I'm going to change brake pads next weekend, my car has around 90K right now, and I'm wondering if I should "turn" the rotors. What do you guys recommend?

 

First, is there a problem with the rotors ... pitting (grooves) and warping (brake pedal pulsing ... when ABS is not acting ... slow constant pressure on brakes). Feel the grooves by hand and ignore the micro groves caused by normal pad interaction.

If the rotors are bad, then you need to decide about turning or replacing. If doing a DIY, the cost saving is enough to replace. If you turn the warping will come back quicker. If the rotors have been turned before, they may be at the limit where you have to replace.

Hope this helped

Salim

 

As long as the rotors are within specs, no need to turn. If you can catch your fingernail in a groove, you might want to turn. Alot of turning is done to cut down noise. I have replaced the pads on my TL before the sensors start to sing and the rotors have 140,000 miles on them without being turned once.

 

Turning isnt just an issue of groves you can touch. The rotors can look ok and still be slightly warped. One test is what you feel in a high speed panic stop. A vibration can indicate warped rotors.

 

Yeah, I do feel a bit of vibration at high speed stops, so thats why I'm thinking about turning them. I don't wanna replace them alltogether, because I don't plan on keeping the car for much longer, maybe until the end of the year tops. As long as turning is considered a normal procedure, and does not cause any negative effects on the rotors, that's what I'm going to do.

 

I have had to turn my stock rotors because of minor warping. In that case turn em just to be sure a prospective owner won't flag the vibration as a concern.