ashleighjbm

Today a GM dealer told me I need to machine front rotors and rear drums. However he did not give me an estimate.

Anyone have a good guess on this?

Thank you for your time and responses.

jdjaa1959

In my opinion it may be better to go to napa and get new rotors and drums
Or auto zone, the hhr is infamous for warped rotors and installing recut thin rotors
May expedite the warping again. But if your not able to buy new, I'm ball parking
Between 10 -15 to cut each rotor/drum

Good luck!

843de

Take it for a second opinion, the rotors on HHR's have very little "meat" to them, so having them turned usually results in their going below the minimum legal thickness.

The rear drums can be skimmed, but they usually don't require it unless they are scored or out of round.

The cost of new parts isn't that much more than machining the existing ones, and there are "Heavy Duty" options available that hold up better than the factory parts.

So a quick check by an independent brake shop may save you some cash.

firemangeorge

X2 on 843de's advice.

I would add. If getting new rotors (or turning the old ones, which I don't advise) replace the brake pads with new ones.

He probably didn't give you an estimate because a dealer is usually much higher than an independent shop. Didn't want you to get scared by the price.

Knightrider03m

My local shop did it for me at the cost of $40.00 for both the front rotors. Both had rust on them since the car was sitting for almost a year.

843de

Merged the threads together, and also saw that I'd omitted an approximate cost in post #3, but Knightrider03m is pretty much spot on with the cost in post #5.

donbrew

I have found that there is usually enough for 2 cuts. A dealer will probably charge something over $40 each to cut $90 each new.

I would not deal with a shop that did not give me a estimate!!!!!

Ron S

I was told by a parts supplier that the rotors couldn't be turned, this eas supposedly from GM. He has worked for years for one of the big three retail auto parts supply houses. I don't know.

donbrew

He makes a living selling new parts, what should he say?

Snoopy

I don't understand the debate regarding cutting or not cutting the rotors (not the need but the procedural debate).

If you go back to the old brake TSB, which is very long and reissued numerous times with modification, it clearly states to cut rotors IF THE NEED PRESENTS ITSELF ONLY IF ENOUGH MATERIAL REMAINS ON THE ROTOR. IT also gives the MINIMUM spec thickness, which if you are preforming a CORRECT brake service, should be checked. So what is the debate??? It either meets the necessary thickness to cut or it doesn't!!!

As donbrew stated, usually at least 2 cuts, UNLESS YOU NEGLECTED THE BRAKE SERVICE UNTIL BEYOND THE MANUFACTUERS INTENT.

And RonS, there is no other way to say this, YOUR PARTS SUPPLIER LIED TO YOU !! Supposedly from GM, yeah right.....when all the GM evidence indicates exactly the opposite!!!