C5 Corvette, Corvette
Rotors
Rotor: The disk rotor is made of iron
with highly machined surfaces where the brake pads contact it. Just as the
brake pads wear out over time, the rotor also undergoes some wear, usually in
the form of ridges and groves where the brake pad rubs against it. This
wear pattern exactly matches the wear pattern of the pads as they seat
themselves to the rotor. When the pads are replaced, the rotor must be
machined smooth to allow the new pads to have an even contact surface to work
with. Only a small amount of material can be machined off of a rotor
before it becomes unusable and must be replaced. A minimum thickness
measurement is stamped on every rotor and the technician doing the brake job
will measure the rotor before and after machining it to make sure it doesn't go
below the legal minimum. If a rotor is cut below the minimum, it will not
be able to handle the high heat that brakes normally generate. This
will cause the brakes to "fade," greatly reducing their effectiveness to a point
where you may not be able to stop!
