Do you think el-cheapo rotors (autozone et al) are crap?

[alkemyst]

how did you comprehend that out of my quote?

 

[helpme]

No. If you add good pads then you will be fine. If you race, then yes they aren't going to hold up.

I use em on the track with race pads and they hold up just fine...

 

[speedy2]

If anything, el-cheapo slotted and/or drilled rotors are what you should stay away from. A smooth rotor should be perfectly fine for daily driving. And according to helpme, even track use. I used to have a '98 Seville STS. Bought some cheapo slottled and cross drilled rotors. Spirited driving only. NEVER AGAIN. those rotors were filled with cracks and ate through pads.

 

[helpme]

If anything, el-cheapo slotted and/or drilled rotors are what you should stay away from. A smooth rotor should be perfectly fine for daily driving. And according to helpme, even track use. I used to have a '98 Seville STS. Bought some cheapo slottled and cross drilled rotors. Spirited driving only. NEVER AGAIN. those rotors were filled with cracks and ate through pads.

Even better are the unknown manufacture ebay special cross drilled AND slotted rotors!!

 

[speedy2]

IIRC, those were ebay specials. LOL. I learned my lesson.

 

[Zorba]

no, saying people that ask questions like this should not be doing brakes.

Most that work on their own cars really have no freaking clue what they are really doing anyway, it's scary the crap I have to look at and just know it's not right.

That said, many mechanics are idiots too.

So you think people doing research before they buy parts for their cars means they shouldn't do their own work?

 

[speedy2]

So you think people doing research before they buy parts for their cars means they shouldn't do their own work?

I'd say yes. Just because someone does research does not make them a mechanic. Part of it is their ability to work on things like that. Another is a concern for their safety to make sure it's done correctly. Not to mention, the safety of others.

 

[CraigRT]

I'd say yes. Just because someone does research does not make them a mechanic. Part of it is their ability to work on things like that. Another is a concern for their safety to make sure it's done correctly. Not to mention, the safety of others.

That's silly... Brakes are one of the easiest things to do, and are very hard to re-assemble in such a way that they will fail to stop the car. Even a seized caliper slide won't prevent the piston from making contact on the inside surface... It's next to impossible to screw up a brake job in a way that the vehicle becomes dangerous.

I don't research brakes because they're not worth over-thinking.. Just buy what happens to be available at a good price and it always works out. There was a time I used to investigate more... Didn't mean I was not worthy of doing the job though.

 

[Zorba]

I'd say yes. Just because someone does research does not make them a mechanic. Part of it is their ability to work on things like that. Another is a concern for their safety to make sure it's done correctly. Not to mention, the safety of others.

alkemyst was saying that because he was doing research it proved he should not be doing the work. I never said that doing research on parts alone made you capable of doing the work, but it sure as hell does not show that you should not be doing it.

 

[speedy2]

I really don't know how research automatically means you are capable of doing anything. Brake job or a complete engine rebuild. I think you people have too much faith in people or haven't seen retards working on cars before.

 

[alkemyst]

I really don't know how research automatically means you are capable of doing anything. Brake job or a complete engine rebuild. I think you people have too much faith in people or haven't seen retards working on cars before.

being you bought ebay crap parts and are now posting about it as an expert is confusing to me.

 

[speedy2]

That has nothing to do with the install. lol. The rotors were crap. But, I knew exactly how to put them on. not to mention. I had 2 cars before that and did plenty of brake jobs on them as well. Including a '65 Mustang with 4 wheel drums. lol

 

[Zorba]

I really don't know how research automatically means you are capable of doing anything. Brake job or a complete engine rebuild. I think you people have too much faith in people or haven't seen retards working on cars before.

I think you need to actually read what I wrote, no one in this thread has said asking a question about a part automatically makes you capable of changing that part. I said (now for the third time) researching something does not mean that you are not component to do that task. Researching something also does not that you are component at the task.

The comment made earlier was anyone that researches something is automatically not component, which is complete bull.

 

[StageLeft]

These rotors I paid about $90/piece for at advance auto. I see ones that fit online (el cheapo style) for about $40, so in actual fact it's not like I bought the cheapest crap I could find (even though it was at the time, but probably these were "premium"). Still rusting like they were built to do it, though.

alkemyst was saying that because he was doing research it proved he should not be doing the work.

