Posted by Dave on Wednesday, June 05, 2002 at 4:43PM :
This isn't a PW question, but since I own a 1967 W300 and visit the forum every day, and since I don't know too much about disk brakes and need some advice, I figured you wouldn't mind.
I have a '96 Buick LeSabre, 120,000 miiles, front disk brakes. New rotors were put in at 30,000 miles. At 96000 miles (15 months ago) I got, supposedly, "new" brakes at a Meineke (I hate those places, but I had an 1100 mile trip to take in a few days and the rotors were scored to hell). I payed for, supposedly, two brand new rotors.
This past weekend I started hearing a brutal roar from the brakes and felt the grinding and new the problem right away. I pulled the wheels and the inside of both rotors were scored to hell. There is very little metal on either side of the rotors, and all the surrounding, non-pad surface is rusted to hell. I mean REALLY rusted.
Now, like I said, I'm no expert on rotors. But these sure as heck look like they are a lot older than 15 months and 24,000 miles.
I had the brakes done elsewhere today and had the mechanic save the rotors and give me his opinion. He said, based on the heavy rust content and thin metal surface, he doubts they have only 15 months and 24,000 miles on them. (And 12,000 of those miles are my work commute, which is pure highway with the cruise control on).
So, what I think is Meineke either machined my old rotors and threw them back in, or else threw some other old set in. Before I go
confront them, I need some more assurance. What do you guys think? Any tips on how to judge how old these rotors are? How fast should they wear? How fast should they rust?
What SHOULD a 15-month-old, 24,000 mile rotor look like?
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