All vehicles have brake rotors. Usually there will be four in total. If you know anything about brake maintenance, you know that one of the main reasons to stay on top of changing your brake pads and engaging in less-invasive forms of maintenance is so you can avoid touching the rotors as much as possible. DIY mechanics generally don’t know how to replace rotors in Flagstaff, AZ—this is an extremely expensive fix that you’ll want to avoid at all costs if it is not necessary.
At some point, though, it does become necessary for you to replace your rotors. You may be able to get a good 70,000 miles of use from your vehicle, depending on the type of brake pads you’re using and your driving style, but ultimately brake rotors, like most other parts of your vehicle, do wear down and lose effectiveness, resulting in their needing to be replaced.
Here’s a quick overview of what you should know about rotor replacement.
Dealing with brake rotors
Some types of brake pads are more aggressive than others. You can tell by the amount of dust they make. Approximately 90 percent of brake dust created is iron material that comes from the rotors, so if you have less aggressive pads, that means you won’t have to worry as much about your rotors wearing down quickly, which in turn means you’ll be producing less iron dust.
There are other rotors in which wear must occur if the part is to clean itself and achieve proper functionality. If there is no wear at all on the rotors, then black spotting could start to form. If you have a self-cleaning pad, the rotor surfaces get scrubbed while you drive, which keeps the rotors smooth and true and makes them operate more efficiently.
Before you start shopping for new rotors, it’s important that you understand the kind of rotors you currently have on your vehicle, as well as what a rotor looks like when it has worn down to the point of needing to be replaced. For example, a standard cross-drilled rotor will have drill holes that do not cover the entire rotor surface, which means there may be different surface areas located on the rotor. This could result in some areas of the rotor wearing down faster than others, which might make it hard for you to determine whether or not the time has come to replace the part.
These are just a few examples of the issues you’ll need to take into consideration when analyzing your brake pads and rotors. In some cases, it can be difficult to determine on your own whether or not your rotors have degraded to the point where they need to be replaced, so it’s important to get a professional opinion. In addition, make sure you stay on top of brake pad changes so you can avoid preventable rotor damage that would result in your needing to spend the money to replace them earlier than necessary.
For more information about when to replace rotors in Flagstaff, AZ, contact Maclin Truck & Trailer today.