Hey guys, I'm developing what seems to be a warped rotor. I replaced the pads with lifetime guarantee ones that seem to be digging into my rotor. If I replace my rotors do any of you know any rotors made in the USA with USA made steel? My mechanic I know won't even cut rotors anymore because he says they are all made of Chinese cheap steel that is so cheap you're better off just buying them for 15 bucks each. What rotors have you guys chosen?

 

I think even the big American brands are having a lot of their parts made overseas now. But if you stick with them, like Bendix or Kelsey-Hayes, or even Motorcraft, you are more likely to get a better product. There are reasonable Chinese products, and there are bad Chinese products.

Whatever you get, make sure you get the directional rotors made for 1992 and later Aerostars. Then, make sure you install them properly; install each rotor so that the vents point backward at the top (not "scooping" air from the front), and torque each nut with a torque wrench to about 90 lb-ft.

 

Thanks for the advice, If I replace the rotors again the job should be easier now that I have a bearing packer. Last time i did it the old way of packing the bearings by hand. What a messy job...

 

too many fake knock off out there in OEM looking US manuf. forged boxes with fake certification stampings on them.
quality car and light truck rotors are made of gray iron, a form of cast iron. there are numerous specs that the base material and manuf. techniques are supposed to meet for rotors. we know how the Chinese have failed at specs, food safety, copyright and patent laws ad naseum.


always buy from well known retailer for least chance of forgery
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best I've found for the Aero are the Raybestos Professional Grade Plus rotors.
use the top line Raybestos Advanced Tech. semi metallic for the best match to their rotors in friction cooefficient and balanced brakes. most ceramics are too hard for the rotors and cause extra rotor wear and grooving. Raybestos PG Plus and the AT pads provide safe smooth aggressive strong braking with no squeal or lockup and no excessive rotor wear/damage.

the "life time warranty" pads I've tried were too hard and caused too much rotor damage and high pedal braking force. the excessive hardness of the friction material is the reason they can warranty them to last forever. a parts manuf. gimmick.

best for long life and least problems to do all at the same time, rotors, calipers with the steel pistons, new slider pins- should come with calipers, new pads and complete brake system flush before putting on the new calipers and contaminating them with the old water rust slop.

I haven't had to touch my brakes in 4 years now after doing the front and rear with new Raybestos PG Plus. not cheap but then who wants cheap brakes?

the OEM Ford front brake pads are far too hard of material, they gouge and wear out the rotors.

want the back brakes working as well as the front or all that work and money poured into the front brakes will go up in smoke with the fronts doing all the braking load.

 

See, I have no problems with rotors. I bought my van with 120,000 miles, and the rotors had warped. I had the shop turn them, and used top end ceramic pads. I finally replaced them 90,000 miles later when the brakes were starting to fad. The rotors had not worn down much, but they had glazed due to extreme heat. The pads were doing ok too.

I now run ceramic pads and slotted rotors.

 

Rotors are too small for the van they all warp after a while esp if you have to do any hard braking. IMO.