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Car Forum / Toyota / Camry / May 2007

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When do I change the Rotors?

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samster - 25 Apr 2007 02:26 GMT
2001
toyota camry le
86k miles

just changed the front suspension - the rear is next

when should I change the rotors?
what else ?

I know I am almost due for the timing belt
Hachiroku ハチロク - 25 Apr 2007 03:19 GMT
> 2001
> toyota camry le
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> I know I am almost due for the timing belt

Some people say when you change the brake pads, you should 'turn' thr
rotors (on a lathe), but with the prices for rotors these days (I've paid
as little as $6 each) it's better and cheaper just to replace them.

Unless, of course, you have Genuine OEM Toyota rotors. Then, use this:
There should be a number somewhere on the rotor, either near the hub or
along the edge. This is the tolerance. You can measure the rotor with a
measuring tool like calipers or a micrometer, etc, but the easy was is
with a wrench. So, for example, the rotors on my Supra say 14. This is
14mm. At 14mm, they should be changed. Now, if they were OEM Toyota
rotors, I would measure them. Let's say they came up 17mm. If they had a
lot of gouges from bad pads, or a 'lip' around the outside, I would have
them turned as long as they stayed above 15mm. This gives me a couple
years; however, semi-metallic pads will wear them down rapidly.

If you have a 12 on the side (Most tolerances are 8, 10 or 12mm) and you
measure 12, then replace them. You *can* let them go a little longer, but
replaement is better. Under 12, replace them for sure.

NOTE: I have a Mazda that says 15. The rotors were RIGHT AT 15mm. They
looked good, so I left them. But, after I pressed in the puck with a
clamp, ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM, and put in the new pads, I had one HELL
of a fight to get the loaded caliper back on the car! I really doubt there
is enough play for the caliper to lock!
mrdarrett@gmail.com - 26 Apr 2007 07:08 GMT
> > 2001
> > toyota camry le
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> rotors (on a lathe), but with the prices for rotors these days (I've paid
> as little as $6 each) it's better and cheaper just to replace them.

$6 each for a rotor?  Where?????????

Michael
Hachiroku ハチロク - 26 Apr 2007 13:46 GMT
On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:08:18 -0700, mrdarrett wrote:

>> > 2001
>> > toyota camry le
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Michael

Not a Camry. CarQuest for an '83 Tercel AWD wagon. Drums were a whopping
$18.
videokid400@hotmail.com - 27 Apr 2007 09:06 GMT
> > 2001
> > toyota camry le
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> of a fight to get the loaded caliper back on the car! I really doubt there
> is enough play for the caliper to lock!

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING.
Disc rotors have a minimum thickness which is i guess what you are
refering to. Yes it does need to be measured ,bur certainly NOT with a
spanner and preforably not with verneer callipers.This due to rotor
lip is usually highly inacurate.A rotor micrometer (or even a standard
micrometer)is the correct way of measuring rotors. 3 readings are
needed one inner one middle and one outer , usually on the last
section of wear surface.You then take an average and calculate your
taper if any,this will tell you if the rotor is servicable or requires
machining or replacement.
Rotors should be machined at least every third set of pads, in my
workshop we will usually do them every pad change.This is due to pad
material causing rotor glaze and this the results in squeel , shudder
and VERY premature pad wear.
Bi metalic pads DO NOT wear disc rotors un usually.ANY pad will wear a
rotor, bi metalic pads have the advantage of superior stopping via
less heat generation due to transfer and compound structure.
Cheap pads are not worth buying and disc rotors at $6 each.......good
potplant stands.Usually these cheap rotors have no machining tolerance
or if they do its half of what it should be.
BRAKES ARE SERIOUS REPAIRS,  NOT SOMTHING TO BE GUESSED .
dave
Jason James - 27 Apr 2007 22:18 GMT
On Apr 25, 12:19 pm, Hachiroku ???? <Tru...@AE86.gts> wrote:
> On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 21:26:08 -0400, samster wrote:
> > 2001
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> of a fight to get the loaded caliper back on the car! I really doubt there
> is enough play for the caliper to lock!

