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Where to buy brake rotors?


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El Gato27
New User

Aug 11, 2015, 3:08 PM

Post #1 of 8 (1575 views)
Where to buy brake rotors? Sign In

So one of my brake rotors seems to be warped, I’m starting to get a little wobble on the steering wheel when I brake. Last did a brake job ~2 ½ years ago, ~32k miles. 2007 Toyota Corolla. I drive like very conservatively—slow lane, gradual stop & go’s….
Don’t want to resurface the rotors since I figure they will just warp again in a few months.
I’m looking for a recommendation on where to buy rotors. I bought mine at O’Reilly’s but I don’t really want to go back there. Not sure Autozone is any better.
So where do you all recommend for a rotor source or brand? I guess pads also. Thanks.
Felix


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 11, 2015, 4:13 PM

Post #2 of 8 (1566 views)
Re: Where to buy brake rotors? Sign In

OK 32K on those rotors now warping don't think of turning them as there's not enough metal and thinner would only warp faster if still legal after a machine job at all.


New? Price doesn't always reflect better or worse nor the parts source. Usually NAPA will still give you choices of quality grades and tend to trust their choice of what to sell a tad better than most. More professionals will use them around me vs the super chain parts outlets not always bad.
If your rotors are also rusty but still not stuck to the hub and might be if this warped feel is just since even a tire rotation or any reason a wheel removed could be rust that falls down unseen between inside of rotor and the hub then when tight isn't true. If not caught right away - same day rotor will suffer if brakes aren't worn out but are about time for most.


You asked: If quality didn't change my all time favorite rotors were made by Centric. Baked on painted, balanced and cut perfectly for instant no problem use. Of course a friction surface isn't painted and can rust if not used for some time or if by some chance a lot of grease go on one can feel like warped and make it hopeless too. Just miles I suggest going new. Look at them (I hate buy crap like this on line) right at a real store and reject it right there if you don't like the way it looks - I do!


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 12, 2015, 2:21 AM

Post #3 of 8 (1556 views)
Re: Where to buy brake rotors? Sign In

It doesn't matter where you buy them. Cheap rotors will do the job as well as expensive rotors.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 12, 2015, 4:27 AM

Post #4 of 8 (1551 views)
Re: Where to buy brake rotors? Sign In

Yes and no HT. Some super cheap rotors, still safe and legal, do rust oddly with poorly recycled metals or larger heavier ones no attempt to balance them is evident. Then again it's so hard to know balance is right if you do see that they were was it right?


I've seen bubbles holes, parts of threaded something in the worst of cheap at the counter! Could still be safe but don't want those.


Back to machining bull: IMO balance is lost if machined along with shortening life of that brake job about always,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 12, 2015, 5:59 AM

Post #5 of 8 (1544 views)
Re: Where to buy brake rotors? Sign In

I've been using white box rotors for 40 years without a problem.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



El Gato27
New User

Aug 12, 2015, 6:45 AM

Post #6 of 8 (1536 views)
Re: Where to buy brake rotors? Sign In

Thanks for the info. Excuse my ignorance, but are "white box" rotors from Rock Auto? I think that's what I found on Google.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 12, 2015, 6:51 AM

Post #7 of 8 (1535 views)
Re: Where to buy brake rotors? Sign In

White box is a term we use for non-name brand parts.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 12, 2015, 7:15 AM

Post #8 of 8 (1533 views)
Re: Where to buy brake rotors? Sign In

There's no following who really made or set specs by brands much anymore. So right - the "white" box was sometime 1/4 the cost and OK or not. For a while a "brake only huge specialty - place for shops only not really open for public but would" quit selling them without cutting them all first! Had that much trouble. Looked lousy and needed at lease full cleaning prior to use.


All others were instantly ready to go, pre cut/machined new. I can't see buying new and machining one thinner being good to anything but the last seller's bottom line.


Bendix once the big name. No longer IMO. They sold out. Oh boy. Down to TWO people still working at the places I frequented or dealt with. When in question and quality was specified just asked what was their opinion at that time greatly based on what or how much came back.
About doesn't matter for now mostly smaller cars and light duty brakes. When heavy the higher end stuff shows the balancing marks or round weights inside the vents. You only notice that on a good road (not many) at highway speeds. Could and fussy folks fix that with "on vehicle" balancing, wheel, tire, brake parts and all. Had to mark that wheel's lug to wheel where it was done and make right.


Can't think of a single place that does that anymore any place near me. No demand and it was costly.


End all is I'm increasingly not trusting what is in a box anymore and who really made it. Disappointing,


T







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