I just got my car back from the dealership and I was told that one of my rotors is warped and warranty doesn't cover it. I figured that I should just replace both rotors and pads. I am on a tight budget and I found a set of rotors and ceramic pads on ebay for $157.45 shipped. My question is, should I go with these or try to go with something else for around the same price? I do have two 5 year old kids that I cart around and I want to be safe.

This is the set I'm talking about. http://www.ebay.com/itm/270895051672...84.m1423.l2648

 

I think you could get better quality parts for the same or cheaper cost at your local parts house. IIRC I got the best pads and rotors available at my local auto parts store (Fisher) for about 140 out the door. I have heard good things about the offerings from NAPA also.

 

Good rotors and pads can be found at your local auto parts store for less than $157.00 I'd think. Even ask your dealer if they could quote you a price with aftermarket parts that they've used in the past without to many complaints.

 

Thanks for the heads up about the local store being cheaper. I was considering having the new rotors turned or machined before installation, is this a good idea? I was also considering having them cryogenic-ally infused at a place called power brake. What this company does is treat the metal in a way where once treated you cannot cut the metal with a lathe because it hardens, therefore lengthening the life of the rotor, and it also prevents warping. Any thoughts on this?

It will be free to treat the rotors because the company works with my work a lot.

 

No need to cut new rotors on the lathe, they should be as perfect as they can be straight out of the box. All I have ever done is wash them down with some water and a little dish detergent to remove the oil that is on them to keep them from rusting in the box, then rinse them with clean water dry them and install them.

Not sure about any metal treatment to "harden" the rotors. Sounds like snake oil to me, the rotors are going to wear down irregardless from being used. I would steer clear of that, but that is just my 2 cents.

 

You can't harden the rotors any more than their molecular "makeup". Unless of course you are going to heat forge and temper them in a samurai sword oven....

 

I got a good set of rotors and ceramic pads on ebay for about $100 shipped.

As to the "hardening", if you have that much disposable income, send the money to me and I'll claim I did the job, receipt and guarantee and false address included, You won't even have to ship them to me! And I just happen to have a line on a used bridge that connects Manhattan to the "rest of the world" (Brooklyn).

 

Well lookie here:

http://media.gm.com/content/media/us...1/Nov/1130_fnc

 

OK, but how much does it cost? Compare to $40 for a new rotor that is good for at least 2 $15 turns ($70 each for 90,000 miles)? I know the OP was going to get it for free, but... for the rest of us, is it cost effective? I can't tell, since no pricing or mileage estimates are given, and usually those "saving" estimates are based on the dealer doing the work with dealer markup on parts etc. I can do a brake job (new rotors, new ceramic pads, rebuilt calipers, new hardware) for around $120, a dealer would want more than $300; so were do I save "hundreds of dollars"? Brakes are so easy to do, I submit that most people could do the job if they weren't convinced that there is magic involved. But then I have a high opinion of the abilities of the common person, I may be wrong! Oops, sorry.

I still may be able to get that bridge for you.

 

It says the FNC process was introduced on rotors in 2008. Which GM rotors? Apparently not many because GM owners are still having the old "warpage" problems anyway. Sounds like maybe it didn't work as good as expected.