disposable brake rotors?

[x Baldwin Motion]

I just came from getting my 04 silverado the required annual (NY) state safety inspection. The service manager is a friend that I used to work with over 25 years ago. When he told me I needed rear pads and NEW rotors I was surprised. He said that "nobody" cuts rotors anymore because they are so cheap to replace! I've only got 36,000 miles on this vehicle and wouldn't think I needed pads or even cutting rotors. Is this common with the 4wheel disc brake vehicle? This is a 4WD w/ABS. The past 4 or 5 vehicles I've owned weren't kept long enough to need brakes. (50-60,000 miles) Anyone have anything on this? thanks.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[nuch_ss396]

Chris,

I've experienced this both with my SUV & Cobra. I've been
told that ABS sort of mandates rotor replacement. I still
can't figure-out why that is though http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif

I'm just guessing that the dealers don't want to perform
that grunt work anymore. SO, unless you go to the secondary
market for repairs, you're stuck with new rotor costs. I've
also been warned that there are a lot of cheap rotors out
there that warp even faster than the OEM rotors. GOOD-GRIEF! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[Xplantdad]

I have an 02 1500 Chevy...and it's got 99,500 miles on it...4 wheel disc brakes...haven't had to do a thing to the brakes...yet?

I know when we had our 528it BMW wagon...they refused to turn the rotors...it had something to do with the softness of the material (would warp?) I don't know if they we giving us a line of crap...but the new rotors were about $90 bucks (employee discount http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif) each....

FWIW... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[x Baldwin Motion]

"I've also been warned that there are a lot of cheap rotors out there that warp even faster than the OEM rotors. GOOD-GRIEF! "

Thats exactly what he told me came on my truck from the factory; "made in China" rotors. And the material they are made from is not worth cutting as they will most likely warp.

Bruce, I drive like an old lady around here, coast often, and there aren't any stop lights. I once got 105,000 miles on a set of shoes on my 85 C10. I'll be pulling the wheels on sunday to see for myself how bad they are. He said also that the emergency brake shoes (inside the rotors) are prone to rusting and crumbling away. That would explain why the emergency brake won't work on the wifes Trailblazer.
Are all these parts really made in China?

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
.... Are all these parts really made in China?

[/ QUOTE ]

See my earlier post ( different topic ) regarding the Chinese menace http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

BTW, let me make it perfectly clear that I am referring to
the Chinese gov't and their unfair practices, not the Chinese
people as a whole.

[moparts]

In most cases it is cheaper to replace rotors especially on front wheel drive cars. We just did a service on a 04 k2500 duramax that had a 128,000 on it and it still had 1/4 of the rear pads and over 1/2 of the front pads left. Curious point to all this is that alot of the new trucks are going back to rear drum. Maybe the disc's were lasting toooooo long.

[Fast67VelleN2O]

My shop charges only $28 bucks to cut a PAIR of rotors..... Don't see what the problem is, we do it on every vehicle unless they NEED rotors...

[Keith Tedford]

I've seen rotors off of a Saturn rusted/pitted so bad that they wouldn't clean up, and this was on a vehicle that had mostly highway running on a regular basis. Very poor material. The Saturn rotors don't seem to be any better than the cheap replacements. Probably the same parts. Our old cars sit most of the time and the old two piece rotors never seem to build up any surface rust on the faces. The rotors on our '97 LSS don't rust either. Originals with 90K miles and look like new.
With rear discs, especially in salt country, you need to pull the calipers every year, to clean and lubricate the pins they float on. Rear drums seem to be a lot less trouble in salt country.

[x Baldwin Motion]

My son-in-law works for a GM dealer and says US feds require them to use 30% post consumer recycled metal to produce these parts and therefore the rusting issue.

Bruce, mine is a K1500 also, maybe my environment is causing more rust?

[Xplantdad]

Chris...could be! Plus...mine are all fairly high speed freeway miles... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[x Baldwin Motion]

Well the rotors went in the trash today. I have never driven in the salt water but that's what they looked like at 45,000 miles. (they looked they were from a 74 Datsun)
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif
I asked another local mech who has an '06 1500 how were his rear pads, he told me he has drums as GM had so many problems with the four wheel disc they dropped them last year?!!

Bruce, how are yours holding up? anyone else?

[Ngtflyr]

My 2000 GMC Z71 4 wheel disk, has 85K original brakes and everytime I check them they look to have a lot of miles left. Furthest I have ever got with a set of brakes. I'm not easy on them and 15K + have been towing a trailer.

[shor]

i had the same problem last year on my 03 silverado.
check the INSIDE pads and the INSIDE of the rotor.
the outside looks fine on a visual, but what has been happening is the inside for some reason turns to junk.
i changed my own and redid my front bearings while i was at it.
ill post some pics

[shor]

here is my link
let me know if the pictures are able to open for you all.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113788

[John Brown]

[ QUOTE ]
here is my link
let me know if the pictures are able to open for you all.


[/ QUOTE ]

Not.....

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]

Bruce, how are yours holding up? anyone else?

[/ QUOTE ]


I traded the truck in...with 100,000 miles and the original brakes still intact...and no issues.

I have a new Chevy truck now...and Ive already had to have the right front rotor replaced...as it was garbage.


I have to take it back in...as it feels like the rotors are warped http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[Keith Tedford]

Our 2005 Jimmy is about ready for new rotors at about 50K miles. They are litterally rotting off the truck just like the rotors did on our Saturn. There is still all kinds of pad left. We have a '87 S10 truck with over 130K miles on it and the brakes are all original and don't rust out. It sits far more than it is used. I would think that brakes, being as important as they are, should be the last place that short cuts should be allowed.

[SuperNovaSS]

The newer rotors are made of a harder metal that does not cut the same. I've tried to cut them for guys in the past and they do not turn correctly.


Jason

[YenkoYS-199Stinger]

I had a 2001 Chevy 2500HD that I finally put rear brakes on at 220k miles. When I sold the truck at 230k miles it still had the original front brakes. I did however cut all 4 rotors at approx. 100k due to warpage.

My 2005 2500HD now has 130K. I cut the front rotors at 100K due to very slight warpage. The pucks on all 4 corners still look great.

There is way more than enough meat on the HD rotors to cut them several times. Don't know about the 1/2 tons.

I am not the easiest on the brakes by far and tow the car trailer quite a bit.

[bad1racing]

I have a 2005 2500HD 6.0 4x4 crew-cab short box with 47K on it and every tire rotation at 5000 miles I do a visual on the pads.So far 3/4 of the pads are still there.
We have had customers in the dealership that can't get 15K out of their pads.
Kendall

[x Baldwin Motion]

I am NOT rough on equipment. I got 105,000 out of rear shoes two trucks ago and 70,000 on the last trucks rear pads. There has to be a reason why GM went back to drum brakes on these trucks.

[Xplantdad]

$$$$, that's why http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[47Hammer]

Wow! I feel lucky too, I've got my '01 Tahoe LT 2X4 with the AutoRide option, so I can tow the boat and every time I have an oil service our tech says the brakes and fine with 45% still to go. Oh and we have 106 K miles on it too. Amazing.

[Xplantdad]

Yeah...go figure. '03 1500 Chevy truck....100,000 miles with 4 wheel disc brakes...and still had 60% on the original brakes when I traded it in. New '07 Silverado LT (front discs and rear drums)....had to replace the right front rotor at 3,000 miles http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif and now I believe the front disc are both warped!

I asked the service manager why Chevy did the switcheroo...and he said it saved them a few bucks.... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

Other than the brake problem...I love the new truck

[Keith Tedford]

Rear discs in salt country aren't such a good idea it seems.