Rotors are going...advice

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02 caravan 70k. I feel the pulsating /round and round feel of the rotors. Does it hurt to let it go for awhile, will it hurt any other components? Does it automatically mean the calipers and pads are shot?
 
Are the brakes original? If so, time for a brake job.

To determine if something is shot, the parts need to be inspected.
 
With nearly every car I've owned, right around the 70-90K mark I start getting pedal pulsation on a well-maintained car. Right around that time the rotors have thinned to the minimum specified thickness and can't absorb or dissipate the heat as newer rotors, resulting in warpage.

Unless there are other issues, I doubt you need new pads or calipers. Pedal pulsation is directly related to warped rotors. Some pulsation may be tolerable. It's a judgement call at what point they must be changed. Definitely change them if pulsation is dangerous or intolerable.
 
I agree with the advice to wait until the pulsation is intolerable. It won't hurt anything if it's mild. I don't agree with the idea of reusing the old pads, though. If you're buying new rotors, get pads, too. It's cheap insurance and you won't have to worry about the brakes again for a good while. The thing I'm most concerned with, though, is if the old pads are anything but completely flat, they won't mate with the rotor properly and your braking performance will be compromised, resulting in a potential safety hazard.
 
I also agree with waiting until the vibration gets to a point you can't stand it. It might even get better over time instead of worse. My 4Runner has. The brakes started vibrating about 40K miles back but it's better now. The pads are only about 2/3 gone and I don't intend to bother with them until they need to be replaced.
 
quote:

Originally posted by Matt_S:
I don't agree with the idea of reusing the old pads, though. If you're buying new rotors, get pads, too.

Good point Matt and I agree with you there. I didn't mean to imply that I would reuse the old pads on new rotors...
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There's nothing wrong with reusing old pads. Truthfully, the mating issues arent that dramatic-maybe in the first couple hundred miles, but they seat just fine.

You just dont want to damage a perfectly good set of new rotors,plus, if you arent doing the work yourself- then the labor cost is almost the same- thats why people get new pads, so they can go another 50k without replacement.
 
I had a (F150, 183k) pulsating rotor machined at a local auto parts store for about $10. That along with new brake pads fixed it right up.
 
Should I plan on new calipers and pads? When I did the Taurus on had the loaded calipers which made everything much easier. I plan on keeping it forever.

Any specific type I should get or not get?

Thanks.
 
i usually try to put pads on my truck every 40k even if there is still a little pad left.on the 3rd set of pads and still original non turned rotors.but to answer your question all i can see it damaging is the bolts that hold the calipers on
 
I got @75k on my '00 Voyager and have recently (within the last 6 mos) begun to feel the pulsating too. I inspected & cleaned calipers and pads (2nd set on this van) and they look fine. Warping on the rotor doesn't automatically mean shot calipers/pads. I plan to let it go for awhile longer until I can't take it anymore then slap some new rotors on -- I considered getting the original rotors turned but decided it probably wasn't worth the effort seeing as how inexpensive replacement rotors are generally.
cheers.gif
 
Get new aftermarket rotors - shop around. Cutting old ones is not cheap, and full of 'ifs'. Flush your brake fluid and put new pads on.
But there is no real harm, or safety reason to do it immediately.
 
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