So its time to change my pads I'm pretty sure my rotors are still good they are real smooth and seem to have very little wear but before I change my pads should I have the rotors resurfaced. I did search but found mixed opinions some say do it others don't. I've put 20k on the brakes since I purchaced the car and they are starting to squeel very slightly (low speeds) so I think I'm gettin down to the wear indicators. I havent taken the wheel off to check them out fully yet but I'm pretty sure its time. So anyway I'm gonna replace my pads with Akebono Street Performance Pads and keep reuse the rotors should I turn them first or just clean them. Also is there any way to tell the manufacture of the pads I have on now as I've been very happy with them almost no dust silent and good stopping and before I order new ones I would like to replace them with the same but I've got no idea what brand they are as the were new when I bought the car.

 

unless the rotors are really smooth and even and you don't a shimmy or any other vibration when braking, you're better of turning them.

 

I don't see why you should not do it.
not even rotors could ruin your new pads also.

 

I always get them turned before installing new pads, it's similiar to doing a clutch and not resurfacing the flywheel.

Somewhere on here someone posted a great link about adherent vs friction braking iirc, it's worth reading the article.

 

How much does it cost to turn rotors these days? Last time I checked, it was almost as much as a new set of blanks.

 

shop by me does it for 6 bucks a rotor.

 

Those were the days....I used to have a shop like that until my area turned into yuppyville.....now it cost 45 per rotor. I refuse to pay that much so I always throw away and buy new....same price

 

the mechanic i go to includes resurface when changing pads.

 

You need to find another shop. I pay $15 and hear PepBoys also charges $15.

 

I always turn rotors before each brake job

 

new OEM replacement rotors...good pads (Hawk HPS)...wont have the problem again

 

No, you should not. If they're low quality you'll have problems no matter what; if they're good you won't. I replaced stock ones around 12k due to infamous judder which plagued me since 6k. I cut them twice by that time. 200k (!) later I finally replaced this second set with Brembo blanks which I bought here. So far so good - probably for another 200k . Usually I'm getting vibration when pads need to be replaced. I replace them without cutting rotors and everything is swell again. It's up to you.

 

Pull off your rotors and drop them off to O'rielly, Advance auto, Brake Check, Midas, Pep Boys, or your good ole boy machine shop....It easier on the wallet and better on bedding the brakes so you can have longer pad life and more consistant braking! I had a hard time finding a shop that could resurface X-drilled rotors then one day O'rielly got new machines @ certain locations that can resurface X-drilled rotors alot easier than before. It also can be done on a conventional brake lathe the tech just needs to slow it down a bit......I had them do several sets for my old 2000 GLE!

 

Which is better - buying new rotors from Autozone or Advanced Auto for $50/each, or having the original rotors turned? (Although my car shimmys when I brake fast, so Im wondering if my rotors aren't too warped to even have them turned...)

 

Buying new rotor is the best option of the two, if cost is not an issue, but otherwise if you turn them and doesn't grind too much material you'll be just fine.

 

If you can have the original rotors turned, I'd say go for it. Why buy new when your old ones can work if they can be turned. Oreilly's charged me $8.00 a pop to have them turned last week for my town and country van.
They stated it will be the last time these rotors can be turned before I have to buy new ones. I can live with another 30k miles before I have to buy new ones.

 

Turning the rotors would stop the shimmy during braking then, correct? I'm just afraid they're too warped to turn because it shakes pretty bad when coming to a stop light from between 50-60mph.

 

Here's what the experts have to say,


http://www.bendixbrakes.com/techCorner/faq.php

 

if it shakes that bad, replace or else the vibration will come back within 2 months and it will also be twice as bad.
i find that cheap china rotors have no vibration whatsoever these days. also they lost long enough. this china set lasted me twice longer than oem

 

Turning rotors never made much sense to me, especially for this chassis. You're taking already-suspect rotors and making them more prone to warpage by removing heat-absorbing mass. Borrowed time is all it is. Just get replacements.

 

+2 on that. If rotors are not grooved, warped nor have hotspots, refreshing them is all one needs to do.

 

I resurfaced mine for 10 bucks a piece when I put a new pads, now no more vivration, soo smooth.

 

Check the thickness of the rotors, if with in specs, resurface them.

 

I only turn mine if there are noticeable spots or the previous pads were worn down to the wear indicators and started to squeal.

 

Resurface em yourself if you can--I spent almost 300 getting mine re-done last year. The shops are just so damn expensive. I almost can't afford to get anything repaired.

 

Sounds like they really like you alot...Are you still sore? Resurfacing only cost about $20-$30... Good luck with the warpage saga, best bet is to upgrade to 6th gen 12.6" Oem front brake system...that's for the post originator!

 

I had my rotors resurfaced. Paid like 45 per rotor but I gave my cousin the business, cuz he does some other stuff for me. But you guys are lucky to have shops charge way less.

 

If they make your car shake already, chances are you are much better off replacing them. Autopart stores these days carry cheap rotors that are long lasting. A lot of times you can just resurface them, and, on very rare ocassions, if they look nice and smooth and are not giving you any problem, the only thing you need to do is to sand them down on a criss-cross pattern to remove glazing. I was actually told the latter today by a technician at PepBoys when I took my front rotors to be resurfaced.

 

that will last a couple months...then you will be complaining again.

 

I just got new rotors on my 02 maxima...$40 each at Pep boys...no vibration at all. As others said, most shops charge about the same amount to resurface these days - so why bother and just get new ones.