Re-Using Brake Pads ??

[CactusWill]

This is going to be kind of a noob question :( , being as how easy brakes are, but here goes. When you replace or resurface the rotors, can you just put any old brake pad back on there? I've got a stack of pads building up, and it seems that you shouldn't have to throw em out with 75% thickness leftover, even though the surfaces are grooved up and stuff ??

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

try them out driving carefully around the block. if you don't like how they perform, don't use them and chuck 'em. (obviously, don't do this during rush hour, just to be safe)

But realistically, if you have new(ish) rotors, the pads can wear down nicely to be smoothed out. (at least if the grooves aren't that bad)

[[ion] C2]

They wear together, supposed to replace both at same time.

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

^ very true, but on a budget, it's nice to know what you can do.

[CactusWill]

C2;459678']They wear together, supposed to replace both at same time.
^ very true, but on a budget, it's nice to know what you can do.


Well, I guess the more important question would be, is it normal to discard pads that have 75% left. We're all on some kind of budget of course, but I don't care about spending 30$ on new sets of pads, as long as that is normal and I'm not just wasting the used ones.

[meadus101]

Well, I placed some rotors on that had some surface rust, so I left the semi-metallics on there to wear that off, and In a couple months i'll put ceramics on the front.

[Ghadsphi]

Basically you're taking your odds on used pads with new rotors. You're hoping they match up and don't etch grooves into your brand new rotors.
When you replace/resurface the rotors you want to replace the pads. Usually. Defects on the rotor transfer to the pad. And the other way arouned. Welcome to my fine art ascii

|| // || = 2 ||'s now equal //

Put those 2 //'s pads on your new || rotors, you'll f up the rotors right quick. Then you get to replace both of then all over again like you should have.

[Beholder88]

I've heard of people sanding down the pads if they still have enough material on them. Just enough to take the grooves out of them. As long as they arent cracked/broken/missing chunks, you should be ok. But like Ghadsphi said, any defect in the pad will transfer to the rotor. Personally, I've got the lifetime ceramics from Autozone, so if I replace my rotors, I can just go swap out another set of brand new ones for free.

[Ghadsphi]

Basicaly if you change/ resurf your rotors (especially if you resurface them) then replace the pads. Do it yourself and be be careful if you think someone might have ever added brake fluid. Other than than that it's just a jack and some c clamps and a random thin piece of wood.

[Nate's Alero]

when i replaced my warped rotors on my saturn, the pads were screwed up aswell, and that made the rotor rewarp, no, get new pads

[clutch1]

If your rotors are able to be resurfaced, that means they have VERY little wrong with them. When you cut a rotor, the specs don't leave much to take off before you get illegally thin. If its warped you won't be saving it.

That said, pads that match up with a resurfacable rotor I would say could be re-used.

However, like they said, pads that match up with a warped rotor are probably bad news.

[Nate's Alero]

If your rotors are able to be resurfaced, that means they have VERY little wrong with them. When you cut a rotor, the specs don't leave much to take off before you get illegally thin. If its warped you won't be saving it.

That said, pads that match up with a resurfacable rotor I would say could be re-used.

However, like they said, pads that match up with a warped rotor are probably bad news.

so, i was going to take my saturn in and get the rotors resurfaced, they are so warped that the caliper strikes the rim

no chance?? they were 70$ bendix rotors