Do dealers/shops actually still cut rotors?

[Joba27n]

Depends. When I was at GM we would resurface rotors under warranty because as per GM, if it was able to be turned warranty wouldn't pay for a new one. 60% of the time it could be turned without being too thin.

Customer pay jobs we usually replaced them because by the time the brake pads wore out it was either cheaper to replace them, too rusted between the cooling vanes, or they were technically to thin to be cut.

For my personally vehicle, I would replace them instead of cutting them unless they were like 300$ per disk and I could cut them myself for free

 

[bdcardinal]

We have a bench and on car lathe for turning rotors.

 

[That John dude]

Do dealers still actually remove rotors and resurface them? I know older days they used to do that. I know I used to take my rotors (and drums) to local machine shop and they would cut them to clean them up, wasn’t real expensive.

I thought for the most part now they just get replaced since they are much thinner to begin with.

Coincidentally I got this coupon in email today for $330 which I see as basically a pad slap but I’m sure dealers want comeback complaints so probably do something. Local auto parts stores by me want $70 per rotor for the rears of my sons Kia Forte and another $45 for the pads.

Rock Auto for Power Stop kit with 2 coated rotors and pads is $79 plus shipping. They will be at my door by Monday.

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I work at a dealer, and we resurface them.

 

[rszappa1]

I know the local Honda dealer that turns the rotors....on vehicle....Its a neat piece of equipment...

 

[pdxglocker9mm]

Rotors typically not only have minimum thickness but also minimum refinishing thickness which is thicker than the minimum thickness. The thought was that the rotors needed some material to wear off with a new set of pads. That way the rotors are still above minimum when the pads are worn out. You typically wont see it stamped on the rotor. It is published in the service manual.

 

[The Critic]

Rotors typically not only have minimum thickness but also minimum refinishing thickness which is thicker than the minimum thickness. The thought was that the rotors needed some material to wear off with a new set of pads. That way the rotors are still above minimum when the pads are worn out. You typically wont see it stamped on the rotor. It is published in the service manual.

Only some manufacturers have this information. Honda and Toyota only list a minimum.

 

[Legs4Arms]

I'm very lucky that I have a tech who's also a friend that doesn't believe in throwing away perfectly serviceable parts.
I don't want to say how long I've had the rotors on one of my cars but it still brakes like new. They've had a light skim a few times on the lathe and still have plenty of life left.
To the OP's question though, I don't know of any machine shops in my area that still does it. Throw away protocol at all the brake shops these days.

 

[The Critic]

I'm very lucky that I have a tech who's also a friend that doesn't believe in throwing away perfectly serviceable parts.
I don't want to say how long I've had the rotors on one of my cars but it still brakes like new. They've had a light skim a few times on the lathe and still have plenty of life left.
To the OP's question though, I don't know of any machine shops in my area that still does it. Throw away protocol at all the brake shops these days.

Asian Import Dealers tend to resurface rotors in order to keep brake job pricing competitive with aftermarket.

 

[97prizm]

Do dealers still actually remove rotors and resurface them? I know older days they used to do that. I know I used to take my rotors (and drums) to local machine shop and they would cut them to clean them up, wasn’t real expensive.

I thought for the most part now they just get replaced since they are much thinner to begin with.

Coincidentally I got this coupon in email today for $330 which I see as basically a pad slap but I’m sure dealers want comeback complaints so probably do something. Local auto parts stores by me want $70 per rotor for the rears of my sons Kia Forte and another $45 for the pads.

Rock Auto for Power Stop kit with 2 coated rotors and pads is $79 plus shipping. They will be at my door by Monday.

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I'd be surprised if the brake lathe even has someone that knows how to use it if they even own one. When I worked at a Lexus dealership they had a brake lathe but it hadn't been used in a decade. Except for a couple of the experienced old timers none of the new mechanics had any idea how to use it.

