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Thread: Urgent brake rotor question

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
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    Toronto
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    Default Urgent brake rotor question

    I don't know much about brake rotors, but they all seem like similar hunks of metal to me.

    I have Pagid brake pads that my local mechanic said he'd be happy to install, but he says he won't machine my rotors for me because, according to him, the practice is out of favour. My rotors aren't badly warped, but I thought it would be good to freshen them up before the new pads go on. They're not smooth to the touch, and there's the slightest hint of developing warpage through the pedal.

    Should I leave my rotors as they are and just install the new pads? Should I take my rotors to someone who will machine them? Should I just get new rotors, as he suggests. If so, is there anything wrong with his generic items?

    Ebay is full of stuff like this:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E...spagenameZWDVW

    Is that overkill? The thing is, I need to get my car sorted urgently. I guess the answer I want to hear is, "go ahead and use his generic rotors -- they're all much the same", but I don't wanna put crap on my car. The car currently has his generic rotors, which work fine, but I have no basis of comparison.

    Advice, please.
    Last edited by Jay 535i; 09-06-2005 at 10:39 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Posts
    485

    Default

    Being pleased and impressed with the quality of the stock OEM rotors and brakes, I'm wary of substituting "generic" rotors.

    In any event, your stock rotors should have a minimum legal thickness dimension cast onto the back side, which will tell you if there is still enough metal to machine them on a lathe. This should cost ~$10-15 per rotor at any auto parts store with a lathe.

    So, your old rotors are thick enough for re-surfacing, or they are not. If so, just "turn" them on a lathe and re-install with your new Pagid pads. If not, then look to BMA or other reputable BMW parts supplier for a decent price on OEM replacement of good quality, or at least as a cross-check of your mechanic's pricing.

  3. #3
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    Dec 2003
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    Eastern Tennessee USi
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    Default

    get bailo or brembos, their both good. I wouldnt machine the old ones.
    95 E34 530I V2.37
    ===========
    Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
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    65

    Default

    If I was going to go for new rotors I would get the ebay brembos over the standard ones. This is especially the case if I'm running a pad that has a harder than stock compound as your rotors are more likely to warp if you don't have anywhere for the heat to go.
    If you don't want to spend the money I would get the rotors machined. You's not really taking a signinficant amount of metal away so you'll be fine. The more metal you take away though, if you machine your rotors more than a couple times will warp your rotors because the lack of rotor mass will make it harder for the rotor to dissipate the heat.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    4,150

    Default The stock rotors have a minimum thickness of 20.4 mm on your

    car, the maximum amount that you can remove from a brand new bmw rotor is .8 mm or approx .031 thousands of an inch. If you have any wear at all to speak or or especially if you can feel warpage when you apply the brakes then you will go well beyond that limit when machining. For the price of a new set of Balo or Ate rotors from BMA i wouldn't even consider turning them unless they are in very good condition and your only turning to clean the surface. Since you mentioned warped that pretty much eliminates that possibility... As far as wasting your money on the brembo's... They are exactly the same size as the stock rotors so you don't gain any thermal mass and drilling holes in them and cutting slots actually reduces thermal mass.. I think the Balo's are about 40 dollars each from BMA and the brembo's on ebay are 200? I can buy rotors, wear indicators and Raybestos QS ceramic or Akebono ceramic pads for less than that for everything.







    Quote Originally Posted by jaylebo
    I don't know much about brake rotors, but they all seem like similar hunks of metal to me.

    I have Pagid brake pads that my local mechanic said he'd be happy to install, but he says he won't machine my rotors for me because, according to him, the practice is out of favour. My rotors aren't badly warped, but I thought it would be good to freshen them up before the new pads go on. They're not smooth to the touch, and there's the slightest hint of developing warpage through the pedal.

    Should I leave my rotors as they are and just install the new pads? Should I take my rotors to someone who will machine them? Should I just get new rotors, as he suggests. If so, is there anything wrong with his generic items?

    Ebay is full of stuff like this:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E...spagenameZWDVW

    Is that overkill? The thing is, I need to get my car sorted urgently. I guess the answer I want to hear is, "go ahead and use his generic rotors -- they're all much the same", but I don't wanna put crap on my car. The car currently has his generic rotors, which work fine, but I have no basis of comparison.

    Advice, please.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    1,720

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill R.
    car, the maximum amount that you can remove from a brand new bmw rotor is .8 mm or approx .031 thousands of an inch. If you have any wear at all to speak or or especially if you can feel warpage when you apply the brakes then you will go well beyond that limit when machining. For the price of a new set of Balo or Ate rotors from BMA i wouldn't even consider turning them unless they are in very good condition and your only turning to clean the surface. Since you mentioned warped that pretty much eliminates that possibility... As far as wasting your money on the brembo's... They are exactly the same size as the stock rotors so you don't gain any thermal mass and drilling holes in them and cutting slots actually reduces thermal mass.. I think the Balo's are about 40 dollars each from BMA and the brembo's on ebay are 200? I can buy rotors, wear indicators and Raybestos QS ceramic or Akebono ceramic pads for less than that for everything.
    Thanks for that.

    Is there any major disadvantage to just leaving the rotors for now and replacing them in a month or two? Will I be ruining my new pads?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    4,150

    Default You can just replace the pads but i would go ahead and get the rotors now rather than

    wear a pattern of grooves into the new pads... I would also get wear indicators and new rotor retaining bolts since one or more will probably not want to come out...




    Quote Originally Posted by jaylebo
    Thanks for that.

    Is there any major disadvantage to just leaving the rotors for now and replacing them in a month or two? Will I be ruining my new pads?

  8. #8
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    Aug 2005
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    Toronto
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    Default

    Just for fun, I called my local BMW dealer for a quote on new rotors -- just the parts, no installation.

    The quote was CDN$110 for one rear rotor. The fronts are more.

    As if!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    4,150

    Default Why don't you order them from Bruno here at his

    webstie Bruno's Racing King





    Quote Originally Posted by jaylebo
    Just for fun, I called my local BMW dealer for a quote on new rotors -- just the parts, no installation.

    The quote was CDN$110 for one rear rotor. The fronts are more.

    As if!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Montreal, Canada
    Posts
    520

    Default

    watch out for aftermarket zimmerman rotors... i think warped mine during bed in....
    please see new post!
    ^°^ ><((({º>°°

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