One of the upsides of having your brake discs machined instead of replaced is the cost saving.
Brake rotor machining cost.
Back in the day it made sense to resurface rotors whenever pads were replaced.
With quality rotors for many mass produced passenger cars priced at less than 100 each and shop labour rates increasing to match inflation and cost of living jumps fees for machining rotors can.
This made good economic sense in the past because rotors were more expensive and often thicker.
It can also smooth out surface irregularities that can cause vibrations such as varying thickness.
Machining rotors might take a couple hours at the repair shop.
Resurfacing rotors also known as machining or turning rotors is performed by a mechanic who shaves a thin amount of metal off of each side.
This would make brake pad and rotor replacement about 630 for the front and about 652 for the rear at a dealership.
Front rotors cost about 142 each and rear rotors cost about 134 each.
The brake rotor spins on the hub as the wheel turns and provides a smooth surface for your brake pads to grab when braking.
For a 2008 chevrolet tahoe with four wheel drive factory pads are about 146 for the front and about 184 for the rear.
Need to machine both rotors a full set to avoid imbalance.
Machining the brake discs is often half the cost of replacement rotors although it may take more time for your vehicle to be serviced if you opt for machining instead of replacement as machining requires more labour time to complete.
From the factory rotors are machined flat and smooth but over time wear from the brake pads may cause grooves hot spots or general wear.
Machining rotors may be less expensive upfront but the maintenance and repair are more costly in the long run.
The cost to machine rotors might be greater than just replacing new rotors.
Rotor weight needs to be evenly distributed or else it leads to shaking and vibrating.
If you re at the point where machining your rotors makes sense you re at the point where a rotor replacement will soon be necessary.
See below for the list of auto care centers that turn rotors including the expected cost and service time.
Brake rotor resurfacing is a process where a small amount of the brake disc s material is removed with a lathe in order to remove corrosion and brake pad deposits.
