Is it bad to just replace one brake rotor... - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Steve Gold · #16 12-01-2005, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor
wear pattern......new is smooth the other is not....casues on wheel to grab before the other...not a good thing in curve in the rain.

If you have to break in a curve the breaking and traction from side to side would not be even anyway, a good way to end up in a ditch.

my .02 USD I did one rotor on the a dodge ram one was ripped to shreds and one was as new, a second had rotor from the scrap yard was also as new. So with two rotors as new and the rest of the system overhauled the truck stops well, and with equal tyre pressures and equal road surface the truck stops in a streight line.

Strange thing is the guy following to close ended up in a ditch.

Steve

New2MB · #17 12-01-2005, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

wear pattern......new is smooth the other is not....casues on wheel to grab before the other...not a good thing in curve in the rain.

Just playing devil's advocate, never actually had the chance to decide on just one rotor, always had to do two. I'm going to ask my friend at Bosch what he thinks. It seems that it wouldn't take but a few miles to put a nice wear pattern on a brand new rotor.

whunter · #18 12-01-2005, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willlyons

...even if the other one isn't to worn?

Pictures of the bad rotor please.
Some of what you said has me concerned that you have other issues:
#1. Bad flex hose.
#2. Bad caliper.

boneheaddoctor · #19 12-01-2005, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New2MB

Just playing devil's advocate, never actually had the chance to decide on just one rotor, always had to do two. I'm going to ask my friend at Bosch what he thinks. It seems that it wouldn't take but a few miles to put a nice wear pattern on a brand new rotor.

Its will take more than a few miles to put the wear pattern of 40K miles on a new rotor...

Put yourself in a marginal traction situation you will find out quick...unfortunately thats exactly the wrong time to find out. Hopefully you won't injure anyone else if the worst happens.

Ever hear the Term Penny Wise but pound foolish.....? Translated from British top american english. "Penny wise but dollar foolish" you may save a penny now but its likely to cost you far more in the long run.

aklim · #20 12-01-2005, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

Its will take more than a few miles to put the wear pattern of 40K miles on a new rotor...

Put yourself in a marginal traction situation you will find out quick...unfortunately thats exactly the wrong time to find out. Hopefully you won't injure anyone else if the worst happens.

Ever hear the Term Penny Wise but pound foolish.....? Translated from British top american english. "Penny wise but dollar foolish" you may save a penny now but its likely to cost you far more in the long run.

Well, to me, I'd rather spend the money now and not have to worry about if and when it might be a problem. I think my peace of mind is worth something.

boneheaddoctor · #21 12-01-2005, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Well, to me, I'd rather spend the money now and not have to worry about if and when it might be a problem. I think my peace of mind is worth something.

exactly what that means.....like defering needed maintenance....its never cheaper down the road....and far far more expensive if it has you barrelling through a red light unable to stop right in front of a tractor trailer truck with the right of way.

aklim · #22 12-01-2005, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

exactly what that means.....like defering needed maintenance....its never cheaper down the road....and far far more expensive if it has you barrelling through a red light unable to stop right in front of a tractor trailer truck with the right of way.

Right of way is a man made concept. Physical laws superceed it. Right of way means nothing when you are in a 3000# vehicle heading straight for a 55000# vehicle. Right of way or not, you lose.

That is what the WI idiots thought would superceed the laws of physics when they dreamed up the "ped rights" crap. Pedestrians strut around in traffic reading a book because they believe the WI law will superceed the physical laws. If I see one of them get hit, I will stop the car, laugh at him and say "Sucks to be you, doesn't it?" Yes, they have no respect for the driver and expect him/her to stop on a dime on slippery roads because they walk out and thus I have no sympathy for them if they get hurt.

atikovi · #23 12-01-2005, 08:07 PM

On the rears you probably wouldn't feel any difference. On the front, change one rotor, THEN if you do find it a problem, go ahead and change the other one. Chances are you will be fine, what with all the loose tolerances on all the other brake and suspension components that a 20+ year old car will have.

boneheaddoctor · #24 12-01-2005, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Right of way is a man made concept. Physical laws superceed it. Right of way means nothing when you are in a 3000# vehicle heading straight for a 55000# vehicle. Right of way or not, you lose.

