2000 Concorde Brakes

Discussion in 'Concorde' started by Jim Priebe, Oct 2, 2003.

  1. Jim Priebe

    Jim Priebe Guest

    My dealer recommended replacing front brake rotors after 66000K (40000
    Miles). I looked at the old ones and there was some rust, but not that bad.
    The service manager said he could not turn the rotors because there was not
    enough metal there and he would expect warping if he did.

    Anybody have any experience or opinions on this?

    Seems like a very short life for an important part.

    jimmp
     
    Jim Priebe, Oct 2, 2003
    #1
  2. Jim Priebe

    Art Begun Guest

    To save weight rotors come very thin these days.
     
    Art Begun, Oct 2, 2003
    #2
  3. Jim Priebe

    Bob Shuman Guest

    What they told you sounds correct. There is a minimum allowable diameter
    stamped on the actual rotor itself. The auto parts/service center should
    have used a micrometer to measure the actual thickness and compare against
    the stamping. They are not allowed by law to turn them under the minimum
    allowable thickness. Sounds to me as though the rotors were either turned
    once previously or were possibly damaged (no longer a perfectly smooth
    surface) by letting the brake pads wear down too far or possibly pitted from
    rust/corrosion.

    Most here have gotten longer longevity from quality US made rotors, and not
    the cheaper imports from China in the plain white/generic boxes. Good luck!

    Bob
     
    Bob Shuman, Oct 2, 2003
    #3
  4. Jim Priebe

    mic canic Guest

    i have seen this alot esp. on vehicles that might sit a couple a weeks and the
    rotors get rusted up except were the brake pads made contact with the rotors
    when parked.
    then when you start driving it again there is high spots on the rotors from the
    rust and there is deep rust pitting into the rotor .too deep to cut out
    resufacing them .
     
    mic canic, Oct 3, 2003
    #4
  5. Jim Priebe

    Bill Putney Guest

    Hmmm - rust? That usually forms only on the unimportant part of the
    rotor and has nothing to do with it needing replacing. Yours may or may
    not need replacing, but don't do it for rust on the non-wearing
    surfaces.

    As Art said, with as marginal as they make the rotor designs these days,
    you're just as well off replacing the rotors as having them turned since
    turning costs half of what a new rotor costs and can be more likely to
    warp.

    If your Concorde came from the factory with 16" or larger wheels, then I
    have a recommendation for you: Get the NAPA rotor P/N 86777 - $47 each
    (they are Raybestos rotors re-boxed as NAPA's in-house United Brake
    brand). It is the rotor that comes on the 300M and Intrepid with the
    performance brake systems (respectively referred to as PHP and R/T).
    That rotor will bolt right in place of your original rotor with
    absolutely no mods and uses the same calipers and pads. That rotor
    differs from your factory rotors only in that it has better venting (for
    better cooling/warp resistance). (I upgraded my Concorde that
    originally came with 15" wheels to that rotor - I had to replace the
    steering knuckles to do make room for the larger rotor, but even then it
    was worth it. Like I said, if yours came with 16" wheels, it is
    infinitely easier - no mods needed.)

    Don't worry about the rear rotors - they don't get much wear or heat -
    concentrate on the fronts.

    You also might consider upgrading pads to Hawk HPS. LH car owners
    (including myself) on other forums have had good results with those
    pads.

    Another option on rotors if you're interested: The 300M ezBoard and the
    www.dodgeintrepid.net forums have a discount set up with irotors for a
    set of 4 rotors - drilled, slotted, and plated for just over $200 IIRC.
    For the money, I preferred plain rotors (and my original rear rotors
    were fine) and so got the NAPA front rotors only instead (I had a
    special treatment done on them, but won't go into that here - it upsets
    certain people). 8^)

    Bill Putney
    (to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with "x")
     
    Bill Putney, Oct 3, 2003
    #5
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