Brakes- do I need rotors, or just pads?

[shizat63]

I've got 49K miles, mostly highway, and the brake light hasn't come on yet. I want to DIY brake job, I'm just not sure if I need new rotors or not.

How can I tell when the rotors need to be replaced? :dunno:

[norihaga]

A micrometer, a jack, and removal of the wheel should do it. That's probably the easiest way to tell.

Given the lack of leeway for wear, I'm guessing if you can feel a pronounced ridge (like the one on my front rotors ;) ) on a rotor's edge, you can probably replace it without feeling you're wasting money. :dunno:

[pony_trekker]

Babe in my sig- NWS: http://xxxx.nicheservers.com/0149


Babe is hot but site has a trojan horse virus.

[MicahO]

I've got 49K miles, mostly highway, and the brake light hasn't come on yet. I want to DIY brake job, I'm just not sure if I need new rotors or not.

How can I tell when the rotors need to be replaced? :dunno:

Thanks for finally posting a link to where the babe is coming from - something in that shot is quite alluring. Something to be investigated away from the office......

Anyhow - brakes --

If your brakes are not vibrating when you stop, then you only need worry about rotor thickness. You can check the thickness with a micrometer, or as an easy eyeball measurement - see how big of a lip has formed at the inside and outside edge of the braking surface. If it's a really obvious lip (I've seen them as deep as almost a millimeter), you may do well to replace the rotors while you are in there.

I haven't had enough miles on this car to know how the components match up, but on my e34's, when I ran stock pads, the pads and rotors wore pretty well in tandem and could be replaced as a set. Deluxe pads tended to wear faster than the rotors, and would not neccesitate a rotor switch each time with new pads. Lots of dependencies.....

[Fast Bob]

Good OEM-type rotors are not expensive (about $60 ea.)....best to replace `em....

Regards,
Bob

[shizat63]

Babe is hot but site has a trojan horse virus.

yep, looks like they setup a redirect to sp2fvcked.biz :mad:

I will edit my sig

[Jim H]

I'm of the thinking that 50k on a set of rotors is pretty darn good, and it's best to just replace them. They aren't expensive really, and you're there, so might as well. Besides, even if they are OK now, they might not be good for as long as your new set of pads last.

[woody underwood]

As far as I'm concerned...BMW OEM rotors can be turned twice (But be sure and mic them!). Any repair shop tells you different they're probably ripping you off and sorry, but $60/80 each is a lot of money to me.

[Jim H]

As far as I'm concerned...BMW OEM rotors can be turned twice (But be sure and mic them!). Any repair shop tells you different they're probably ripping you off and sorry, but $60/80 each is a lot of money to me.
You're probably right. I just get overly careful, so I have a habit of putting on new rotors (on cars out of maintenance warranty, that is.

[Dave 330i]

I'm going to hijack this thread. Can anyone recommend pads for street use? OEM and aftermarket pads.

[bol]

I just replaced the brakes on my 328 last thursday. It was an easy job and you should replace both the pads and rotors. The rotors are cheap so get them out of the way. There's no point in getting them turned when they're this cheap. Turner Motorsport has good prices on OEM rotors.


Dave,
I replaced my pads with Axxis Metal Masters which are supposed to be better than OEM with the same characteristics... only MUCH cheaper.