When do you need to resurface your brake discs?

1. Do your brakes feel sharp and responsive or slightly spongeyl i.e. do they pull in a straight line when pressure is applied to the brake pedal or is the vehicle pulling to one side or the other?

2. Are your brakes making noises such as squeaks and squeals?

3. Can any brake judder or pedal pulsation be felt when the brakes are applied?

4. Do you have rusty brake discs as result of leaving the car standing for too long?

4. Have a look at your brake disc and if you can see any deep scoring cracks, visible raised lines circling the disc or shadows shaped like a rectangle? 

5. Do you have a vehicle which you drive occasionally. Maybe a classic vehicle or performance car. Then you may experience braking or aesthetic problems, precision resurfacing is the ideal solution in this situation.

If you answered yes to any of the above you should find your nearest brake lathe and ask for details.

Having collected all the information needed to decide whether or not to resurface the brake discs. You may also like to think about this:

1. Brake discs should last about two times the life of the brake pads, this varies from one car to another.

2. If the minimum thickness has not yet been reached the but the discs are within say 0.5mm of it.  If pads only are fitted, by the time they have done a full term the discs will be considerably past the manufacturers minimum thickness guidelines.

3. Not only are you saving money by resurfacing brake discs you are also saving the environment by utilising the full life span of a brake disc. You wouldn't through away your favourite pair of shoes instead of getting them resoled would you.

When your vehicle is serviced the brake systems are always checked. The garage industry in the UK have started to replace discs when it is not necessary to be able to charge you, the customer, more money. The main excuses for this are:

1.The vehicles discs have reached minimum thickness?
We say: Ok - discs which have reached minimum thickness should be replaced.. BUT check they are - ask how thick your discs were and what the minimum thickness is for that vehicle. Always ask for you old parts back.

2. We have to replace the discs when we replace the pads to give you better braking performance
We say: This is not a reason to replace the discs. You are more likely to hear this is you drive a BMW, Mercedes or other high end car as owners are percieved to have more disposable income.

3. The pads have been advised as low following a routine service or MOT test
We say: You don't have to put new discs on when you put new pads on. You should be getting through 2-3 sets of pads per disc depending on vehicle type.

4. The braking performance has deteriorated?
We say: This isn't as a result of bad brake discs. It could that the pads are made of an inferior product which isn't causing enough friction or that the discs have a corrosion issue resulting in bad braking performance. A new set of pads of a resurface should improve braking performance.

5. One Disc was OK but the one on the other side is not so the pair must be renewed as this is the only way to get balanced braking plus the fact most suppliers will only sell pairs.
We say: Why should you suffer just to appease workshop suppliers? They are right in principle, both brake discs must be equal to ensure braking performance. However have your discs skimmed and the problem is solved quickly and at half the price of new discs (which you would have been paying).

Always check the brake discs have not reached the minimum specified thickness, this measurement should be taken from the centre of the friction area on one side to the same position on the opposite side, it is important not to measure from one unworn lip to the other. If the brake discs have reached minimum thickness guidelines then you should replace them, if they are not replaced braking performance may suffer.