Do I need new rotors?

[TRDpro4R]

Vehicle info: original OEM pads and rotors have ~65k miles. No towing. Not much mountain use outside of a few vacations. Live in OK so no hills to speak of.

Just started getting the squeal indicator to change the pads.

Replacing with OEM pads.

My question is whether I need to replace the rotors. The reason I ask is because there is a small lip on the outside edge of the rotor. I’ve read this is from the rotor wearing down.

I am assuming I need to remedy this prior to putting new pads on?

Can I turn the rotors or do they need to be replaced?

Thanks

 

[CutthroatSlam]

You can have the rotors turned. They should have enough material left to do this. Shop will tell you if they can be turned. I take them to Pep Boys and they will turn both for $25.

 

[Crusifix]

I don't think that you have a problem. Is the lip inline with where the edge of the pad is? A good machinist can turn them just enough to remove whatever lip you have, but as long as the pad is riding on a smooth surface, I would not worry too much about it. I changed my pads at 60K miles. I probably still had at least 10K miles in them. My rotors are still in good shape and should at least make it through another pad swap or two.

 

[TRDpro4R]

Awesome, thanks for the info!

 

[DougR]

I had a small lip on the inside diameter (instead of outside). I didn't machine the rotors. After a few miles of trying to bed the pads, I still had a slight shimmy while braking. Did the lip cause a shimmy? Perhaps. I elected to replace the rotors and kept the old ones to be machined before I do the next brake job.

Post a status report after you've machined the rotors and driven a few miles. There has been a debate on this forum about the merits of machining brake rotors versus replacing them.

 

[TRDpro4R]

I had a small lip on the inside diameter (instead of outside). I didn't machine the rotors. After a few miles of trying to bed the pads, I still had a slight shimmy while braking. Did the lip cause a shimmy? Perhaps. I elected to replace the rotors and kept the old ones to be machined before I do the next brake job.

Post a status report after you've machined the rotors and driven a few miles. There has been a debate on this forum about the merits of machining brake rotors versus replacing them.

Yeah, I found some of those discussions through search. Seems the thought is turning rotors removes material which in turn (pun intended) makes the rotor more susceptible to future warping.

I’ll post back here with the results of turning them.

 

[Riders of Lohan]

How much are new rotors? Turning rotors makes less and less sense to me. If I’m going to go through the inconvenience and cost to do pass and turn rotors, why not just throw new rotors on instead

 

[Crusifix]

How much are new rotors? Turning rotors makes less and less sense to me. If I’m going to go through the inconvenience and cost to do pass and turn rotors, why not just throw new rotors on instead

This is the option I always take tbh. Good rotors are not that expensive.

 

[TRDpro4R]

Looks like $260 ish + shipping for new OEM rotors.

Is that normal to need to replace rotors at ~65k miles? Seems like they would last longer than that.

 

[Crusifix]

Looks like $260 ish + shipping for new OEM rotors.

Is that normal to need to replace rotors at ~65k miles? Seems like they would last longer than that.

Not really normal..no. Like I said earlier, barring any shenanigans, mine should see at least another pad change or two.

 

[TRDpro4R]

Dealership has a brake special going on. $119 per axle for new pads and turning rotors.

Going that route. Called a trusted mechanic and the dealership, both seemed to agree that turning the rotors should be fine with current mileage.

I guess if I run into problems, I can complain to the dealership.

 

[catrains]

65K miles and your use rotors should be good. reason there is a small lip on the outer edge is from some wear and rust on the edge.. simply use a file and rotate the rotor on the hub and place file in the position to grind off that lip .. do not mess with the rotor smooth surface just that edge .. grind it so it is flat or slightly below the smooth rotor surface..

rotor cutting is a crap shoot .. machinists can F it up and also cut to the max than more costs .. 65K miles on the first set of brake pads you do not need new rotors ..

I have done this many times on many other vehicles.. I have to say Toyota pads are high quality I just did my tire rotations and all the pads and rotors looked perfect .. all even wear and rotor surface extremely smooth.ya a slight lip .. so when I do the pad change @60K I will file off that ridge.

 

[nevada]

Dealership has a brake special going on. $119 per axle for new pads and turning rotors.

Going that route. Called a trusted mechanic and the dealership, both seemed to agree that turning the rotors should be fine with current mileage.

I guess if I run into problems, I can complain to the dealership.

that is a great price.
the rotors will need to be mic'd of course, but yes likely they are still thick enough. a light surface cut to get them straight and true, you should be good to go.

 

[TRDpro4R]

that is a great price.
the rotors will need to be mic'd of course, but yes likely they are still thick enough. a light surface cut to get them straight and true, you should be good to go.

That was my thought on the price. Not saving much by doing it myself.

 

[1000MPH]

The way I'm going, it'll be 10 years of use before my brakes will need replacing. I'll be changing out the rotors and hardware as well at that time.
If I only got 2 years use I'd probably try to do a pad change only.

 

[flyrv9]

Most rotors are stamped with the minimum thickness, so you can measure them and really see where you stand and make the proper choice.

 

[Dreiling]

Second this.

 

[TRDpro4R]

Update:

Front pads were down to 3mm
Rear pads down to 4mm

Dealer surfaced the lip off. Said they barely had to take any off the rotors.

I asked about if turning rotors reduced the service life. He agreed that it does but he said it just depends on the rotor wear and how much they have to take off.

Got new oem pads and turned rotors for $273 out the door. They also broke the pads in. Squeak gone

 

[Crusifix]

Update:

Front pads were down to 3mm
Rear pads down to 4mm

Dealer surfaced the lip off. Said they barely had to take any off the rotors.

I asked about if turning rotors reduced the service life. He agreed that it does but he said it just depends on the rotor wear and how much they have to take off.

Got new oem pads and turned rotors for $273 out the door. They also broke the pads in. Squeak gone

Uhm... That is more than new rotors and pads cost... I think we had $160 total in top tier pads and rotors on my neighbors 2016.

 

[TRDpro4R]

Uhm... That is more than new rotors and pads cost... I think we had $160 total in top tier pads and rotors on my neighbors 2016.

Add another $65 for shipping and you’re at $440 for just materials. No labor. I’m confused??

Are you saying you bought new OEM pads and rotors (front/rear) for $160?