I was following directions from an Edmunds website, and one paragraph said this...
The rotor is that shiny metal disc staring you in the face right now. You can almost see your reflection, right? Get your eyes level with it. If you can't see your face, or at least its general outline, it may mean that the disc needs servicing or replacement. Below, we'll show you how to check this disc for scoring or marring, and what to do about that.
If my rotor is covered in brake dust, will I still be able to see my reflection?
Does a LOT of brake dust mean its time to change my breaks?Question about changing brakes?
A rotor that has been used on a vehicle will be very shiny. There should not be enough brake dust on the rotor to hide your reflection.
If the brake pad lining appears to be the thickness of a 3.5 disc or less, you should replace them.
I would also recommend taking your rotors in and having them checked for thickness and to see if they can be turned, if they are thick enough I would suggest having them machined.
A new rotor or a resurfaced rotor will have a dull silver color associated with them, you will not be able to see a reflection of anything in them.Question about changing brakes?
how thick are the break pads if there are thin then replace themQuestion about changing brakes?
When servicing the breaks, the rotors should always be machined or replaced. Most shops charge (IF you bring the rotor TO THEM) 4$ per rotor to machine them back to flat.
Brake dust is irrelivant if the rotors and pads are in good condition and you don't hear any squeaks or grinding.
If you have no idea what you're doing, please have your brakes done by a professional, I'd prefer to NOT be rear-ended by a do-it-yourselfer.Question about changing brakes?
No, a lot of brake dust doesn't have to mean it's new brake time. Buy some brake cleaner to remove the dust and look at the pads... if the liner is worn to the metal %26quot;screech tab%26quot; then it is time to replace, otherwise, just spray them clean and re-assemble.Question about changing brakes?
You can wipe off the brake dust. Just don't breathe it in. As for if you need to change your brakes, if the rotors feel perfectly smooth to the touch then they're likely okay, providing they're not worn down below the minimum thickness. Brake service centers and most garages have the specifications on minimum thickness for various types of rotors -- and the tools and know-how to measure them. If they're too thin the rotors are not strong enough and they can overheat, warp, crack or even snap off under heavy braking. (Which means you then have NO brakes on that wheel and the car can spin -- especialy on a slippery road surface.)
If the rotors are grooved on the surface they need to be either machined smooth again or replaced with new ones. Again, sometimes they can't be machined because they will have to be shaved down too thin and then they're not safe anyway.
Brake pads. If they're getting down anywhere near eighth of an inch or so they are dangerously low and should be replaced pronto. One sudden stop can strip off the last of the pad material and then it's metal on metal and that's bad news indeed. They won't work right, they'll screech like all get-out, and they'll get so hot you can actually weld a brake pad backing plate to a rotor. Not kidding, okay? Big bucks to repair if you don't crash beforehand.
If you have any doubts at all about whether your brakes are up to scratch or not, take your car to experts and let them have the responsibility of putting things right if needs be. Remember it's not just if they look okay, those rotors must be within the safety tolerance or they can fail very suddenly.
