depends on how many times you've turned the rotors. You should turn the rotors every time you put on new brake pads wether it looks like it need it or not. You will need to replace them once they are too thin. Due to the fact that when you brake the rotors get hot. If they are too thin they will get too hot and it will warp them. Or if your caliper locks up and eats the rotor you will need to replace it. Or if you wear your brake pads to the metal and eat up the rotor where it will take too much off to turn it causing it to be too thin. I hope this helps. Christine

Answer 3

there is a number stamp on the brake rotor. sometime you have to sand it down to read it. it will read min follow by a number. you need a measurement tool called micrometer to measure it.

Answer 4

when they get thinner than the minimum thickness, that is stamped into the rotor

Answer 5

if they are groved take to machine shop to check if they can be tured to make them true again otherwise replace them