We are focusing on Toyota-Lexus-Subaru-Honda Automobiles. The requirement for resurfacing depends upon the condition of the rotors. In instances where a low-mileage automobile has its initial brake job, you might not need to do anything to the rotors, as long as they are in reasonably good shape and display little wear or grooving. However in high-mileage automobiles and those in which the rotors are greatly worn, grooved, or heat checked, resurfacing or replacing is going to be required.
A majority of shops insist on either replacing or machining the rotors and drums when replacing brakes. We are confident and recommend a couple of approaches here.
Were comfortable machining them, and believe that the outcome will be more certain to be the best brake job we can do. We machine the rotors on the automobile, therefore, the final effect smoothes out any effects that could be there because of the hub not being completely true.
The rotors after machining are very flat and have an excellent texture for breaking in the new brakes. Also, when the rotors have been freshly machined, the new brakes are less likely to squeal. If a customer expresses sensitivity to brakes squealing, then we’re heavily biased toward machining them even if there are no other problems with the rotors.
Our two award-winning master technicians with years of experience both prefer to machine the rotors to assure the best brake job with the least possibility of customer dissatisfaction.
Having said all that, if the rotors visually look ok-flat, not worn irregularly-and seem to be symptom-free without any shuddering or shimmying when braking-we’re comfortable reusing them without machining them as long as the customer isn’t concerned with the possibility of some brake squealing.
In this instance, there is the possibility that we will believe the rotors to be symptom-free, but be unaware that the rotors do have some symptoms at higher speeds or when going downhill after braking enough to get hot.
As far as the best-case braking in the first instance (with rotors machined) versus the good-enough braking in the second instance, We are not convinced that most people would feel the difference, especially after a couple of days of the brake pads seating in.
One further argument in favor of not machining rotors that appear to be in good condition is that it removes metal from the rotors and effectively shortens their lives. There is a legal minimum thickness below which it is illegal to machine. Every machining moves them a little closer to that legal limit (as does normal wear through normal use).
