I'm looking for everyone's opinion here. We are taking our 7500 lb 5th wheel on a trip to the OBX & then stopping in the Shenandoah mountains on the way home & camping on skyline drive. I'm guessing 1500 miles or so pulling the camper. Lately I have been getting a pulsing in my front brakes & it has gotten worse since the dealership took everything apart to do my ball joints. I was looking about a month ago when I was rotating my tires & I have a lot of pad left on both sides. Eventually I'd like to get new rotors, maybe powerslots & a set of good pads, but right now.. with the trip coming up in 2 weeks I really don't want to lay out the $$$ as I have some stuff I need to do to the camper, not to mention the cost of the trip.

My question is, would it be a bad idea to have my rotors cut & use the old pads again? The pads were new from the Ford dealership when I bought the truck last february (14,000 miles ago) I've had guys tell me it weakens the integrity of the rotors to cut them, but i'd like to get this taken care of as cheap as possible for now, but not doing something unsafe in the process. I guess another option would be to cut the rotors & buy a set of pads but I figured i'd get an opinion since these pads seem to have a lot of life left in them & they really seem to be decent pads.. no dust, no squealing.

 

[quote=ghig1967;7529378]
I've had guys tell me it weakens the integrity of the rotors to cut them, but i'd like to get this taken care of as cheap as possible for now, but not doing something unsafe in the process.


Gregg you can have the rotors turned there is a minimum thickness spec stamped in the rotor. If they don't clean up at this thickness or if they are already close to it you can get new ones from NAPA for $61.00 each I always like to get new pads but if you think your pads are good thats the cheapest way. Good luck and have a enjoyably and safe trip.

 

I agree with Eddie... have your rotors turned.. That why they have minimum thickness requirements so you can turn them.. But, doing so will probably be temporary and the rotor will probably start warping again.. but they should last though your trip.. Your existing pads should be OK ..Just pull the rotors and take them to a machine shop that turns rotors.. But replace everything when you have the time..
One thing you might check however first... double check to see if they over torqued your lug nuts.. I believe they should be 150 ft lbs.

 

Thanks guys. I'll take them off & get them cut then double check the pads & go from there. Have a great weekend everyone!!

 

Don't be surprised if you are too close to minimum thickness to have the rotors turned. I was surprised a couple of weeks ago when I went to have my front rotors turned and only had at best 1mm over minimum thickness. Not allot of leeway to turn each side. Only 99,600 miles on truck. I bought new rotors.

 

I NEVER turn rotors.
It takes away the mass of the rotor and that is a heat sink for when you are braking.
You'll just warp the rotors that much faster if you are trying to get a big trailer to stop.