Cracked front rotor
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
From: poughkeepsie ny
Cracked front rotor
Hi. I have a 94 Mazda B4000 4wd, which has a crack in the passenger side rotor. There didnt seem to be much problem with it until recently. Now when I ride down the road I get this annoying clicking noise which seems to be coming from that side. When I lightly apply the brakes, the noise goes away. I imagine whats happening is the pads are clanking against the crack at every revolution of the rotor which is causing the noise.
If my theroy on the clicking is correct, I was thinking of taking a dremel with a grinding bit to the crack to indent it somewhat so the pads dont contact the crack thereby elimintaing the noise. I just wanted to do this quick fix until springtime where itll be warmer out to change the whole rotor.
So what do you guys think? Crack causing the noise? Grinding down rotor relatively safe? One thing that makes me hesitant in replacing the rotor now is that the 4wd complicates rotor removal and I dont want to be rushing things now when its cold out.
Appeciate any thoughts.
If my theroy on the clicking is correct, I was thinking of taking a dremel with a grinding bit to the crack to indent it somewhat so the pads dont contact the crack thereby elimintaing the noise. I just wanted to do this quick fix until springtime where itll be warmer out to change the whole rotor.
So what do you guys think? Crack causing the noise? Grinding down rotor relatively safe? One thing that makes me hesitant in replacing the rotor now is that the 4wd complicates rotor removal and I dont want to be rushing things now when its cold out.
Appeciate any thoughts.
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: manchester, CT
Your front brakes are where most of your stopping power is. If it were me, I wouldn't mickey-mouse my front brakes just to save a few $$$ when they could save my life in an emergency.
I am curious as to how the rotor cracked? Was there a brake job done on this truck recently?
I am curious as to how the rotor cracked? Was there a brake job done on this truck recently?
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
From: poughkeepsie ny
I am curious as to how the rotor cracked? Was there a brake job done on this truck recently?
Im gonna give the grinding a go. See you on the other side if it doesnt work
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 544
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Hail Mary full of Grace!
One emergency stop and the truck is going to pull towards the drivers side like a bat out of $#@% when the passenger side rotor blows apart. The intense heat generated from an emergency stop will do that. I have heard of rotors blowing out that had NO cracks in them, that is how thin they make them today. Every brake job I have had done so far (2) new rotors ALWAYS have been included in the job. Ford is notorious for making undersized braking systems in their vehicles, especially Rangers.
Do yourself a favor and any passengers that might be in your truck, get new rotors for the front brakes, and of course new pads.
THE LIFE YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN!
Do yourself a favor and any passengers that might be in your truck, get new rotors for the front brakes, and of course new pads.
THE LIFE YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN!
Last edited by Ken00; Dec 7, 2003 at 06:14 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 859
Likes: 0
From: philly pa
front rotors are pretty cheap and surprisingly easy to replace. i did it on my dad's 97 f150 for about 100 bucks. yours should be cheaper cause the disks are smaller. i recommend the haynes manual if u decide to do it. i personally wouldn't drive the vehicle w/a cracked rotor. if u care about your truck and more importantly your life fix it, southern engineering doesn't work w/brakes. -jesse
p.s. if u do get into a jam just remember: your parking brake controlls your rear brakes. if u jam on the brakes and something blows up just let off and ease the parking brake in.
p.s. if u do get into a jam just remember: your parking brake controlls your rear brakes. if u jam on the brakes and something blows up just let off and ease the parking brake in.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
Cheap?
I don't know about cheap. For a '97 Ranger the front rotors were $99 each installed. My mechanic only uses the best, and they are not made by Ford. I can't think of the manufacturer, all I know is it starts with a "W". Someone help me out. I am going to go nuts until I remember the name. They make more than just rotors I think, a full line of after market parts.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
Suffer in the cold and replace it. They are not that expensive and they are pretty easy to install, even with the 4X4. Besides, should you get in a wreck and some insurance investigator sees that rotor, you will have some more problems on your hands in the event that you're at fault and someone else gets hurt. Unless you take certain actions, that crack will probably grow and increase the chance of rotor failure. I'm not gonna talk about how to take that certain action either.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Canyon Lake Texas
Replace, Replace, Replace!!
A new rotor is only about $50.00. Your micky-mousing it with a Dremel is akin to trying to figure a way to keep adding air to a tire with a leak in it as you go down the road. I'd hesitate to drive it even down to pick up the part! If you are poor, get a used one at a junk yard, but replace that rotor! You can smugly drive on to the here after, I just don't want you to take one of us out in the deal!