That is what the WI idiots thought would superceed the laws of physics when they dreamed up the "ped rights" crap. Pedestrians strut around in traffic reading a book because they believe the WI law will superceed the physical laws. If I see one of them get hit, I will stop the car, laugh at him and say "Sucks to be you, doesn't it?" Yes, they have no respect for the driver and expect him/her to stop on a dime on slippery roads because they walk out and thus I have no sympathy for them if they get hurt.

not just Wisconson...idiots here wallk right out with a do not walk sign then get pissed that you had the nerve to make a turn when you had the perfect right of way to do so....every single day at every single intersection.

boneheaddoctor · #25 12-01-2005, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atikovi

On the rears you probably wouldn't feel any difference. On the front, change one rotor, THEN if you do find it a problem, go ahead and change the other one. Chances are you will be fine, what with all the loose tolerances on all the other brake and suspension components that a 20+ year old car will have.

in a turn that can have you looking where you came from and not seeing where you are going mighty fast...

aklim · #26 12-01-2005, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atikovi

On the rears you probably wouldn't feel any difference. On the front, change one rotor, THEN if you do find it a problem, go ahead and change the other one. Chances are you will be fine, what with all the loose tolerances on all the other brake and suspension components that a 20+ year old car will have.

I don't know. If one caliper fails to engage and you brake, won't that throw things off? More to the point, won't it give you a shock and you might not react as well as you should? I broke a rotor once and it startled me to the point that I almost hit something. It was a shock issue that got me and took a moment or two for me to realize that I need to do something else. That could have been bad.

t walgamuth · #27 12-01-2005, 11:07 PM

if the other rotor looks good i would just change the bad one and drive it. if the difference was great i would change the other. if the difference is slight i would drive it a while to see if after it all seats it is fine.

if i ran a shop i would insist on changing both for liability purposes. working on my own car, what am i going to do sue myself?

if it feels fine, and the second rotor is not thin, it is fine.

normally though they tend to wear out in pairs, i am guessing that you had a pad on one side go to metal, right?

my $.02.

tom w

aklim · #28 12-01-2005, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

if i ran a shop i would insist on changing both for liability purposes. working on my own car, what am i going to do sue myself?

T W: T, isn't it true that you are an idiot and make stupid decisions in your life?
T W: Yes. Further more, I was incompetent as a mechanic.
T W: So T, you admit you made stupid decisions and are incompetent?
T W: Yes. I freely admit I was wrong.
T W: So, do you feel that your insurance should make amends and pay you $10 million for your stupid actions?
T W: Yes. In fact, I take full responsibilty.

T W: Your honor, I at this time would like to make a motion that the insurance pay T W the full sum of 10 million for his negligence to himself for pain and suffering.

T W: Your honor, I agree.

Judge: Case is closed. TW gets the full sum of 10 million for carelessness and incompetence to himself.

BTW, if that happens, you are now my new best friend.

t walgamuth · #29 12-01-2005, 11:32 PM

agree with me.

tom w

aklim · #30 12-01-2005, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

agree with me.

tom w

On your own car, I would say it is a judgement call as to what is going on for the rotors. It might be a risk but if you are willing to take it or it is your judgement that the wear is not significant, sure. Like I said, if the mileage is low on the rotors, you are probably ok. I am rough on my brakes. On my cars you see a lot of brake dust on the wheels so you know I wear them quickly. I am very hard on my brakes so I will not want to take the risk. Now, if you are like my adopted father who gets 80K on the car with the same pads, ok. For me, I would rather pay the few bucks and get new rotors so I can abuse them. One less thing to worry about for me