turning slotted/drilled rotors

[fabolous24]

is it possible to turn slotted/drilled rotors? I had the inner break pad fall off my front driver side calipers and was driving with basically metal on metal for a while on the inside of the rotor and needless to say it scratched it to hell. I dont want to have to put the stock rotors back on but i would also like to keep my slotted/drilled rotors, so can it be done?

PS - break pads were EBC greenstuff, just put on a little over 3 years ago with only about 15,000 miles, so i wouldnt recoment them.

[3.4 slow to go]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

not that I'm aware of, the slots would tear up the bit.

(waits for others to chime in)

[97rs4life]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

usually they cannot be turned. Best bet is to get another rotor

[fabolous24]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

That seems to be the common answer i have found when searching the internet. However, it is false. I had mine done today. I am a mechanical engineer for a company called Advanced Design and Manufacturing, where I mainly do design work (3D modeling in solidworks) but we do also have a machine shop where there are many machinist who actually manufacture the parts we design. I was a little hesitent to ask someone to do it for me since i just started about a month and a half ago but i did and they said it was no problem, got it back on the car today and it's fine. So it can be done.

Also, I talked to Kunkel's, an auto shop and sevice chain in my area with a reputible machine shop, and they said they could do slotted and drilled rotors for only $14 a piece. So i dont know why everyone thinks it can't be done, i searched through tons of forums and everyone was ranting about why you can't do it. I was worried about it messing up the chamfers around the slotts and drill holes which are incorporated into the design of the rotors for stress relief, but it turned out fine. Im sure they probably did it on a CNC milling and turning machine which is probably a bit nicer than what the local brake shop has, but anyhow, it can be done.

surprised this hasnt been asked before actually...

[97rs4life]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

That seems to be the common answer i have found when searching the internet. However, it is false. I had mine done today. I am a mechanical engineer for a company called Advanced Design and Manufacturing, where I mainly do design work (3D modeling in solidworks) but we do also have a machine shop where there are many machinist who actually manufacture the parts we design. I was a little hesitent to ask someone to do it for me since i just started about a month and a half ago but i did and they said it was no problem, got it back on the car today and it's fine. So it can be done.

Also, I talked to Kunkel's, an auto shop and sevice chain in my area with a reputible machine shop, and they said they could do slotted and drilled rotors for only $14 a piece. So i dont know why everyone thinks it can't be done, i searched through tons of forums and everyone was ranting about why you can't do it. I was worried about it messing up the chamfers around the slotts and drill holes which are incorporated into the design of the rotors for stress relief, but it turned out fine. Im sure they probably did it on a CNC milling and turning machine which is probably a bit nicer than what the local brake shop has, but anyhow, it can be done.

surprised this hasnt been asked before actually...

hence why I said, "usually". Sometimes places/people will do it.

[cam98aro]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

as long as you dont try and take too much material off at once, it should be fine

it will probably take a few passes

im sure you can also change the bit angle to try and prevent damaging it

[95 l-32]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

how do yuo think they get the finish on them , they are cut on a brake lathe , if you take small cuts it won't knock the end of the carbide bit and the chamfers disapear as you use the rotor anyways , and since you lost the brake pad on one side I would recommend that you replace the caliper as you over extended the piston in the bore and it will make the piston prone to cocking in the bore and cause sticking later on .

[Skinny]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

I have personally machined drilled and slotted rotors before. Most shops are afraid to mess with them, but there really isn't any difference in turning one of them versus any other rotor.

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

you cannot turn a slotted rotor.

[The Banks]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

You CAN turn drilled and slotted rotors. Just about any shop with a lathe should be able to. My dad has had the drilled and slotted rotors on his C5 turned multiple times at our local Kragen.

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

You CAN turn drilled and slotted rotors. Just about any shop with a lathe should be able to. My dad has had the drilled and slotted rotors on his C5 turned multiple times at our local Kragen.

More power to you then. None of the shops around here will touch them because unless you angle the bit it will not cut correctly.

[Skinny]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

Again, I've done it myself. I don't mean I took it somewhere and had it done, I mean I have physically done it myself. You CAN cut a slotted rotor.

[96firebird311]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

I have too .... of course I couldn't actually finish because my playskool scissors broke right away. :(

[Skinny]

Re: turning slotted/drilled rotors

I have too .... of course I couldn't actually finish because my playskool scissors broke right away. :(

lol... should have used better scissors!