Alchymst spends a great portion of any given day drunk; his posts are not really intended to make sense.

The comment made earlier was anyone that researches something is automatically not component, which is complete bull.

This should be obvious but Alchymst exists in a world beyond your world. What we only fantasize, he does. He lives a life where nothing is beyond him. But you know what? It's all a facade. For all his charm and charisma, his wealth, his expensive toys... he's a driven, unflinching, calculating machine. He takes what he wants, when he wants... and disappears.

 

[alkemyst]

I think you need to actually read what I wrote, no one in this thread has said asking a question about a part automatically makes you capable of changing that part. I said (now for the third time) researching something does not mean that you are not component to do that task. Researching something also does not that you are component at the task.

The comment made earlier was anyone that researches something is automatically not component, which is complete bull.

I think the word is competent. At least no one used "breaks" in the thread....yet. 🙂

 

[alkemyst]

Anyway with rotors you really can't go by price. What I do on my 'normal' cars is do a search for whatever brand I am looking at and see what others say. Wagner, Bendix, etc all make cheap rotors and some are really highly rated. I also shop rebates esp on a pad combo. I picked up a set of front rotors and pads for a Sunfire last year or so that netted out $30, the owner had me do the rears too at that price.

 

[skyking]

What I learned over the years with rotors is, don't bother turning them. If the surface is good enough to just replace the pads I'll do that. Once a rotor warps, turning it really does no good. It is ready to warp again the next time you dump significant heat into it. The metal is now predisposed to moving around.
I worked at a shop with a brake lathe and figured that one out with my own cars.
As far as brand it is really a crapshoot. I buy cheapos and have not had a warped one in quite a while. They usually get below spec without warping and get tossed.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Alchymst spends a great portion of any given day drunk; his posts are not really intended to make sense.This should be obvious but Alchymst exists in a world beyond your world. What we only fantasize, he does. He lives a life where nothing is beyond him. But you know what? It's all a facade. For all his charm and charisma, his wealth, his expensive toys... he's a driven, unflinching, calculating machine. He takes what he wants, when he wants... and disappears.

Post of the year...

 

[alkemyst]

What I learned over the years with rotors is, don't bother turning them. If the surface is good enough to just replace the pads I'll do that. Once a rotor warps, turning it really does no good. It is ready to warp again the next time you dump significant heat into it. The metal is now predisposed to moving around.
I worked at a shop with a brake lathe and figured that one out with my own cars.
As far as brand it is really a crapshoot. I buy cheapos and have not had a warped one in quite a while. They usually get below spec without warping and get tossed.

On normal rotors I just replace...my skyline rotors are a bit pricey so I try to get a turning or two out of them. Only maker I know of that's reasonable is DBA. Looks like the pricing has gotten a little better for my DBA4909's at about $175-200 a pop ($198AUD MSRP). They are now making a 'street' version called 909, but I can't find pricing except list price on DBA's site ($94.86AUD MSRP). Looks about half the cost...if I can get them for about $85-100 I'd skip turning them.

 

[Zorba]

I think the word is competent. At least no one used "breaks" in the thread....yet. 🙂

Damn late night typing 🙁

 

[Zorba]

Alchymst spends a great portion of any given day drunk; his posts are not really intended to make sense.

This should be obvious but Alchymst exists in a world beyond your world. What we only fantasize, he does. He lives a life where nothing is beyond him. But you know what? It's all a facade. For all his charm and charisma, his wealth, his expensive toys... he's a driven, unflinching, calculating machine. He takes what he wants, when he wants... and disappears.

See that is what I get for replying in a sub-forum I don't spend a lot of time in, like people who argue with Dave in P&N 😉

 

[SSSnail]

Why would you want to skim on the most important components in your car? Pads and rotors and tires make the difference between kissing a pole and not.

 

[StageLeft]

I had some rotors turned once on my Maxima. At 60k they were wobbly, looked like some biuldup or something. Had them turned and put el cheapo pads on them and the rotors finally went after 100k or so, so it was very successful. It seems more often than not with my brakes, though, the rotors go before the pads and they get severely worn down.