Quick question about a brake rotor.

[Billy_Oliver880]

Can a front brake rotor be turned or not? I have a guy here in town telling me that it is impossible and I want a second opinion. I only have one front brake rotor and it is off of a 93 intruder 800. Let me know your opinions.

[DanTheMan]

Brake rotors can be turned, with the correct set-up equipment and if there's enough "meat" left on it to turn it without making it tooo thin to be safe.:-D

[Billy_Oliver880]

Brake rotors can be turned, with the correct set-up equipment and if there's enough "meat" left on it to turn it without making it tooo thin to be safe.:-D

I have been told by two different dealers out here that it is not possible...](*,) ](*,)

[DanTheMan]

They want to sell you a new rotor. Go to an Automotive machine shop with the rotor, see what they've got to tell you.

[Billy_Oliver880]

They want to sell you a new rotor. Go to an Automotive machine shop with the rotor, see what they've got to tell you.

Alright man...thanks for the advice...even if you are a minnesotain.

[rphillips]

Ditto, I've also had trouble finding a shop to turn bike's rotors. I have also found local machine shops to be very helpful. Ask them to take off as little material as possible to true them up.

[mark]

I have been told by two different dealers out here that it is not possible...](*,) ](*,)

I've been told by dealers and read on this forum that it is not possible either. Whether its true or not I don't know....certainly a widely held view.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

The rotors I've seen on bikes often have "wear" or "service limits" that just won't allow much, if any, turning.
My '79 1000 front rotors for example, come brand new at about .22 or maybe .23". The factory service manual states that the service limit is .21". So even when new, you could only remove .02" max. I don't question safety related recommendations/warnings as to what will happen if you ignore them.
If you remove too much material from an already thin rotor design, you'll build up heat quicker and it will be easier to warp the rotor.
I wouldn't turn them.

[J_C]

Hrm... A local non-dealer affiliated service shop offered to turn my rear rotor for 40 bucks. It is pretty scored, but if they can't turn it more than .02" it might not make sense to do it

[Boondocks]

Can a front brake rotor be turned or not? I have a guy here in town telling me that it is impossible and I want a second opinion. I only have one front brake rotor and it is off of a 93 intruder 800. Let me know your opinions.

It can be turned with the right equipment, but most shops don't have it. If they do, it will be expensive. This is because the rotors are made of stainless steel, which has a higher tensile strength and is typically harder than cast iron. Cast iron rotors are used in practically all brakes except some motorcycles and ATVs. Ordinary brake turning equipment is designed for cast iron rotors, and the automotive setups don't work on motorcycle wheels.

Used rotors are frequently availble on eBay, and are inexpensive and serviceable. New ones are spendy.

[Billy_Oliver880]

I went ahead and just ordered a new one. Some fat coin but I need the bike to be reliable....and not kill me. 8)

[Pharkmeh]

I went ahead and just ordered a new one. Some fat coin but I need the bike to be reliable....and not kill me. 8)

The rotors I've seen on bikes often have "wear" or "service limits" that just won't allow much, if any, turning.
My '79 1000 front rotors for example, come brand new at about .22 or maybe .23". The factory service manual states that the service limit is .21". So even when new, you could only remove .02" max. I don't question safety related recommendations/warnings as to what will happen if you ignore them.
If you remove too much material from an already thin rotor design, you'll build up heat quicker and it will be easier to warp the rotor.
I wouldn't turn them.

what they said....

brakes n rubber is worth spending the money every time....

[KEITH KRAUSE]

I think you did the right thing. The front rotor provides something like 70% of the stopping force. Brakes are just too important.
I'm sure some don't agree about how much material you can turn off, but it's a very small amount that most of the time wouldn't be enough to make the rotor true again. If you can check a factory manual about the service limits for your model, I'm sure you'll find that it won't allow much loss due to wear or removal.
If the factory has a built in safety factor here and you possibly could remove more material than they say, I'm not willing to take the chance.

[J_C]

I'm still going to bring the rear in. Considering the rear is used so rarely, (And I don't see minimal heat build up as being too likely an issue) I'll be curious to see if it can actually be done. 40 is a lot cheaper than 180 if they can remove the scoring.

[bonanzadave]

When I went looking for my 3rd set of rotors I found the whole front wheel, 2 Rotors, and Tire from someone who made a frankenzuki drag racer. $75.00 complete. Check out the "Parts wanted section"