brake rotors

how can you tell when you need new rotors?

the only way to really tell that you need new rotors is to take it somewhere...now you might be able to machine the rotors, that is, have them re-surfaced, which will fix your rotor problems...does your car vibrate when you hit the brakes? do the brakes seem to slip consistantly (like in a pattern)? if that is the case then they are warped and need to be replaced...if your car vibrates when you hit the brakes then you might not have to replace them, but you will need to re-surface them.

take the rotor off the car, it should say on it somewhere the minuim thickness, then get a ruler and check.

what is the concern exactly?

when im breaking the car sometimes slips. also, when i am almost to a complete stop the car kind of 'jumps' or 'bounces'

I hope you don't break the car haha lol.
Hey sierrap615 I don't want to disagree w/you but it is hard to check that w/ a ruler. You really need the right tool and now i feel like an idiot because i can't think of the word. A dial micrometer?
anyway best bet is to take the dang things to autozone or wherever and they can check and resurface them for you if needed. I dunno about that bounce tho--

i agree, a mic, dial caliper, or dial indicator is better, but not to many DIYers have those tools(even i don't have one, but its next on my wish-list)

the bounce means the surface is uneven or warped for the most part.

yup....i checked...they are warped....hmmmm drilled and slotted rotors?

acculty, lots of the better techs say they work worse then standard, because there is less surface area. you may want to read these:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=85221
http://teamscr.com/rotors.html

the basic consent is they are a waste of money.

i personally have from this page: http://www.spswebpage.com/store/index.php?cat=s_series&sub=Brakes&;

the Hawk High Performance Street Brake Pads and the Stillen Cross-Drilled and Slotted Combination Rotors, front and rear. i also have a 94 SL2, if you have ABS, then you have rear disk(thats true only for 91-94, other years variy). i was having a spongey feeling brake pedal so i replaced the pads, rotors, and brake fuild. 3 of the old brakes were are about 40% life, the forth was just messed up(i think the caliper was draging in some weird way) after that the pedal was a lot firmer and stoping distance was better, but at the cost of $600. and i don't know if it was the fluid, pads, or rotors that helped the most. if i could go back i think i would have gotten the slotted only, since the hawk pads are not.

but another option comes from one of the best saturn techs i know:

Originally posted by wolfman
I have had the Wearever "Cheap Chinese" rotors all around on my 4 wheel disk ABS 97' SL2 for over 3 years now with no issues what so ever and still recommend them paired up with semi-metallic pads. They are available at Advance Auto Parts, though the rears are somewhat harder to find in stock. (Not as great a demand for them)