 

[Legs4Arms]

I'd be surprised if the brake lathe even has someone that knows how to use it if they even own one. When I worked at a Lexus dealership they had a brake lathe but it hadn't been used in a decade. Except for a couple of the experienced old timers none of the new mechanics had any idea how to use it.

Totally agree
If rotors are just glazed a light skim will rejuvenate them for another pad cycle providing there's still adequate material left.
If they're scored that's a different story and I never let things get that out of hand. When I pull wheels to rotate tires I always inspect both pad and rotor wear.
If pads are <40% remaining I opt to swap them out, they're almost as cheap as oil unless they're a high performance variant.
If the rotors look good it's a blindfold gig...

 

[Lubener]

Rotors for the most part are cheap and it's not worth their effort to turn rotors. They are just replaced. I had a difficult time two years ago finding a local shop who still would turn my truck rotors with intergrated hubs. After they gave me a price, for a little more I could buy new ones. It's a lost service not likely to return.

 

[Legs4Arms]

Rotors for the most part are cheap and it's not worth their effort to turn rotors. They are just replaced. I had a difficult time two years ago finding a local shop who still would turn my truck rotors with intergrated hubs. After they gave me a price, for a little more I could buy new ones. It's a lost service not likely to return.

Therin lies the problem. To a tech that knows what they're doing turning rotors shouldn't cost what new rotors do.
I think a lot of it comes down to ineptitude, poorly turned rotors cause problems that come back to shop owners and cause them grief.
It's easier (for them) to just tell you they're too old/worm/thin and replace them.
A lot of my runabout and grocery getters never had rotors replaced during my ownership and I'm a stickler for maintenance.
A lot of it comes down to how a person drives as well.
.

 

[The Critic]

Therin lies the problem. To a tech that knows what they're doing turning rotors shouldn't cost what new rotors do.
I think a lot of it comes down to ineptitude, poorly turned rotors cause problems that come back to shop owners and cause them grief.
It's easier (for them) to just tell you they're too old/worm/thin and replace them.
A lot of my runabout and grocery getters never had rotors replaced during my ownership and I'm a stickler for maintenance.
A lot of it comes down to how a person drives as well.
.

Most people who claim proficiency at machining rotors on a bench lathe....actually have no idea what they're doing it.

On car brake lathes solve most of the problem.

 

[Legs4Arms]

Most people who claim proficiency at machining rotors on a bench lathe....actually have no idea what they're doing it.

On car brake lathes solve most of the problem.

My guy uses the bench version.
Cars have all braked like a dream for the 17yrs he's worked on them

 

[Snagglefoot]

I just found out our local NAPA has a independent mechanic turning rotors in the back of the store. He comes in when there is a request to turn them. Generally my rotors are too rusty to bother turning but I’ll keep it in mind next time my brakes develop a shimmy.

 

[rszappa1]

Ar our local Honda dealer they have the machine that cuts the rotor on the vehicle...It does not have to be removed and is really cool to watch...

 

[Doc8404]

Ar our local Honda dealer they have the machine that cuts the rotor on the vehicle...It does not have to be removed and is really cool to watch...

Same here.

No longer the days of the $10-20 rotor cut though. My mechanic wants 0.5-0.75 hours per rotor.

$170/hour

 

[Marcozi]

I think it's faster and more profitable for dealers to just replace the rotors.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I worked at a GM dealer in the mid 90's as a kid. We didn't cut rotors even then - just replaced with OEM. There was a machine in the corner - I think it got used once when I was there because it was a panic rush and we didn't have parts or something?

I see the local O'Reilly's advertises they do - but honestly for the price of a rotor on RA I don't see the reason to do it? Maybe some rotors are way more expensive?

 

[QwikKota]

The time or 2 I had rotors turned they warped faster than usual. It was $15/rotor then. Afraid to ask what it is now. I'd rather have new rotors for new pads. A kit for the front of my truck is ~$120 for mid-tier parts. Rotors and pads.