Well, this morning, I take the trusty Passat into the garage tog et the front brakes replaced.
Inevitably, the garage will probably call me this morning, telling me that I absolutely, positively must have my rotos replaced too, since theyve been cut and grooved. Not surprisingly, I’ve been told I should have my rotors replaced every time I’ve gotten at every auto mechanic and dealer since I owned my very first car in 1986.
Iv’ve heard from various sourced that rotor repalcement or regrinding really isn’t necessary; if the rotors are grooved, the new brake pads will form to the shape of the grooves in a few weeks, and the brakes will work fine. What I need from the ifgnorance-fighting masses is the truth … just when do brake rotors need to be replaced or reground?
Read your last paragraph, because that sums it up.
As long as the rotors haven’t been cut a number of times, having grooves means driving a short time extra carefully for the pads to seat up with them… AND you should expect possibly more noise. The noise is meaningless, but it tends to haunt cars with grooved rotors.
Most modern rotors, VW especially, aren’t up to cutting. Maybe once, and that’s it.
So, replace the pads, remember they take time to seat and give max stopping power, and don’t be disturbed by some brake noise.
cite: cartalk.com and tons of personal experience.
(wife = 1997 VW with 80k, second set of brake pads…same rotors from new)
(Please understand that I am avoiding the rest of this thread like the plague! Car stuff = MASSIVE doses of conjecture. Good day!)
Philster is correct. I do my own brake work for my vehicles and have put pads on grooved rotors before, knowing full well that I needed to be extra careful until the pads conformed to the rotors. But that was my decison on my work on my cars. If something went wrong - for instance, the grooved rotors cause the pads to “grab” at an inopportune time and a wreck results - then I have no one to blame but my self. Garages have no such protection. They can be sued. As a result, most garages are going to insist that the work be done to factory specs. Factory specs do not allow for grooved rotors. Some rotors can be turned, some must be replaced, depending on the original thickness, depth of the grooves and actory specs for minimum rotor thickness.
I do most of my own car work–brakes are kinda fun. Two weeks ago I discovered that the previous owner of my car did not install the wear indicators (crickets) on the front pads when a nasty grinding noise alerted me to a problem. Sho’ nuff, the right side rotor was hosed.
My point: know how much a NEW rotor cost me? $15 (I splurged & bought two). I imagine a VW rotor may cost more…because it can. But weigh that against getting the old ones resurfaced/ground.
I don’t know if this is BS or not, but I just had my brakes done, 2000 Saab Viggen CVT, and I told them (the dealer) that I didn’t want new rotors – the quote was $505 (front only). He said that the rotors are useless and that they don’t re-groove, or re-work them. I then went to a private mechanic known for his low cost (and long wait), and he said that they don’t make rotors like they used to, and that they wouldn’t take to a new fitting. He said that they would be unreliable to put pads on again. After hearing this, I wonder if I coud’ve found someone to use the old rotors.