Cracked Rotors?!
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,259
Likes: 17
From: Gambrills
Cracked Rotors?!
I am ready to get learned some more.
Last week my front breaks were squeaking so I bought the $30 ElCheepos and started to install them. I noticed on the drivers side that the rotor was cracked! Not like little "spider vein" cracks but big Ol cracks. The rotors have 2 sides (duh) but are seperated by "cooling fins". On the outside there is a crack that goes from the hub straight out to the edge (like a cracked 33LP record). I know this was not right but I changed the pads anyway. When I got to the passenger I found 2 cracks! one at 12 O'clock and one about 5 O'clock. I changed that side too. Now a few hundred miles later the breakes are making all kinds of racket and I smell break from time to time.
My questions are:
How much longer can I drive likr this untill I get the money and time to change them?
How do I go about this?
Do I need special tools?
Any, "Whatever you do, don't do this,......"?
I am going on vacation tomorrow (in a different car) so I won't be back till Mondayish but I will be checking in and out later tonight.
Thanks in advanced
Cracking Up in Maryland
Last week my front breaks were squeaking so I bought the $30 ElCheepos and started to install them. I noticed on the drivers side that the rotor was cracked! Not like little "spider vein" cracks but big Ol cracks. The rotors have 2 sides (duh) but are seperated by "cooling fins". On the outside there is a crack that goes from the hub straight out to the edge (like a cracked 33LP record). I know this was not right but I changed the pads anyway. When I got to the passenger I found 2 cracks! one at 12 O'clock and one about 5 O'clock. I changed that side too. Now a few hundred miles later the breakes are making all kinds of racket and I smell break from time to time.
My questions are:
How much longer can I drive likr this untill I get the money and time to change them?
How do I go about this?
Do I need special tools?
Any, "Whatever you do, don't do this,......"?
I am going on vacation tomorrow (in a different car) so I won't be back till Mondayish but I will be checking in and out later tonight.
Thanks in advanced
Cracking Up in Maryland
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
From: NW Wisc
I have seen quite a bit of this happening on our fleet vehicles at work, seems soon as we started buying the super hard ceramic brake pads we started having problems... Brakes are designed to wear, soon as we made the pads bullet proof something else had to give and it seems as the rotors fit the bill, we are now buying the el cheepo pads and the problem with cracked rotors has gone away, we are now on an 18 month to 24 month change out on brake pads...... sometimes too good is just too good.... I like doing maintenance anyways.............
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,259
Likes: 17
From: Gambrills
I have seen quite a bit of this happening on our fleet vehicles at work, seems soon as we started buying the super hard ceramic brake pads we started having problems... Brakes are designed to wear, soon as we made the pads bullet proof something else had to give and it seems as the rotors fit the bill, we are now buying the el cheepo pads and the problem with cracked rotors has gone away, we are now on an 18 month to 24 month change out on brake pads...... sometimes too good is just too good.... I like doing maintenance anyways.............
So after I change the rotors (with the help and mtovation of the people on this site) I should stick with the cheap pads?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,010
Likes: 5
From: Johnson City, TN.
To answer your question on how long you can drive like this, I would say none. I would not drive on broken rotors at all.
To replace the rotors you will need to remove the hub. You will need the hub nut removal socket. You can get it at most parts stores. Not all will have the right one though so be careful. Once the hub is off you will have to drive the lug studs out. This takes a big hammer and a little sweat. Once out the rotor will fall off. Replace the rotor and drive the lug studs back in. replace the hub and brakes and you are done. If you have a repair manual that helps with torque specs etc.
To replace the rotors you will need to remove the hub. You will need the hub nut removal socket. You can get it at most parts stores. Not all will have the right one though so be careful. Once the hub is off you will have to drive the lug studs out. This takes a big hammer and a little sweat. Once out the rotor will fall off. Replace the rotor and drive the lug studs back in. replace the hub and brakes and you are done. If you have a repair manual that helps with torque specs etc.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,010
Likes: 5
From: Johnson City, TN.
To answer your question on how long you can drive like this, I would say none. I would not drive on broken rotors at all.
To replace the rotors you will need to remove the hub. You will need the hub nut removal socket. You can get it at most parts stores. Not all will have the right one though so be careful. Once the hub is off you will have to drive the lug studs out. This takes a big hammer and a little sweat. Once out the rotor will fall off. Replace the rotor and drive the lug studs back in. replace the hub and brakes and you are done. If you have a repair manual that helps with torque specs etc.
To replace the rotors you will need to remove the hub. You will need the hub nut removal socket. You can get it at most parts stores. Not all will have the right one though so be careful. Once the hub is off you will have to drive the lug studs out. This takes a big hammer and a little sweat. Once out the rotor will fall off. Replace the rotor and drive the lug studs back in. replace the hub and brakes and you are done. If you have a repair manual that helps with torque specs etc.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 14,069
Likes: 17
From: Melbourne, Ky
Your brakes are the single most important feature your vehicle has. Think about it, they have to work, every time! Not sometimes, or maybe, but every time. Failure could result in some very ugly things happening. Don't want to sound like I'm coming down on anybody, but this is something you don't do half way. It's your life, your families life, and other peoples lives you're dealing with.
I heard a story a while ago about a mechanic that had a guy bring a car in that he had just bought. The guy instructed him to replace the entire brake system from the brake reservior to the pads. Lines, calipers, rotors, pads, everything. He looked at the car and told the guy that the brakes are in good shape, why did he want to replace everything on it. The guys response was, "My wife and kids will be in that car, that's why." He said no problem, I will get it done. I will admit, that is a little overboard, but it gets the point across.
I heard a story a while ago about a mechanic that had a guy bring a car in that he had just bought. The guy instructed him to replace the entire brake system from the brake reservior to the pads. Lines, calipers, rotors, pads, everything. He looked at the car and told the guy that the brakes are in good shape, why did he want to replace everything on it. The guys response was, "My wife and kids will be in that car, that's why." He said no problem, I will get it done. I will admit, that is a little overboard, but it gets the point across.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,247
Likes: 7,667
From: Chino Valley, Arizona
Raybestos slotted, cross drilled rotors and Raybestos ceramic/metallic pads, this is what I put on the ranch trucks, these guys are always towing stock trailers with 6 to 10 cows in them and most of our roads are 6+ percent grade. they were cracking stock rotors in a week and haven't cracked one of these yet.
I will look through my invoices and see if I can find the part numbers for the rotors an pads if you want to spend the money on them.
I will look through my invoices and see if I can find the part numbers for the rotors an pads if you want to spend the money on them.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,259
Likes: 17
From: Gambrills
I called the parts store to inquire about the rotors I need. He asked if the truck was 2 wheel anti lock brakes or 4 wheel anti lock brakes. I have no clue. Can someone help me in the right direction to find out about this? (They are both different parts numbers).
Thanks
Thanks
