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Rotors
> Also, I have another question to add to this (while we are talking brakes):
> A service manager at a tire center told me that Audi rotors can't be turned;
> that they HAVE to be replaced. Anyone else hear of this? (I have a '92 100S).
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Jim Griffin
The way this has been explained to me is that Audi tries to minimize
UNsprung weight, and therefore tries to keep the components on the
wheel assembly as light as possible. To this end, they have made the
rotors somewhat thinner (lighter) than most other vehicles. Since
the pads and rotors both wear as they are used, the factory
recommendation is to change both and one is assured of having a
serviceable rotor with the new pads. If you're stuck with having
this done at a dealer, though, it sticks you about $400!
The rotors may in fact tolerate one minimal turning. However,
the other points made relative to potential for warping if the rotors
are turned - and with their diminished mass being less capable of
dissipating heat - seem highly pertinent to me. I think I'd rather
install new rotors if I can find them at a good price. Warped
rotors are something none of us want to mess with.
Another note: the state patrol folks taught me that when pads wear
down to one-third or less of their original thickness, THEIR ability
to dissipate heat is also compromised - primarily because of reduced
mass. At that point, brake fade becomes more likely in hard driving
because the pad material may melt under heavy application. Kind of
inclines one to replace the pads before the last 1/10" of material is
used, "eh"?
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