Brake rotors typically last long but can be due for replacement earlier than they should if you drive on rough terrains or use your brakes aggressively. Your car size might also play a role in the mileage your rotors take you. The recommendation is to always schedule a replacement service after covering 30,000 – 70,000 miles. Still, faster wear could reduce this number, and the best way to tell if a replacement is due is by having an expert inspect them. Here are the key factors that lessen the operational life of your brake rotors.
1. Rotor Quality
Your car is made of many wearable components, the brake rotors inclusive. One way to get the maximum use out of your rotors is by installing premium quality ones when having a replacement service. If you go for cheap parts, you get cheap results! What follows is faster wear and poorer braking performance.
2. Driving terrain
Another important factor that could make or mar the lifespan of your rotors is the driving terrain. If you regularly find yourself on bumpy tracts or put your brakes to significant abuse all day, your rotors will wear faster and will need to be replaced earlier than they normal.
3. Driving habit
Aggressive driving ruins your brakes. While you might need to stomp on the pedal in an emergency situation, doing this often could compromise your braking system.
If your car produces a rumbling sound every time you apply the brakes or vibrates during normal driving, you’re likely experiencing signs of rotor wear. Worn rotors should be replaced promptly to avoid longer stopping times and complete loss of braking power. While you can examine the rotors yourself, an expert mechanic is what you want for proper diagnosis and inspection of other braking components.
Should I Replace or Resurface Brake Rotors
In some cases, warped rotors might be restored by resurfacing them in a machination or “turning” process. This basically evens out warpage and gets the rotor surface back to shape. However, this is only possible if only minor damage has been done. Severely warped rotors will need to be replaced. If you’re unsure what to do, your mechanic can help you decide following a thorough inspection service, which is really what you want when it comes to the safety of a vitally important system as your brake.