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING.
Disc rotors have a minimum thickness which is i guess what you are
refering to. Yes it does need to be measured ,bur certainly NOT with a
spanner and preforably not with verneer callipers.This due to rotor
lip is usually highly inacurate.A rotor micrometer (or even a standard
micrometer)is the correct way of measuring rotors. 3 readings are
needed one inner one middle and one outer , usually on the last
section of wear surface.You then take an average and calculate your
taper if any,this will tell you if the rotor is servicable or requires
machining or replacement.
Rotors should be machined at least every third set of pads, in my
workshop we will usually do them every pad change.This is due to pad
material causing rotor glaze and this the results in squeel , shudder
and VERY premature pad wear.
Bi metalic pads DO NOT wear disc rotors un usually.ANY pad will wear a
rotor, bi metalic pads have the advantage of superior stopping via
less heat generation due to transfer and compound structure.
Cheap pads are not worth buying and disc rotors at $6 each.......good
potplant stands.Usually these cheap rotors have no machining tolerance
or if they do its half of what it should be.
BRAKES ARE SERIOUS REPAIRS,  NOT SOMTHING TO BE GUESSED .
dave

Dave, I respect the fact you workin the industry, but expensive "metal-king:
pads" will cause significant wear of Ford cast-iron rotors. In fact they
wore the light-scoring to smooth in the 351 Falcon (Australian) I have and
that was with sedate driving :-).

Jason.
FantomFan - 27 Apr 2007 23:29 GMT
On Apr 25, 12:19 pm, Hachiroku ハチロク <Tru...@AE86.gts> wrote:
>> > 2001
>> > toyota camry le
[quoted text clipped - 55 lines]
>BRAKES ARE SERIOUS REPAIRS,  NOT SOMTHING TO BE GUESSED .
>dave

Why would you need to calculate the average, surely if your three readings
are different the rotor needs machining (at least) so you would just compare
your lowest reading to the minimum spec and if it's close or lower just
replace.

Plus if the surface is level and the brakes are good then there is no need
to machine.  If your 'rotor glaze' is such a problem the I would think that
it should be done at every service.

And finally - if you could buy rotors at $6 each you wouldn't worry about
machining them you would simply change them with the pads.
videokid400@hotmail.com - 28 Apr 2007 00:27 GMT
> <videokid...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
[quoted text clipped - 74 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

1)You calculate the average to determine taper.Why, well ok say you
had a rotor with lets say 3mm taper, would you not then be looking for
a reason??like  a worn / sticky slide or fault in retaining
hardware ,possiply a hydraulic fault.Not to say that everyone does
it , but its the CORRECT way to do it.
2)As I said we maching on almost every pad replacement ,rotor glaze is
just that , a glazing of the rotor surface and results in as I said
several problems.Sure , if you dont want to machine rotors and just
want to throw pads at it,fine,AGAIN Im talking abuot the CORRECT way
to do it.
3)If I could buy rotors for $6 each I would strongly suspect they
would be chinese copys or similar,the ones that I have seen have been
made of inferior materials(eisily tested with rockford hardness tester
or similar)  and have problems with heat dissapation, this causing run
out (warping) heat stress cracking etc.Again go for it , but like any
parts that you fit to a vehicle ,you get what you pay for.
Hachiroku ハチロク - 29 Apr 2007 01:31 GMT
On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:27:47 -0700, videokid400 wrote:

> Again go for it , but like any parts that you fit
> to a vehicle ,you get what you pay for.

(it was a free car with a $25 paint job, only run in the winter and even
at that, 2.5 years and 12,000 miles...)
FantomFan - 30 Apr 2007 06:56 GMT
><videokid400@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> >news:1177716467.320607.183280@n59g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
[quoted text clipped - 106 lines]
>out (warping) heat stress cracking etc.Again go for it , but like any
>parts that you fit to a vehicle ,you get what you pay for.

1) How does an average tell you taper? Wouldn't you just take the difference
between your outer and inner reading.  Pad wear will also help you detect
problems.
2) Does your glazing only ocur when the pads are at their minimum thickness?
Surely if glazing is going to cause a problem then that is the reason you
would be doing the work anyway (an you should have found it during one of
the routine services you do).
3) These are better reasons than lack of machining tolerance.
videokid400@hotmail.com - 30 Apr 2007 08:25 GMT
> ><videokid...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > >news:1177716467.320607.183280@n59g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
[quoted text clipped - 117 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

iM OUT , WONT EVEN BOTHER TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN..
BEST OF LUCK.
videokid400@hotmail.com - 30 Apr 2007 08:33 GMT
On Apr 30, 5:25 pm, videokid...@hotmail.com wrote:

