Resurfacing vs. Replacement Your Rotors
When considering your vehicle's brake rotors, there are only two fundamental services that they might need throughout their service life. Brake rotors are at factory specifications and perform at their best when the face is perfectly flat to maximize friction and resistance with the brake pad. The extreme friction and heat between the brake pads and rotors will eventually cause the rotors to get grooves, cracks, and possibly damages such as warping.Ā
Resurfacing is applied to rotors with minimal wear, including shallow cracks and grooves. Resurfacing removes the wear from the rotor face and creates a flat surface again. However, if the wear is excessive or the rotor is damaged, it will require replacement because resurfacing cannot restore factory specifications.Ā Ā

Signs Your Brake Rotors are Wearing Down
The brake rotors are actively working every time you press the brake pedal. If the rotors develop a problem, it is usually related to the physical condition of the brake rotors. Extreme heat and friction from thousands of stops can cause the rotors' face to lose integrity.Ā
When this happens, the telltale warning signs will be related to braking noises and unpleasant vibrations or shaking in the cabin. Since the brake rotors are essential passenger safety mechanisms, any warning signs that show up should be good motivators to schedule service as soon as possible. Here are the most common warning signs related to defective brake rotors:Ā
- Shaking or vibration in the steering wheel while braking
- Brake system warning light
- Grinding, squeaking, or squealing noises while braking