Brake change question: do you also do rotors when you do pads?

[crimson773]

I'm due for a brake change, but the rotors seem to be okay, not worn too bad, not warped, no judder when I brake. Maybe I bought some cheap pads and they wore too quickly, who knows. Anyway, looking to do a brake job and save a little cash since tax season buried me. Do you all normally change rotors and pads at each brake change interval, or just the pads, and then the rotors as needed? I've always changed both when I did a brake job. Thoughts?

[hilmar2k]

I always do. If you are using the exact same pads you could probably get away with using the old rotors if they are in good condition.

[waxxonMTL]

i do too.

[cjw]

Nope. Rotors should outlast pads.

[EastTNPharmD]

On my b6 it was rotors about every other pad change. Never tracked the car and while some driving was “spirited” I’m a fairly boring person.


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[Corradobrit]

I’m a fairly boring person.

You're giving us Pharmacists a bad name. We're not librarians.......LOL

[BucDan]

What thickness should the rotors be at minimum?

[Bartlett]

You're giving us Pharmacists a bad name. We're not librarians.......LOL

I'm a street pharmacist and I'm not boring. Does that count?

[S4'ed]

No, the rotors last a long time...

[MrFunk]

Yes - I always do. Rotors are cheap enough and you're already in there so why not?! Have you looked at the back side (inside) of the rotor? It's hard to see unless you get the car up and your head back there. Often lots of crud gets in there and it doesn't get cleaned out as well as the front side causing the inner side to get much more wear. I'm actually changing my rear pads and rotors tomorrow because the inner has worn down to metal almost - the outter looks fine!
You can do pads only if you want if the rotors are not bad but you'll probably chew through the pads again very quickly.
Don't buy OEM either - too many better and less expensive options out there.

[esfyve]

Never heard of this, rotors always outlast the pads. If the rotors are good, no need to change.

[mercedesinfarct]

Doing stoptech rotors and pads this week

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[BigKeshy]

The technical service manual from Audi dictates the following:

Front Brake Discs (345x30mm) wear limit = 28mm
Rear Brake Discs (330x22mm) wear limit = 20mm

Take 3-5 measurements around the rotor to assess/account for any uneven wear (use a decent set of calipers for this, not a ruler). If your rotors appear to be in good shape, then there's no need to change to them.

Regardless of your decision to swap them or not, you will need to properly bed in the new brake pads.

[hilmar2k]

Regardless of your decision to swap them or not, you will need to properly bed in the new brake pads.

And that's why I said if you're using the identical pads, you can probably get away with the current rotors. Bedding in is the transfer of pad material to the rotor (I am sure you knew that). When you switch pad material, you often don't get a good bed in and the brakes can chatter. That's what most people (incorrectly) refer to as warped discs. Discs don't warp, they chatter from uneven pad material transfer. That's why I always swap the rotors. They are that expensive, and it's such an easy job once you're already replacing pads.