I just had some new Brembo blanks installed in the front of my 2000 I30. After I drove home I noticed that the rotors had very slight grooves in them like a record. My pads are in good shape. Is this normal for the rotors?

 

Did you put new pads in when you had the rotors installed? If not, I would go out and get new pads now. If the pads you have now have any irregularities in them, they may damage your new rotors. IMO, it is a good idea to start with new pads when installing new rotors.

 

if it's a spiral groove like a record, it will grind your pads away faster than normal. A rotor shouldn't have this.

 

What about resurfaced rotors... I got all new rotors & pads last August, and they eventually formed tiny grooves (which is normal AFAIK)... I had to get the rotors resurfaced once since then, so the rotors have a smooth surface while the pads still had small grooves (the rotors appear to already have those grooves re-embedded in them now)...

 

No, I did not change out the brake pads. The ones on there are very thick and in good shape. According to two mechanics, both the dealer and another trusted mechanic, you do not have to replace the brake pads. It is recommended but not necessary. They scuffed up the pad with some sand-paper to help it seat to the new rotors. According to them both, pads alone will not warp rotors.

I did spend more money replacing the rotors ($180 total including labor) versus just turning them but I bought the car used and it had over 56k miles on it and these were stock rotors. If I turned the rotors for around $90 (on the car) then there is a much greater chance they would warp again soon and I would have to spend more money anyway. I figured by doing this I shouldn't have to replace the rotors for a long time and will not have to turn them again (or rarely) since the Brembos should be better than stock.

I talked to the service department at the dealership and according to them the grooves are normal.

 

I just spoke with Brembo. According to them, slight grooves are okay. They are just the brake pads bedding themselves. Deep grooves however (those that you can catch with your fingernail) are not. I think these are light enough so far.