The brakes may have been scored if the car shudders and squeaks when you apply pressure to the pedal.
However, this does not necessarily imply that a fresh set of brake discs needs to be installed. Under certain conditions, it may be possible to recover the brakes’ full functionality by employing an uncomplicated, speedy, and low-cost method.
Every braking process places a heavy load on the material, which inevitably results in some abrasion as a side effect.
Because of this, it is always possible for the brake discs to wear unevenly. During hard braking, the stopping distance increases, and noticeable vibrations can be felt inside the vehicle and on the steering wheel. The results can range from annoying to deadly.
Why grind brake discs?
The answer to the question of whether or not it is worthwhile to grind a brake disc begins with a very straightforward calculation:
It is not necessary to disassemble the brake disc to get the surface of the disc smoothed out again.
Most of the time, garages that provide this service are outfitted with specialized machinery that allows mechanics to treat brake discs while still mounted on the vehicle.
Just take off the wheel and the brake pads, and you’ll be good to go. Even though the device has a price tag of around 10,000$, this service can already be obtained for as little as 50$.
Not even the brake discs sold at the lowest price can compete with this, especially when you consider the amount of work required to replace them.
However, the cost of a new set of brake discs can vary greatly depending on the kind of vehicle you have. Single brake discs can be purchased for as little as 60$ per set for compact and mid-size cars.
However, purchasing new brake discs can quickly cost several hundred dollars if you have a heavy and powerful vehicle.
This is because brake discs are made of metal and wear out quickly. As a result, if the brake disc can be repaired, it is essential to think about making the necessary adjustments.
Damage that can be repaired to the brake discs
The brake plate and the brake ring are the two components that make up a brake disc. The portion of the disc that is placed over the hub and secured with bolts is known as the brake plate. The brake ring is the part on which the brake linings act.
The discs are made of cast iron that has a grayish hue to it. This is a relatively soft, highly viscous steel.
A brake disc is subjected to high frictional forces, which are transmitted by muscular shear stress to the junction between the brake plate and the brake ring.
Because of this, the material used for the brake disc needs to have some elasticity.
However, high susceptibility to rust is the price that must be paid in exchange for such viscosity. It takes only three days for a car to begin to show the first signs of rust when it is left outside in the rain.
This slight rust is removed during the following braking process. Nevertheless, the rust will quickly spread if the car is left parked for longer.
Since a substance of this nature has an abrasive effect on both the disc and the linings, it would be counterproductive to try to free a completely oxidized brake disc from the rust built upon it through repeated braking processes.
As a consequence, grooves will be produced on the disc’s surface
The following is an excellent way to summarize this:
When brake discs become rusted or scratched, they can be ground back to their original thickness as long as they are not thinner than the minimum requirement.
The brake discs have sustained damage that cannot be repaired,
It is a surprise to learn that even brake discs that have been heavily rusted can be brought back to their original level of performance with the help of this straightforward and suitable treatment.
Even with taking the wheel and brake caliper apart and reassembling them, grinding the brake discs on each wheel only takes ten minutes.
This treatment does have some restrictions. These are:
– a minimal amount of thickness
– material damage
The decision on the bare minimum thickness of the brake disc is made by the component’s manufacturer.
On the brake disc is where it is stamped. On the other hand, it does not specify the point at which the brakes stop working.
It states that starting at this thickness, a new brake lining set can be installed. Because of this, it is operating the braking system is a risk-free activity.
However, this minimum thickness can be reduced by grinding, but the amount that needs to be removed depends on how badly the brake disc has been damaged.
That would mean that one of the attempts would have been in vain. As a result, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive examination of the disc before beginning treatment.
Checking for cracks is another part of the disc inspection process. This may occur at the margins, where the plate and ring meet, or even where the screws are.
The disc is rendered unusable even if there is found to be a single crack on it (only one shot). This means that the other part will come to an end as well. When changing an axle, always replace the braking discs as well.
Be wary of coloration that has a blue hue
Theoretically, a bluish brake disc that has not yet worn below the necessary thickness can be mended.
On the other hand, if the disc is colored blue, this is an unmistakable sign that there is a problem with the braking system.
A coloring of blue appears after the disc has been heated to an excessive level for a significant time.
During the regular operation of the brakes, this rarely happens. Alternatively, if the brake pistons freeze up and the brake linings cannot properly separate from the disc.
This is precisely what happens: The brake linings continue to rub against one another even when only a moderate amount of force is applied to the disc.
The brake disc develops a blue tint as a result of the friction-induced continual heating of the disc.
In this scenario, correcting the issue requires conducting a comprehensive test of the brake function.
What needs to be done that hasn’t been done yet
The brake linings must be replaced right once if the brake discs exhibit noticeable grooves.
Because the brake caliper must be taken out before the grinding process can start, this is only an extra step.
Of all worn parts, brake linings are among the least expensive. Most service providers offering brake disc grinding include replacement as part of the service they provide.
In any other case, worn linings will produce the same wear pattern bn the brake disc. If that happens, none of the efforts will have been for naught.
There are times when cars are left parked outside for extended periods. Therefore, it is inevitable that a thick rust film will grow as a result. In situations like this, it is typically sufficient to.
Grind the brake disc to a smooth finish. Simply measuring the thickness of the brake linings is the only thing that needs to be done.
However, if the vehicle has been sitting in one place for an extended period, the brake piston may become slightly stuck.
Because the brake caliper has been removed, this is the perfect opportunity to get the piston operating correctly once more. The linings are removed, and the brakes are pushed, to achieve this.
After that, a resetting tool designed specifically for this component is used to move the brake piston back to its starting position.
This instrument is quite affordable, coming in at a price range of 15 to 50$. On the other hand, the overhaul, as well as the piston repair, ought to be delegated to a specialized workshop.
This choice should always be requested, despite the fact that it is already incorporated into the rectification service in the vast majority of instances. With only a slight cost rise and at no additional cost, it restores every level of safety.
It is important to carefully inspect the entirety of the front axle’s steering mechanism if the wheel has already been removed and the brake caliper has been removed.
Fixing the damage right now makes the car safer band prevents further expenses from accruing. It is crucial to keep the following in mind:
– Restricted range of motion in the CV joint
– The state of the ball joint
– The current state of the articulated support
– The source of the noise is determined to be the wheel bearing
– The quality of the coil springs, shock absorber cupolas, and the shock absorbers’ ability to do their jobs
– The condition of the crossbar and the stabilizer
It should not be too difficult to replace any of these components on a vehicle that has been taken apart. This is an opportunity that shouldn’t be passed up, so take advantage of it.
If the other parts of the car are worn over the wear limit, having a brake disc that has just been ground doesn’t really serve much of a purpose.
Now restores the vehicle to its previous level of complete safety, which is something that ought to always be worthwhile.
