To resurface or not to resurface?

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Oct 29, 2008 | 02:07 PM
  #1  
I replaced my rotors and brake pads 12 months ago... now the pads need to be replaced again (the downside to our great brembo brakes!)...

I can't find a shop in my area that will resurface my SLOTTED rotors. People say just buy new rotors, but that's $200-something bucks extra that I'd love to not spend if I don't have to.

I stopped by a local mechanic the other day and he said just slap the pads on...

On the one hand, if I can even find a shop that will machine my rotors, maybe they'll end up being too thin to resurface anyway.

But on the other hand, if I don't resurface or replace the rotors, I'm worried the pads won't seat properly in the old rotors. Then again, they're only 12 months old.

Thoughts? I'd love to save money and just slap the pads on. But I'll replace the rotors if people think that's really important. Optimal would be resurfacing, but it seems like nobody wants to do it...
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Oct 29, 2008 | 02:34 PM
  #2  
Get new rotors...
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Oct 29, 2008 | 02:36 PM
  #3  
^ +1
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Oct 29, 2008 | 04:04 PM
  #4  
is there noticeable grooves on the rotors? if not, just slap the pads on
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Oct 29, 2008 | 04:12 PM
  #5  
+2 for new
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Oct 29, 2008 | 07:42 PM
  #6  
Don't see why you'd need to resurface if there are no serious grooves or gouges, or if they are within thickness and runout spec. No reason to replace them after 12 months unless they have tons of miles on 'em.
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Oct 29, 2008 | 07:48 PM
  #7  
New rotors everytime you change pads.

at least that's what infiniti said
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Oct 29, 2008 | 10:22 PM
  #8  
Quote: New rotors everytime you change pads.

at least that's what infiniti said
Who says? It doesn't say that in the FSM, and I've put new pads on old rotors (still in good shape) many times with no ill effects.
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Oct 30, 2008 | 12:41 AM
  #9  
at about 70000 i changed out brake pads, at 85000 my rotors were down to 14 and 12 mm, i was running low on brake fluid, and my hawk hps pads were shot after 15k. infiniti of tacoma informed me that i needed to change out rotors when i changed out pads
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Nov 3, 2008 | 02:48 PM
  #10  
Quote: at about 70000 i changed out brake pads, at 85000 my rotors were down to 14 and 12 mm, i was running low on brake fluid, and my hawk hps pads were shot after 15k. infiniti of tacoma informed me that i needed to change out rotors when i changed out pads
They only said that because they were below minimum thickness spec on your rotors. Doesn't mean you have to change them out every time you do pads. I changed my front Brembo pads out 1 year ago at 17k miles, and am at 24k now on the same original rotors, which still have some meat on them. I had no grooves or gouges in the original rotors. The car's braking performance is still phenomenal.
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Nov 3, 2008 | 03:15 PM
  #11  
Quote: Don't see why you'd need to resurface if there are no serious grooves or gouges, or if they are within thickness and runout spec. No reason to replace them after 12 months unless they have tons of miles on 'em.
+1, check the runout and thickness, if they are fine, then no need to turn. if they are out of specs and you can't find anyone to turn them, then buy new rotors
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