Typical disk rotor temp?

[Silver99camry]

Hi,

I finished my first brake job today on my friend's Toyota Camry. I replaced stock rotors with Raybestos PG plus rotors and stock brake pads with Akebono ProACT ceramic pads. In the process, I cleaned up and lubed everything. Here are my questions

1. Raybestos rotors are a bit thicker than stock ones. Is there any advantage because of that?

2. Rotors seem to be pretty hot after driving around. I was easy on the brakes, but rotors were still hot to the touch. It this typical? I have not checked stock rotors before the installation, so I cannot compare. Assuming easy braking, would you expect rotors to be hot? I guess there is still friction between rotors and pads, even when brakes are not applied.

Thanks

[Toysrme]

1) It depends on what the rotor is made out of. More mass = more heat absorbtion = less fading
2) Perfectly normal. The temperature can be from a few hundred *F during/after braking, to well more than 1,000*F on some brakes.

(Ever seen the amount of heat needed to turn iron white hot? That's what some race cars can do)

[TOYO-ED]

Ok, are those new rotors the same diameter as the stock ones? My second question is your interpretation on "easy on the brakes." was this stop and go traffic around the block or couple minutes on the freeway? just to clear things up a little

[Mikey21]

TOYO-ED,

Did you read the instructions that came with the Akebono ProAct ceramics? If you go out and follow the instructions
DO NOT TOUCH YOUR ROTORS AFTERWARDS!!!

[Silver99camry]

Thanks guys,

Rotors are stock size. It was stop and go traffic for 15 minutes. The only instructions I received with pads were how to install them. I guess, it's normal for rotors to be hot. I've never done brake jobs before Engine, suspension, etc, but not brakes.

[CraigW]

I had some smell from mine 2-3 days afterwards, Just keep a close eye, ear and nose for a while and they should be fine.

[Mikey21]

Originally Posted by Silver99camry

The only instructions I received with pads were how to install them.

Hhmmm, My Akebono ProAct Ceramic's came with a little instruction sheet inside the plastic with the pads. It had a detailed break-in procedure. The break-in procedure got my brakes smok'in HOT. I had just painted my caliper's and that's a good way of finishing off the curing process I guess. Brake Job It actually broke-in my new Slotted, X-Drilled rotors really nicely. When I first used my brakes they were pulsing because you could actually feel the slots in the rotor as the pads passed over them. After the break-in, it was smooth as can be.


Oh by the way, rotors do get hot. If you drive like I do they get really HOT!

Mike

[Mike Gerber]

2. After 15 minutes of driving in stop and go traffic, the rotors should be too hot to touch. Don't ask me how I know, LOL.

1. As far as the rotors being thicker than the ones you took off; the ones you took off had probably been turned (cut) several times before on previous brake jobs. Most techs will turn the rotors on each brake job to insure a true/absolute flat braking surface. The rotor is put on a brake lathe where the rotor is spun and a cutting tool moves across both sides of the surface of the rotor removing metal to true the surface. This process results in the rotor thickness being reduced a little each time it is turned (cut). All rotors have a minimum or discard thickness stamped somewhere on rotor. This is the thickness at which they are no longer deemed capable of dissipating the heat produced by braking. Remember, the braking process is one in which kinetic energy is changed to heat by the friction process of the brake system.

Congrats on your first brake job.

Mike

[userlain]

You have problems if your brakes have been properly broken in and you smell burning asbestos or cooking ceramic.

[Silver99camry]

Thanks guys. I checked my VR4 brakes today and they are just as hot, so I guess it's normal.