Do I need rotors?

[hardcore302]

When I brake in the Mustang, it feels as if the pads/calipers are grabbing the rotor at a certain point per rotation more than others. I know I need brakes soon, but will I need rotors, as well? Are they warped? If so, can a resurfacing correct this or do I need new rotors?
Thanks!

 

[kcfx4]

my opinion, just go ahead and buy new

 

[Mr_Incredible]

Your new brake pads will quite possibly cure your issue, depending what the issue is.

If you have a long, hard stop and hold the brakes while you're sitting at the light you could be depositing pad material on the rotors. This could cause a pulsing feeling in the pedal.

If your car sits for periods of time and the rotors get a bit rusty, where the pads are would not rust equally and you could get a pulsing feeling in the peday.

Both of those things could be mitigated by a couple of days of spiritied and aggressive driving (which would require spirited and aggressive stopping.) This works on my truck, which sees periods of disuse.

It could also be that some corrosion has built up between the rotor and the suspension, causing a slight runout issue, which causes a pulsing feeling in the brake pedal. Take off the wheel(s) and clean the wheel and rotor. Take off the rotor and clean the rotor back and the suspension where it touches. This is what works for me in those instances.

Or, it could be your rotors need replacement...

 

[dparm]

Don't bother with resurfacing, just replace them.

 

[hardcore302]

If I just replace the pads and it doesn't solve the problem, could I then do rotors or will the pads have formed to the shape of the old rotors? Thanks!

 

[rshunter]

Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
Your new brake pads will quite possibly cure your issue, depending what the issue is.

If you have a long, hard stop and hold the brakes while you're sitting at the light you could be depositing pad material on the rotors. This could cause a pulsing feeling in the pedal.

If your car sits for periods of time and the rotors get a bit rusty, where the pads are would not rust equally and you could get a pulsing feeling in the peday.

Both of those things could be mitigated by a couple of days of spiritied and aggressive driving (which would require spirited and aggressive stopping.) This works on my truck, which sees periods of disuse.

It could also be that some corrosion has built up between the rotor and the suspension, causing a slight runout issue, which causes a pulsing feeling in the brake pedal. Take off the wheel(s) and clean the wheel and rotor. Take off the rotor and clean the rotor back and the suspension where it touches. This is what works for me in those instances.

This is far more likely to be the issue. The "warping" of rotors is a grossly overused explanation and leads to far too many unnecessary replacements.

The one other thing that comes to mind is the improper torquing of wheel bolts or lug nuts. If it isn't done evenly, it can cause a distortion which can often be remedied by simply loosening and torquing them properly.

 

[kcfx4]

Originally Posted By: hardcore302
If I just replace the pads and it doesn't solve the problem, could I then do rotors or will the pads have formed to the shape of the old rotors? Thanks!

then doing the job twice in my opinion, and if you run much its very hard on pads, just spend the money, how many times you replaced pads on it?

 

[kcfx4]

given its a gt, im guessing youve driven it as such, and given the yr im sure it has ceramic pads, and they eat rotors...my opinion

 

[scott37300]

Buy your parts from advance auto online with the codes listed in the deals section and pick up in store. New rotors are cheaper than resurfacing with the 40% discount. With the advance codes it's a no brainer-spend the money and get new pads and rotors right away and you will be happy. I just did my grandma's 04 impala brakes and good pad and rotors weren't much after the 40% code discount.

 

[Scienceman]

You would be suprised sometimes. You may not need rotors..I have thought that to..but it turns out I didn't.

 

[mechtech2]

The pads are not changing as you rotate, but the rotors are.
A different thickness or warp is encountering the pads.
torsrotrr can be surprisingly cheap compared to cutting them. And you get new thick metal, with no internal rust.

 

[Greggy_D]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Don't bother with resurfacing, just replace them.


This. Nowadays it seems like the resurfacing price is about half the price of new rotors.

 

[hardcore302]

Thanks guys!