Rotor Replacement in San Francisco
Welcome to the premier San Francisco auto repair shop - Pat’s Garage. We offer full range of brake repairs, including rotor replacement.
Rotors are attached to wheels, when you press the brake pedal, brake pads press against them, causing friction that slows down, and eventually stops the car.
Over time, friction causes brakes to wear down – not just the brake pads, but rotors as well. When the rotors reach the stage of being worn down or warped, we will recommend rotor replacement. If your vehicle’s brake pads are worn down “to the metal” they can cause rotor damage that will also require rotor replacement.
Why don’t we simply resurface rotors?
Older drivers surely remember days when warped rotors were simply resurfaced, not replaced. Those days are gone. Federal Government mandated fleet mileage improvements – this meant that car manufacturers scrambled to find ways to shed pounds from the vehicles in order to improve mileage – as a result, rotors were thinned down, and are not as thick as they used to be. Resurfacing thinner rotors is not a good idea. Add to this Bay Area’s high labor cost – you might as well get brand new rotors, and that’s what we recommend.
How do you know that brake rotors need to be replaced?
The signs that brake rotors need to be inspected, and likely need to be replaced are:
- Blue discoloration of rotor surface.
- Vibration or pulsation when applying brakes.
- Grooves or hot spots in rotors.
What is involved in rotor replacement?
Typically rotors are replaced at the same time as brake pads. When you come for brake service we will measure brake pads and rotors, and inspect the rotors. If they need to be replaced, we will let you know.
Rotors are replaced in pairs – front or back. At times you will need to replace both front and back rotors, and both front and back brake pads. But that rarely happens, since front rotors and brake pads wear out much faster, so they tend to be replaced more frequently.
When we replace rotors, we also check other brake system components, to make sure that they are in proper working condition.
This includes checking calipers, lubricating brake system components, checking condition of the brake fluid, and topping it off if necessary. We also take your vehicle for a test drive to make sure that the brakes work as they should.
Brakes are vital to the safe vehicle operation – if you have any concerns about your vehicle’s brakes, bring it to Pat’s Garage for a brake inspection. Our nationally ASE certified brake technicians can inspect the brakes and give you a detailed explanation of what needs to be done – if anything. To make an appointment, simply give us a call.