Issues with not turning new rotors.

zanemoseley

Senior member
Feb 27, 2011
530
23
81
I have a Mazda cx-5 with about 25000 miles, I drive pretty aggressively so had warped the original front rotors and had pulsing in the pedal when stopping.

I just installed a new pair of raybestos advance technology rotors which are guaranteed to be no turn and a set of raybestos professional pads.

After installing probably 2/3 of the pulse is gone but it's still there. The new advance technology rotors are made in China so I'm wondering how accurate the no turn guarantee is. I got them from Amazon so I'm tempted to get my original rotors turned and send back the new ones, the originals have plenty of meat left so I think they should be able to get the slight warp out.

So do you guys turn new rotors before install.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
If new rotors require turning prior to installation they're defective. Are you sure your rear rotors don't need attention?
 

zanemoseley

Senior member
Feb 27, 2011
530
23
81
I think the rear ones are good but I'm not 100%.

What do you mean by seat properly? I had a friend help that has done a good bit of mechanic work, seemed pretty straight forward.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,155
17,971
136
did you seat your brake pads properly?
Yeah, that was the first question that popped into my head too. Glad I found a good stretch of road on the outskirts of town to do it on without making me looking like a crazy person, or impeding traffic :p
 

tortillasoup

Golden Member
Jan 12, 2011
1,977
4
81
I have a Mazda cx-5 with about 25000 miles, I drive pretty aggressively so had warped the original front rotors and had pulsing in the pedal when stopping.

I just installed a new pair of raybestos advance technology rotors which are guaranteed to be no turn and a set of raybestos professional pads.

After installing probably 2/3 of the pulse is gone but it's still there. The new advance technology rotors are made in China so I'm wondering how accurate the no turn guarantee is. I got them from Amazon so I'm tempted to get my original rotors turned and send back the new ones, the originals have plenty of meat left so I think they should be able to get the slight warp out.

So do you guys turn new rotors before install.
Typically most people warp their rotors because they do not use a torque wrench when tightening down the rotors. Uneven lug nut pressure typically is the cause of warped rotors.
 

zanemoseley

Senior member
Feb 27, 2011
530
23
81
Well I didn't go through any specific bedding-in procedures, just drove as normal, I haven't had any severe braking since install. I've probably only driven 150 miles since installation so they may get better.

I went ahead and ordered rear rotors and pads as well, this way I can hopefully remove the rear brakes as an issue. This will also leave me with a full set of factory rotors in with less than 25k miles, with any luck they'll turn well and make my next full brake job under $100.

My OEM tires are also getting low on tread, I just ordered a set of Continental True Contact tires last week through a buddy that works for a tire software company. I'll get those installed soon as well to remove old out of balance tires from the equation. I think I got the original tires rotated & balanced about 3 times.
 

zanemoseley

Senior member
Feb 27, 2011
530
23
81
Wow Rock Auto is the shit, ordered my rear brake stuff at 1:25 and shipped at 2:52. The front stuff I ordered from Amazon because of free shipping and was a couple dollars cheaper, they took forever to get here.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Wow Rock Auto is the shit, ordered my rear brake stuff at 1:25 and shipped at 2:52. The front stuff I ordered from Amazon because of free shipping and was a couple dollars cheaper, they took forever to get here.

No Amazon Prime, I'm guessing? That's absurdly fast.
 

Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
5,723
325
126
Hell, a fair amount of time re-bedding pads can make pulsing go away. If you already have deposits on the rotors it cleans them up. Pad deposits are more common than actually warped rotors.
 

leper84

Senior member
Dec 29, 2011
989
29
86
Any standard brake lathe will cut as well or better than an on car setup. Its more important finding someone who knows how to use a lathe well.

OP, you must drive like a maniac.
 

silicon

Senior member
Nov 27, 2004
886
1
81
I think the rear ones are good but I'm not 100%.

What do you mean by seat properly? I had a friend help that has done a good bit of mechanic work, seemed pretty straight forward.

did you put one of the new rotors on a brake lathe just to check the run out if any? try that first. and has been suggested check the rear rotors for run out.

if these were made in china then they are suspect immediately. more than likely the material used is scrap melted down and remade into rotors. China use a lot of junk and Raysbestos's claim sounds bogus.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,340
1,849
126
Maybe they are "defective" from sitting in a box on its side for too long and they warped?
 

Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
1
71
You don't need to turn brand new rotors, I would suspect that the rears are warped/have brake pad deposits.
 

colorblind

Member
Jul 14, 2007
46
0
0
You are incorrect. There is a reason why Subaru and other manufacturers require on car lathes. You may however be correct about the rear brakes being warped. Each car line is serviced differently. For example I do a lot of Subaru and Audi work. Hint, hint. On the Subaru line we turn rotors on the car. On Audi we install new rotors and not the cheap ones made in China.
 

Z15CAM

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 2010
2,184
64
91
www.flickr.com
Don't bother turning down these cheap new rotors - Just turn them in for new ones and pray they will last more then a year or two.
 
Last edited:

Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
1
71
You are incorrect. There is a reason why Subaru and other manufacturers require on car lathes. You may however be correct about the rear brakes being warped. Each car line is serviced differently. For example I do a lot of Subaru and Audi work. Hint, hint. On the Subaru line we turn rotors on the car. On Audi we install new rotors and not the cheap ones made in China.

Seems like it's only required for rotors that are "captured":

http://www.acdelcotechconnect.com/pdf/imtn_V11I204.pdf