2003 FX4. I just turned 60,000 miles and need to do the front brakes. They still work perfect but the pads are a little thin. Found some new rotors for 20 bucks each. I think all these cheap rotors are made in China. I'm sure a lot of you have used them, are they decent? If the originals spec out O.K., would it be better off using them?
Thanks, FishX

 

Even if you go with the more expensive rotors if available (thicker I think) it still is only a little more than turning. However, your rotors are good or should be for a turn no problems. Just see the $$$ options.

 

If you haven't done the job yet, make sure you spend the money on good american rotors - The chinese POS's are not worth the time and aggro to do and may outright fail (rotor separation) as my buddie's did.

 

fishx65,
Twenty bucks sounds way too cheap to me! I just had to replace one rotor on my '98 Lariat with front ABS, and it cost me $83 at a Napa. Auto Zone had already priced them to me at $70 or so, but I was in a rush and didn't want to drive back to the AZ (20 miles away) when it came time to do the job. I don't know how much difference the ABS makes, though. Non-ABS may be considerably cheaper, but I still wouldn't buy one for $20. Just my $0.02.

Fordman3

 

I used to to brake jobs in an auto shop and there is no reason to replace the rotors unless they are gouged and out of spec. The factory rotors even with 60,000 miles are much better than the cheap ones. Just my $0.02

 

I agree with BennyHanna that they shouldn't have to be changed at 60k. The front brake job I just did on my '98 was, I believe, the first it had ever had in 125k miles. One of the 2 rotors only needed a minor turn; however, the other one was beveled off probably 1/4" at the outer radius. It was horrible. There was no turning it. I wanted to keep it as a souvenir. My point is, though, that my original pads and rotors went well over 100k before having to even be touched. I'm not recommending that anybody else go as long as I did before servicing their brakes, but I would definitely say that, unless you are the exception to the rule, your brakes should be fine at 60k. Good luck.

Fordman3

 

Thanks boys! I'll see if they spec out O.K. and have them turned. I found the new ones at Murrays Auto Parts in Michigan. They were $29.00 each and he told me they were made in china.

 

My original front pads and rotors went 110K, and they were able to be turned. Also, it was $6 per rotor to get turned, and took about an hour for O'Reiley's to do it.

 

I tried $35 rotors from Autozone on my 99 F-150 and they warped in 8k miles with ceramic pads. I repalced them with some mid grade Napa rotors and they are still good after 40k miles. I just changed pads and rotors on my 2003 and went with the same setup because I liked the performance so much. The rotors were $52ea for 4x4.

 

Oops

 

Just bought a 2002 Ranger 2WD ABS 100k and I get a pretty shudder during moderate/hard braking. The pads look to be about 60%... do you think simply having them turned will cure it?

 

Yes and no. The factory rotors are better than the cheapo's without question, but if you're comparing apples to apples, new rotors compared to a set that have only .010 left after turning, perform like night and day when you really need them.

"Made in China" rotors are very cheap, and for good reason. The metal is lousy, and they do not last.

Here's a story for all you penny pinchers out there: Just say that fate screws you one day and you wake up in a hospital bed with no idea how you got there. You ask what happened. They tell you that you rear ended someone. You ask if anybody got hurt. Everybody sidesteps the question, looking at the ceiling, the walls ,the floor, everywhere but at you. Doctor comes and informs you that your passenger is in critical condition in the ICU. News like that is quite possibly the worst thing that will ever enter your ears.

Now, would you be thinking how much you saved on your brake job, or would you be thinking how you'd give up eveything you own to have that person NOT hurt right now?

Hypothetical to you guys, but I've been there, so I can rant.

Fella's, buy cheap gas & cheap beer, not cheap brake parts. It just isn't worth it.

Thanks.

SL

 

x2
Except the cheap beer part...Splurge a little.

 

seen and bought trucks with cheaper rotors made of cheaper alloys and heat up and wear quick and uneven this cause chatering and fade most decent rotors cost around 150-200 pair better one even more just check out summit or jegs id go vented if ur doing alot of towing or heavy braking oh also need to watch the pads your using there alot of them out there and all wear diffrently

 

keep it mind if you have abs they will shudder a little but more likely is your cv joints are starting to go take a good look at them for any play