My car’s wheel alignment was off when I got it, and I put off getting it adjusted. I thus had uneven tire wear and perhaps warped front rotors.
After changing the tires, the alignment is now fine, but there is still some stuttering from the front when I brake from higher speeds.
Can I have the rotors resurfaced? Should I? Although I don’t know much about brakes, I once read that resurfacing is not a good idea for fast automobiles. However, such information could be false.
BMW has long maintained that if the rotors are out of specification, they should be changed. No turning, no machining, no resurfacing—just replacement, end of story.
I tuned my car, including DME break and tune, so now my question is. Do I still need to take it to BMW? After the most recent posts, I’m concerned that I might be blacklisted. Brakes shouldn’t even be involved, but who knows.
You can get this done for you at any respectable business. I’m not sure if BMW is covered by the maintenance program in the US, but are the breaks? If so, I’d recommend taking it there; otherwise, if you’re paying for it yourself and are concerned that your car may get flagged, just take it to a trustworthy shop.
You will be required to pay for the components and labor because brakes are a wear-and-tear item.
I would locate a nearby BMW shop and ask them to complete the work, probably for a cheaper labor cost. So don’t be concerned about being “tagged.”
As of this month, they have given the go-ahead for trimming typical rotors in specific circumstances. No CCB, however, and no drilled rotors.
I appreciate all the responses. Given that I haven’t driven the car hard and it just has 5,000 miles on it, I would be shocked if the problem was caused by deformed rotors, but you never know. I believe I’ll take it to the dealership to get their opinion.
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It is simple to resurface the rotor if the pads are not gnawing through it. BMW overkills by replacing rotors with every brake pad replacement. The minimum thickness for the fronts is 30.8mm; I forgot about the rear, but the caliper shows it.
I’ve always known that there isn’t much of a difference between minimum and new thickness. Therefore, when the rotors wear, you have reached or exceeded the minimum by the time you remove a small amount for resurfacing.
But I agree that the rotors should still have some useful life left for street driving if you are driving close to the minimum.
Rotor resurfacing: what is it?
Every time new brake pads were put in the past, brake rotors were machined, or resurfaced. In order to determine whether the rotors met the manufacturer’s minimum thickness recommendation, a technician would measure the rotors. If so, and if there was enough material left over for resurfacing, the technician would disassemble the brakes, remove the rotors, mount them on a device (a brake lathe), and remove just enough material to restore their smoothness and ability to spin.
However, earlier brake rotors were bulky and hefty. They were durable enough to withstand numerous resurfacing procedures and numerous brake pad replacements. Modern cars, including the one you drive, have lighter-weight rotors. They are consequently narrower than older rotors and frequently lack sufficient margin for resurfacing. Rotor resurfacing is thus no longer as common as it once was, but still being done frequently (in fact, new tools like on-car brake lathes make the operation more effective and exact). Resurfacing is still an option if it is found that a rotor has enough thickness for it and is not fractured or distorted.
Should rotors be resurfaced?
Your brake rotors may be resurfaced if there is enough metal still present and there are no hard places, cracks, severe grooves, or rusting. Some people believe that the brake rotors shouldn’t need to be resurfaced every time the pads are changed unless they have surface problems that need to be repaired.
When shouldn’t rotors be resurfaced?
The minimum thickness specification established by the rotor manufacturer must be met by a resurfaced rotor. You shouldn’t resurface a rotor if it doesn’t match the minimum thickness requirement since it will become too thin, dangerous, and prone to warping.
When you install new brake pads, rotors don’t necessarily need to be resurfaced, but doing so guarantees the new brake pads have a good surface to grip.
Let’s examine the instances in which replacing the rotors outright is preferable to resurfacing them.
Should rotors be resurfaced or replaced?
When is it possible to resurface? when a technician inspects a rotor and determines that the tolerances are within the procedure’s acceptable range. If not, a replacement is required.
However, there are situations when starting over with a new rotor is preferable. For instance, many rotors today cost far less than they did in the past. You can save time and money by just replacing a rotor rather of having it resurfaced. Or perhaps you ignored the warning signs that your brake pads required replacement, causing your rotors to become damaged from the abrasive metal-to-metal contact. Usually, instead of being resurfaced, those badly damaged rotors need to be replaced.
