disposable brake rotors?

[Keith Tedford]

I've seen rotors off of a Saturn rusted/pitted so bad that they wouldn't clean up, and this was on a vehicle that had mostly highway running on a regular basis. Very poor material. The Saturn rotors don't seem to be any better than the cheap replacements. Probably the same parts. Our old cars sit most of the time and the old two piece rotors never seem to build up any surface rust on the faces. The rotors on our '97 LSS don't rust either. Originals with 90K miles and look like new.
With rear discs, especially in salt country, you need to pull the calipers every year, to clean and lubricate the pins they float on. Rear drums seem to be a lot less trouble in salt country.

[x Baldwin Motion]

My son-in-law works for a GM dealer and says US feds require them to use 30% post consumer recycled metal to produce these parts and therefore the rusting issue.

Bruce, mine is a K1500 also, maybe my environment is causing more rust?

[Xplantdad]

Chris...could be! Plus...mine are all fairly high speed freeway miles...

[x Baldwin Motion]

Well the rotors went in the trash today. I have never driven in the salt water but that's what they looked like at 45,000 miles. (they looked they were from a 74 Datsun)

I asked another local mech who has an '06 1500 how were his rear pads, he told me he has drums as GM had so many problems with the four wheel disc they dropped them last year?!!

Bruce, how are yours holding up? anyone else?

[Ngtflyr]

My 2000 GMC Z71 4 wheel disk, has 85K original brakes and everytime I check them they look to have a lot of miles left. Furthest I have ever got with a set of brakes. I'm not easy on them and 15K + have been towing a trailer.

[shor]

i had the same problem last year on my 03 silverado.
check the INSIDE pads and the INSIDE of the rotor.
the outside looks fine on a visual, but what has been happening is the inside for some reason turns to junk.
i changed my own and redid my front bearings while i was at it.
ill post some pics

[shor]

here is my link
let me know if the pictures are able to open for you all.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=113788

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]

Bruce, how are yours holding up? anyone else?

[/ QUOTE ]


I traded the truck in...with 100,000 miles and the original brakes still intact...and no issues.

I have a new Chevy truck now...and Ive already had to have the right front rotor replaced...as it was garbage.


I have to take it back in...as it feels like the rotors are warped

[Keith Tedford]

Our 2005 Jimmy is about ready for new rotors at about 50K miles. They are litterally rotting off the truck just like the rotors did on our Saturn. There is still all kinds of pad left. We have a '87 S10 truck with over 130K miles on it and the brakes are all original and don't rust out. It sits far more than it is used. I would think that brakes, being as important as they are, should be the last place that short cuts should be allowed.

[SuperNovaSS]

The newer rotors are made of a harder metal that does not cut the same. I've tried to cut them for guys in the past and they do not turn correctly.


Jason