How to Smooth Brake Rotors

When your brakes make noise or you have to press harder than usual on the brake pedal to slow your vehicle, your brake rotors may be too rough. Run your fingernails over the rotor, if you can feel the grooves, they need smoothed. Another way to check is by writing on the rotor with a ballpoint pen. If the ink breaks up, the rotor is too rough.

Instructions

1

Outfit your bench lathe with a titanium bit with parallel peripheral ground edges.

2

Set the spindle speed of the bench lathe to 60 to 170 rpm with a cross-feed rate of .002 to .005 per inch revolution. If your bench lathe allows has adjustable spindle speeds. set the lathe at 170 rpm for a 10-inch or smaller rotor, 100 rpm for a 11- to 16-inch rotor or 60 rpm for a 17-inch, or larger, rotor.

3

Turn the rotors on the lathe, removing as little metal as possible for a smooth surface finish.

4

Check to be sure you did not exceed the minimum rotor width, which varies with vehicle type. This information can be found on most rotor castings.