My front pads have been making that little noise we all know when they are getting close to ending their life and yesterday was the day. I'm pretty switched on with brakes and was concerned so dropped the car into Brakes Plus for a quote and while they had a look rang around to get a price on Pads. Was only $30 more for Brakes Plus to do the job so I went with them and asked them to check the rears as well.

They called and of course told me that the rear pads are low and all four rotors need machining.... I don't think I have EVER got any mechanic to replace pads over the years without the suggestion of machining the rotors.... so I told him just pads thanks and then asked when they were last done.

It's been 45,000 since the front Rotors and pads were replaced.
It's been 140,000 since the rear Rotors and pads were replaced.

The guy from Brakes Plus said I did well out of both .... funny cause I was disappointed as the car has been pretty much retired for the last 10 months.

Cost for front and rear pads are around $180.00 total.

Tessa,

Machining rotors is common place these days when changing pads as it gives it a better surface to bed into,mind you,alot of people just replace pads without machining without too many ill effects,maybe a bit of squeeling etc,but as you said,its trying to find a bloke that recommends machining when its really neededy,and not just a matter of course,would also depend on compound types and wether rotors are out of round,glazed etc,which i reckon your rears rotors would be!

at the end of the day machining is a good thing,but at the cost of early rotor replacemant!

steve

What brand / type of pads did you get? I had pulsar SSS for 11 years and did 185k and the rear brakes still had about a 1/3 of the pad left. Front pads I went thru about 4 sets. So 45k for your fronts is not bad, depends on the driving and style you do i.e. city traffic or a lot of easy (aka non hilly) highway.

What brand / type of pads did you get? I had pulsar SSS for 11 years and did 185k and the rear brakes still had about a 1/3 of the pad left. Front pads I went thru about 4 sets. So 45k for your fronts is not bad, depends on the driving and style you do i.e. city traffic or a lot of easy (aka non hilly) highway.

The pads were bedded in doing courier work so harshish braking would apply.

With the machining I think it's a bit like the "would you like to upsize that" sales technique, rotors only need machining once to every three change of pads unless it's metal on metal for an extended period. if you have the rotors machined every time you get pads you'll soon find the rotors shrinking to undersized and needing replacing as well. These are the 2nd pads for the front rotors and 1st for the rears, so I decided not to upsize.

Hmmm. When I went for my 60K service, the guy said the front pads were about 1/4 left and should be replaced. I promptly said that they were the originals so 3/4 for 60K should net another 20k. :D

You should machine the rotors when you put new pads on, it's not a gimmick or a money grab, it's strongly recommended.

You should machine the rotors when you put new pads on, it's not a gimmick or a money grab, it's strongly recommended.

This is true. I put a new set of Bendix GCTs on the front and while at first they felt great after a while they didn't feel right and under hard braking they let go.

Had the front rotors machined today and now its stops great. Alot smoother and alot more grab.

You ALWAYS machine rotors when you fit pads\

The rotors do not wear evenly for starters, you will also get glazing, grooves etc all of which the new pads then have to bed into

People do not want to spend the extra few $$ machining and doing the job properly then they cry when the rotors squeal like a stuck pig or shudder like a vibrator on overtime.

You ALWAYS machine rotors when you fit pads\

The rotors do not wear evenly for starters, you will also get glazing, grooves etc all of which the new pads then have to bed into

People do not want to spend the extra few $$ machining and doing the job properly then they cry when the rotors squeal like a stuck pig or shudder like a vibrator on overtime.

cool,there you go tess,so what is the recommended way, on car or off car?,i have heard on car is better as it allows for runout of the hub etc whereas off car doesnt,seen any ill effects from off car machining?,also what is the go with machining slotted or cross drilled rotors?

steve

You ALWAYS machine rotors when you fit pads\

The rotors do not wear evenly for starters, you will also get glazing, grooves etc all of which the new pads then have to bed into

People do not want to spend the extra few $$ machining and doing the job properly then they cry when the rotors squeal like a stuck pig or shudder like a vibrator on overtime.

Bangin' - i'm never machining mine again, the missus will be in heaven.

You ALWAYS machine rotors when you fit pads\

The rotors do not wear evenly for starters, you will also get glazing, grooves etc all of which the new pads then have to bed into

People do not want to spend the extra few $$ machining and doing the job properly then they cry when the rotors squeal like a stuck pig or shudder like a vibrator on overtime.
Ooo dirty talk.

Faeces.

Ooo dirty talk.

Fecies.
Trying to be funny works better when you can spell faeces. ;)

Over the years remembering I have done heaps of Km's for around 20 years I tried both methods. I machined at every pad change(ya know if we weren't on a car forum that could be taken the wrong way...) and found all that did was wore the Rotors out quicker with no real improvement in braking performance.

When I went back to the "every 3rd pad change" I can't say I noticed any worse braking performance. I certainly always got my rotors checked for warping, grooves and size(width matters) at every pad change but only had them machined if they needed it.

But each to their own.

I machined at every pad change(ya know if we weren't on a car forum that could be taken the wrong way...) .

:bowrofl:

cool,there you go tess,so what is the recommended way, on car or off car?,i have heard on car is better as it allows for runout of the hub etc whereas off car doesnt,seen any ill effects from off car machining?,also what is the go with machining slotted or cross drilled rotors?

steve

As personal prefrence I prefer off car, is a lot more accurate as well.

The hub run out should be that small it would be insignificant

Also another place people make huge mistakes is they do not clean the hub and rotor when they install rotors and they use a rattle gun to tighten the wheel nuts when they should always be torqued