When your brakes are worn and it's time for replacement and your estimate includes brake rotors, there's a good reason. When we install brake parts on a vehicle, brake pads and rotors wear together. They also wear grooves into each other. When you replace brakes, pads and rotors should start with flat surfaces so that they can wear with each other. So, when you replace brake pads but not brake rotors, you have a flat pads surface, but a grooved rotor surface.
What happens is, as the brakes are applied, the surface is burned off. That's the black dust that is always a pain and causes you to clean your wheels so much. Well, that black dust settles in the grooves of the brake rotor. As you use your brakes, there is a tremendous amount of heat because of the friction. The dust actually melts in those grooves causing what's known as “glazing” on the brake rotor and that, my friends, is causing your brake squeal.
Now, the squeal does not affect the function of your brakes in any way, it’s just embarrassing. It used to be that you had a choice, new brake rotors, or having your old rotors turned or resurfaced. As far as Mercedes and BMW go, in an effort to gain mileage, they lighten the vehicle in all kinds of ways, and this includes making brake rotors thinner so they can no longer be turned (or resurfaced) and doing so would put the brake rotor under the minimum specification for thickness.
So, when it’s time for new brakes, remember that doing the service properly will keep you and your car happy with lasting performance. You’ll need pads AND rotors, and possibly sensors if your car requires it. If you’re unsure of what your car may need and you drive a European import, drive on in to European AutoSpecialist and let us evaluate your car’s needs.
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