Rotors

[tractorboy]

I was just wondering. I usually have my rotors turned when doing a brake job.
I was toying with the idea, that if the rotors are not scored bad AND there is minimal runout can new pads be installed. In other words I want to know if anyone just installs new pads and the end results.
I have a 2003 Impala

[57chevyragtop]

Yes, if the rotors are in good condition replacing the pads is fine. However that said...I have recently read that it has been found that the smoother the finish on the rotors the better the brake performance. It was previously thought that standard turning was the preferred finish. I do not know if there are many shops that will as yet do the finer cut on a normal basis. Proper brake-in of pads is still very important. I recommend getting up to speed 50-60 then slowly come to a near stop without stopping three times, then to speed 60 then slowing to a full stop twice then once to speed and normal stop. This my opinion, I am not a certified tech.

[Iflylow]

It's fine to install new pads without turning rotors. I would only turn rotors if you had a problem with them, or were changing pad material (ceramic to semimetallic for example). The more you turn rotors, (especially GM rotors!) the more likely it is that you will warp them. Impalas are known to have crummy, easily warped rotors from the factory.

[tractorboy]

Impalas are known to have crummy, easily warped rotors from the factory

I heard that, the rotors in question are replacemnt rotors I put on last time to get rid of the OEM ones that had warped deep space 9. I probably will through them away I have gone way past the mileage on the brembo rotors where the GM ones warped.

[Kemi]

Originally Posted by Iflylow

It's fine to install new pads without turning rotors. I would only turn rotors if you had a problem with them, or were changing pad material (ceramic to semimetallic for example). The more you turn rotors, (especially GM rotors!) the more likely it is that you will warp them. Impalas are known to have crummy, easily warped rotors from the factory.

Actually, they warp because of heat/improperly tightened lugnuts/bad hubs or bearings/poor quality..... The more you turn rotors, the more you use up the material and the more chance you have of cutting runout into them.

As far as installing pads without rotors, don't. Always replace/resurface your rotors. Rotors are pretty cheap these days, and the extra cost is not usually that much more than the labor to cut them.

I'm not sure about the past, but I'm not aware of any Auto Manufacturer that doesn't recommend replacement/resurface rotors on their vehicles. In fact most of the German manufacturers (and other European and Asian) require replacement of rotors at each brake job.