The Great Repair Shop Brakes Upsell

We don't all have time to replace our own brake pads, so we drop the car off at the local Brake-n-Bake to have our brakes refreshed. Things are going well until you get the call, "Your brakes have uneven surface wear on them, so we are going to have to turn your rotors. It will only be $20 a wheel."

This doesn't seem too crazy to you. Uneven brake wear is a possibility, especially if the guy before you didn't have his brakes serviced regularly. Maybe they do need turning.

Stop! Rotor turning (also called resurfacing) is often an unnecessary upsell. There are a number of reasons to choose not to have this done:

• Unless they are horrifically grooved, your new pads will seat onto the old rotor after a day or two of driving, making the turning unnecessary.
• When your rotors are turned, a layer of metal is actually removed from the surface of the disc, making it thinner. The thinner your brake rotors become, the more likely they are to warp from heat buildup. A warped rotor must be replaced.
• You can use the money for new leather goods!

If your rotors are badly grooved (or already warped) they should be replaced. Have your mechanic show you why he or she thinks they need to be turned. Chances are you'll be a-ok and save yourself some cash.