Even some automakers demand that you replace your rotors rather than simply resurface them. Otherwise, the majority of industry experts advise replacing them every 30-70K miles. If the rotors cannot be resurfaced, replacement is your only choice. However, it’s possible that it’s still the greatest choice for you.
Have a skilled technician at a reputable repair facility inspect the brake system and measure the rotors if your car needs disc brake servicing. Your technician might advise resurfacing if they don’t exhibit any signs of cracking or significant damage, have enough material for it, and the manufacturer approves. On the other hand, if your rotors are too thin or too damaged, or if replacing them would be more cost-effective, you probably need to do so.
How long does rotor resurfacing take?
They can be turned for around $15 per at various auto parts stores, and it should just take a few minutes per one. They can be turned for approximately $15 each at several auto parts stores, and it should only take about 15-20 minutes per item.
Is rotor replacement or resurfacing more affordable?
Runout issues can be almost eliminated by resurfacing these rotors with an on-car lathe, although doing so necessitates spending money on the machinery. Some installers claim that replacing the rotors alone is both cheaper and simpler.
How much does it cost to resurface brake rotors?
The price of resurfacing per rotor can vary greatly. The cost of resurfacing your rotors can run anywhere from $15 to over $45 per rotor if you remove them yourself and take them to a shop or parts store.
It can cost up to $100 per wheel and $400 for the entire automobile to have your rotors removed, resurfaced, and reinstalled by a repair facility. For some four-wheel drive SUVs, pickup trucks, high performance sedans, and sports vehicles, the removal/reinstallation and machining processes can be much more expensive.
How long do rotors with new surfaces last?
No matter how well-maintained they are, rotors still need to be replaced every 70,000 miles, even if they have been resurfaced. Observe for indications of extensive pitting, spotting, grooving, hard patches, or cracking, as well as uneven wear and excessive runout.
BMW, do you need to swap out the rotors for pads?
It is typically a good idea to just change the rotors at the same time because of the typical amount of mileage we receive from the OEM pads. If not, your new pads won’t last long before your rotors have reached the minimum wear level and need to be changed. Normally, replacing rotors rather than pads is a terrible idea.
Does resurfacing brake rotors make sense?
When the rotor face is consistent, it will probably be less expensive in the long run to replace the rotors. Damaged rotors may cause your brake pads to wear more quickly than new ones will, and resurfacing the rotors will only give them one more “hoorah” before they need to be replaced. Since you know they’ll last you a specific amount of time if you follow up with your routine maintenance, replacing your rotors is not only safer but also less expensive.
We at Coulter Nissan appreciate the value of your time. We have almost 90 years of experience servicing the communities of Surprise, Avondale, and Peoria. As members of the Nissan family, we are aware that happy and safe customers are the result of receiving high-quality parts and services. When the time comes, our service staff can fix or replace your brakes, and in the interim, we’ll provide you advice on the best maintenance options for your car.
Will rotor resurfacing eliminate vibration?
A noticeable pedal vibration can be produced by a thickness change of just.001 inches. Due to the fact that the hard patches typically extend far below the surface, resurfacing cannot solve the issue.
Can I replace brake pads without having my rotors resurfaced?
You can definitely replace only the worn brake pads if they haven’t been damaged or thinned past the discard thickness.
It’s the rotor minimum thickness required by the rotor or car manufacturer.
The performance and long-term wear of the brake pads are influenced by the brake rotor and vice versa.
Typical wear patterns on old rotors include brake dust left behind from an old brake pad set.
The new brake pads may not therefore properly fit the old rotor. Due to this mismatch, the new brake pads may wear unevenly and generate noise and vibration.
Additionally, keep in mind that an old, worn-out rotor can eventually require replacement. The time and money you think you are saving may not be as great as you imagined.
Resurfacing entails scraping a minute layer of material off the brake disc or rotor’s front and back surfaces.
By doing this, worn-out brake pads’ grooves, pits, and remaining friction material are removed, leaving a smooth surface for the new brake pads to grab onto, allowing the new brake pads to wear down uniformly.
How durable are BMW brake rotors?
How durable are BMW brake rotors? The type of rotors, your driving technique, the conditions of your typical commute, and the kind of car you are driving all have a significant impact on the interpretation. Depending on the aforementioned considerations, BMW rotors typically need to be replaced every 30,000 to 80,000 miles.