> > ><videokid...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > > >news:1177716467.320607.183280@n59g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
[quoted text clipped - 122 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

No im back again ,
HOW will an average NOT tell you taper??
if you are going to post please do it with SOME KNOWLEDGE.
If you wish to question my work ethic or that of my staff , please
come and spend a day working as a mechanic not a backyard expert.
FantomFan - 30 Apr 2007 11:31 GMT
On Apr 30, 5:25 pm, videokid...@hotmail.com wrote:

>> > ><videokid...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> > > >news:1177716467.320607.183280@n59g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
[quoted text clipped - 165 lines]
>If you wish to question my work ethic or that of my staff , please
>come and spend a day working as a mechanic not a backyard expert.

Not questioning your ethic, just what you claim is CORRECT.
So the average can tell you taper - prove it.

My maths
Take three readings
Inner    2
Middle 2
Outer   2
Average 2

Another three readings
Inner    3
Middle 2
Outer   1
Average 2

Which Average tells me I have a taper?
videokid400@hotmail.com - 30 Apr 2007 11:45 GMT
> <videokid...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
[quoted text clipped - 190 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

Well I stongly suggest you do a fitting and machining course.
FantomFan - 01 May 2007 06:32 GMT
On Apr 30, 8:31 pm, "FantomFan" <reaper...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> (other stuff removed)
>
>Well I stongly suggest you do a fitting and machining course.

I just hope you're not the teacher.  How hard would it have been to just
answer the question.

I was able to find the details behind your ‘average reading’ claim in less
than 30 seconds talking to mechanics at work and it requires more than three
readings.

From all this I came out with the following.

1. Cheap rotors are possibly inferior quality
2. Use the correct tools to measure rotor thickness (you need to get past
any ridge at the outer edge)
3. Imagine three circles around your rotor and take the average of several
readings around these.  The difference between these averages will give an
indication of the wear pattern.
4. Rotors should be machined at each pad change if the surface is not true
(i.e. flat and parallel), unless once machined they would be below the
minimum thickness.
5. Strange wear patterns of the rotor or pads could indicate other problems
to investigate.
6. Check for leaks, sticky slides, loose or faulty components while in the
area.
videokid400@hotmail.com - 01 May 2007 06:51 GMT
> <videokid...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
> 6. Check for leaks, sticky slides, loose or faulty components while in the
> area.

How could an average reading possibly require more than 3 readings?
FantomFan - 01 May 2007 07:05 GMT
>> <videokid...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>
> How could an average reading possibly require more than 3 readings?

You're the one that claims to be the expert so I shouldn't have to explain
to you.  This was the way it was explained to me (and I suppose 'several'
could be three)
videokid400@hotmail.com - 02 May 2007 11:08 GMT
> <videokid...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

So why would I even bother ,taper is a basic principle ,as a point of
FACT I do teach.and in MY feild yes im am conidered an expert, but I
gues you know more than me so Ill leave it for now.Just hope you NEVER
do a  brake O/H for anyone.A little knowkedge is a DANGEROUS thing.
Hachiroku ハチロク - 29 Apr 2007 01:29 GMT
On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 01:06:51 -0700, videokid400 wrote:

>> > 2001
>> > toyota camry le
[quoted text clipped - 52 lines]
> what it should be. BRAKES ARE SERIOUS REPAIRS,  NOT SOMTHING TO BE GUESSED
> . dave

Wow!

Well, I live by the rule, "When in doubt, change it out."

And I use the same quality parts as any person who walks into Meineke or
Midas and says, "Give me the cheapest parts possible." It just costs me
$325 less.

But thanks for the tip on the spanner (wrench? You UK types REALLY need to
learn to speak the language!  ;) yeah I can see that. An old mechanic
showed me that trick at..<AHEM> Meineke...

But on that Mazda, there was NO WAY I was going to get the caliper on with
a thicker rotor!
Jason James - 25 Apr 2007 23:53 GMT
> 2001
> toyota camry le
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> I know I am almost due for the timing belt

Provided they aren't scored badly or warped, you dont need to change them.
Mine are original on a '96 with 185,000ks roughly 110,000 miles and they are
fine. Unless you've had pads which went down to the metal,..or you have
wobbling steering when braking,..no worries.

Jason
 
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