Brake rotor resurfacing?

[Guest]

Hi all. The rear brake disc on my '81 Honda CB900 Custom has become lightly scored from a frozen caliper. Has anyone ever heard of resurfacing a brake rotor for a motorcycle, like you do on cars? Or is mine toast and I need to buy a new one? Any input is appreciated, as always.

Scott

[Nessism]

There is a guy on ebay that provides the service. Guys around here have used him with good results.

[Guest]

Thanks Ed. I didn't find anybody on Ebay that does it, but there is a guy in my own back yard who does. The name of the company is TrueDisk. Here's his website:

https://truedisk.net/

[LAB3]

Here's an old school trick: Get a piece of coarse belt sander, cut it to fit an old set of brake pads and glue it on. After the glue sets up put them on and do a slow speed cruise with the brakes slightly engaged. It'll take a glaze off quick and the longer you do it the deeper it'll cut.

[Guest]

Here's an old school trick: Get a piece of coarse belt sander, cut it to fit an old set of brake pads and glue it on. After the glue sets up put them on and do a slow speed cruise with the brakes slightly engaged. It'll take a glaze off quick and the longer you do it the deeper it'll cut.

That sounds like a great trick, except that my rotor is more than just glazed; I can actually feel light grooves in it. Thanks for the tip though!

[roeme]

That sounds like a great trick, except that my rotor is more than just glazed; I can actually feel light grooves in it. Thanks for the tip though!

I f!$ked up my rear rotor in a similar way; neglected to check pad wear. Groovy rear rotor. Luckily, new pads and some hearty braking was sufficient to bring it back to normal. Lesson learned.

[Steve]

Here's an old school trick: Get a piece of coarse belt sander, cut it to fit an old set of brake pads and glue it on. After the glue sets up put them on and do a slow speed cruise with the brakes slightly engaged. It'll take a glaze off quick and the longer you do it the deeper it'll cut.

The problem with that is that all the "cutting" just forms new grooves. The shop in the link given actually makes the surface smooth and gives it a crosshatch pattern.

.

[jabcb]

There is a guy on ebay that provides the service. Guys around here have used him with good results.

I had eBay seller, smw70ss, drill & resurface GT750 brake rotors. Did a nice job.
He doesn’t currently have a listing for resurfacing. Contact him through one of his listings & tell him what you want done.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MOTORCYCLE-BRAKE-DISC-ROTOR-DRILLING-SERVICE-36-HOLE/300736157226

[LAB3]

Some folks like to do things on their own, some don't have much money to spend, still others spend too much. It's up to the person that owns the machine what they choose to do.

[greg78gs750]

i wonder if it is worth doing on a rear rotor, the pad will break in to the scoring and you dont generate much braking with the rear anyway so....

[Guest]

i wonder if it is worth doing on a rear rotor, the pad will break in to the scoring and you dont generate much braking with the rear anyway so....

Yeah, I have considered that. I'll just have to make that call when I get it apart. Mostly what needs to be done is to free up the piston inside the caliper so it doesn't happen again.

[Grimly]

i wonder if it is worth doing on a rear rotor, the pad will break in to the scoring and you dont generate much braking with the rear anyway so....

Exactly my opinion. I've had a grooved rear disc on one of mine for over 20 years. It's not bad, just a bit unsightly if you're being picky. I've never noticed any downside to it, especially after a new set of pads beds in.
The fronts are doing most of the work and I keep a much closer eye on them for cracks, thickness, grooves, etc. One of them is due for replacement soon, but it's on a spare wheel, and I've got other spares, so I'm not worried about that.

[80GS850GBob]

I think the biggest issue is how bad is it grooved? If theres a deep enough groove that smootjing would take it to minimum thickness...then I would consider another rotor. Anyone ever resurface a car rotor....grooved/rough/warped....only to find the rotor doesnt respond as well afterward?....maybe its only me....

[limeex2]

Unless you would like it to look pretty, deglaze it with scotchbrite and brake cleaner and run it. Think on the positive side, because of all the grooves you have more braking surface area!

[Gorminrider]

It's always seemed to me new pads on a deep-grooved disc are going to take awhile to groove themselves to suit, that's all. Limex's " increased area" is how I see it too though so the two ideas balance each other somewhat to maybe say.."it'll take awhile to get back to full-braking"

supposition too on my part but Probably this wouldn't do from a professional shop. They seem to favour lathing the discs (at great cost) evry time! but....fair to suppose they want a vehicle to leave their shop with better brakes then you came in with! But for us-(well me anyways)- it's a judgement call."just Pads" are so easy to put in....