Rotor Life
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 122
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Rotor Life
Have a 2001 F150 supercab 4x4 with 5.4l.
My question is, what type of life can I expect out of the rotors? I have changes the front pads 3 times (2 times for sure) and the rear once or twice. I am probably ready for both this spring again. The truck has about 140,000 miles. I have never had the rotors turned, and have no brake issues to date. I do tow a 5,000 pound boat a fair amount.
Does anyone know the minimum thickness for the front and rear rotors? Just curious on that as I probably wil just change the pads again.
My question is, what type of life can I expect out of the rotors? I have changes the front pads 3 times (2 times for sure) and the rear once or twice. I am probably ready for both this spring again. The truck has about 140,000 miles. I have never had the rotors turned, and have no brake issues to date. I do tow a 5,000 pound boat a fair amount.
Does anyone know the minimum thickness for the front and rear rotors? Just curious on that as I probably wil just change the pads again.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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there is not an expected life. it is dependand on when they get hot and warp, or when the pads wear out and dig into the disc, or the caliper sticks and wears one side. if you do good maint and dont do heaving braking, they could last a long time... i bought a SCREW with 125k miles and the front rotors had some troubles, i tried to turn them, and change the pad. still minor vibration, finally chnage out the discs about 150k. old were warped and could not get it turned decent. seems to me they were a little over an inch thick and you can turn to maybe .950 or something like that.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
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I replace the rotors every time. At 34 dollars per rotor, its not worth it to have them turned in my opinion. I install the most agressive pads i can find. I did use the napa severe duty pads, but they thru out a ton of dust. Last few brake jobs i have been using performance friction carbon metallic. Not much dust at all and stops pretty well. I think that if i took it easy on the pads i could pad slap it and not have any worries. I usually either crack or put blue spots in the rotors. One other thing about changing rotors, its much easier to seat the pads in.
Senior User
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Originally Posted by Bobby82490
Well it might be $34 dollars for the 4wd rotor, but the 2wd rotors are built into the hub assembly..
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I just had my 4 month old brembo rotors resurfaced after 3k miles of driving.... I think they were bad from the beginning. Does not sound right. Ive never had much luck with rotors - probably on my 3rd set after 150k miles. I do have lots of hills around me & never thought I drove like a test pilot, but my rotor life has been pitiful!
Ive been using ceramic pads as well which I wonder has been killing the rotors as well.
Ive been using ceramic pads as well which I wonder has been killing the rotors as well.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: royal oak, mich
I switched to EBC pads all around about 3-4k ago and the front rotors are warped some already(pulsing when slowing down quickly from highway speeds). I'm gonna replace all the rotors and may go back to Performance Friction pads again. I had them on a half ton truck(fronts only the rears were drum on a Dana 60) and even hauling around a fully loaded bed it would STOP good.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2006
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Wow, sounds like the factory hardware is better than the aftermarket. The pads I have been using are the cheapest I could get with a lifetime replacement. Costs me about 20 bucks the first go around.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Coupeville, WA
It has been my experience that one should buy nothing but "made in USA" rotors. The steel is that much better. This was after going through some rotors that warped early on many years ago. The cheap ones. A counter guru suggested I pay a bit more and get USA made rotors and my warping probs have disappeared on those I have had to replace. Jim
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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I bought a set of the cheaper rotors, about $30 each at AutoZone, about a year ago. Made in China. I have had no problems so far. I figured it cant be too hard to build a steel rotor. After all, this is not rocket science.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
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From: Kansas
I put on a set of ART rotors and can't say enough about them. Braking is not a component I blow off, my bikes and my trucks have all had upgraded brakes installed. I brake hard and expect the vehicle to stop when I need it.
A good example was us heading up to Lincoln, NE to an airshow with my sons and a friend. The stop light turned yellow and I problaby could have ran it but I nailed the brakes and stopped the truck. After we stopped, my son who sat in the middle said, "Dad, that hurt!" The pain was caused by his seatbelt.
A good example was us heading up to Lincoln, NE to an airshow with my sons and a friend. The stop light turned yellow and I problaby could have ran it but I nailed the brakes and stopped the truck. After we stopped, my son who sat in the middle said, "Dad, that hurt!" The pain was caused by his seatbelt.
Last edited by Ultramagdan; Mar 14, 2008 at 10:12 PM.