| Brake rotors are large diameter discs attached to the | | | | operate within specified temperatures, and higher |
| axle of vehicles. These are clamped between brake | | | | temperatures will cause the pads to slough material |
| pads to stop them, and the axles and wheels from | | | | faster than normal. If your brakes run too hot, your |
| rotating. This system is called disc brakes. Disc brakes | | | | brake pads will wear out more rapidly. The second |
| are very effective and can be counted on with only | | | | problem that can arise when you overheat your |
| regular maintenance to provide faithful service for your | | | | brakes is that there is a chance that you can warp the |
| vehicle. The pads that are squeezed to the disc are | | | | discs, (rotors), from the excessive heat. |
| made out of special high friction materials, which are | | | | Brake rotors get chewed up by the action of the |
| designed to be worn away rather than wear away | | | | brake pads, even when they are being used properly |
| the surface(s) of the discs. The repeated use of the | | | | and maintained properly. As the brake rotors get |
| brakes or continuous use of the brakes can often | | | | gouged, the valleys aren't in contact with the brake |
| cause heat to build up in the disc. | | | | pads. This decreases even application of friction and |
| In applications, such as high speed use or heavy load | | | | increases the heat generated from the friction, by |
| use, the brake rotors are often constructed of more | | | | localizing friction only to the peaks of the grooves |
| than one plate and are also often either drilled or | | | | gouged into the rotors. As you can see this will |
| slotted to allow airflow on the surfaces of the rotor. | | | | increase the wear on the rotors, and the pads. |
| This airflow allows the disc to operate at a lower | | | | Brake rotors are designed to be resurfaced when this |
| temperature by dissipating heat through the air holes | | | | happens. Each resurfacing removes more material |
| and the greater surface area of the disc, (when | | | | from the rotor plate, and makes the rotor less stable |
| considering the profile(s)of the slots or holes. | | | | under heat and pressure stress. The Department of |
| Keeping the temperature of the disc low is critical for | | | | Transportation has specific requirements as to how |
| (at least) two reasons. The first is that hotter discs will | | | | thin a rotor can get before it is no longer deemed |
| adversely affect pad life. The pads are designed to | | | | serviceable. |