Replace or resurface rotors

Or you could spend nothing?

Why turn them if there is no reason to? He may pay $10 per rotor just to have someone make them worse.
Yes, you're right. I thought you were advocating for him to purchase brand new rotors. Maybe resurfacing would be second choice after leaving them as is. Wouldn't turning them be better though if he's changing pads?
 
I always replace when rotors are worn.

A thinner rotor won't absorb as much heat as a new one.

A thinner rotor isn't as strong as a new one.

End result is that you might end up with runout after a few hard stops. Of course, it all depends on how you drive, the vehicle, the rotors, etc.

If the stopping is smooth and the rotors are still in spec. Pad slap and send it.
 
I'm surprised a HL would need brakes at only 65K.
The rear pads are down just below 3mm and front is about 4mm. For some reason it’s common for the rears to wear faster, but I’m not certain why. Perhaps because the front pads have a drag clips.. anywho this is pretty normal on this vehicle.
 
Sienna/Highlander fronts rarely last more than 30-40K around here, regardless of brand. The front rotors often have hot spots as well.
My 05 HL didn't need brakes for the 75K I owned it, we'll see how long they last on current 2015 HL.
 
Nothing but put new Toyota OEM pads back on. I do have a little experience with Toyotas. LOL
I will never resurface another rotor. If I got a pulsator, I get a new Toyota rotor. My 4Runner is the only
car that I have had to put more than 1 set of front rotors on. And that was because I tried to cheap out
and buy a non-Toyota rotor that only lasted a year.
 
Last sentence of OP's post says dealer would do it with on car lathe. Fresh pads, fresh surface.
I don't think that was the point of his last sentence.

He's saying that the dealer told him they can resurface a few times before hitting minimum thickness.

The OP's plan was to replace the rotors or remove them and take them to a local shop.
 
I don't think that was the point of his last sentence.

He's saying that the dealer told him they can resurface a few times before hitting minimum thickness.

The OP's plan was to replace the rotors or remove them and take them to a local shop.
Correct. If I take them to the dealer or anywhere else with an on-car brake lathe then I’m going to have to pay for labor and the service. By that point the cost is so high it wouldn’t make sense and I’d just let them do the entire brake job.

So the consensus here seems to be bench lathes are too risky due to runout issues and I should either do nothing or (at most) sand the rotors myself?
 
The rear pads are down just below 3mm and front is about 4mm. For some reason it’s common for the rears to wear faster, but I’m not certain why. Perhaps because the front pads have a drag clips.. anywho this is pretty normal on this vehicle.
Bcs. size of rear pads on those vehicles is laughable.
 
So the consensus here seems to be bench lathes are too risky due to runout issues and I should either do nothing or (at most) sand the rotors myself?
Remember, you always have the option of doing what you want or feel is best for you (and need no "approval" from anyone else).
 
Remember, you always have the option of doing what you want or feel is best for you (and need no "approval" from anyone else).
Yeah and I appreciate that. I just like to ping all the experience here.
 
I don't think that was the point of his last sentence.

He's saying that the dealer told him they can resurface a few times before hitting minimum thickness.

The OP's plan was to replace the rotors or remove them and take them to a local shop.
Why would he remove them and take them to a local shop, that'll still cost money plus the hassle of removing them. The cost difference of doing it with an on car lathe would be negligible compared to the aforementioned.
Leave them on I guess.
 
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