I am switching from Carbotechs to Hawk Brake pads, do I need to machine my rotors to clean the surface of the rotor? I have just always heard that when you switch pad manufacturers, you need to sand down the surface to clean it for the new pad. Is this true or can I just install the new pads and not do anything to the rotors?

I'd machine the rotors down. It'll help bed the enw pads better. Not sure how to explain that, but every time you change pads, just regrind the rotors. Every pads is different and to get the best out of it, present it to a clean rotor surface :D

I've switched between various pad manufacturers many times and never had a problem. As a matter of fact, I'm switching from PFC01s to Pagid PS29s this afternoon. In the last couple of years I've switched from Cobalt SpecVRs to Hawk HT-10s to Cobalt XR2s to PFC01s.

I am switching from Carbotechs to Hawk Brake pads, do I need to machine my rotors to clean the surface of the rotor? I have just always heard that when you switch pad manufacturers, you need to sand down the surface to clean it for the new pad. Is this true or can I just install the new pads and not do anything to the rotors?

I would just brakleen the rotors and bed in the pads well before doing any serious braking. You just need to burn off the film on the rotors from the old pads.

If there are no serious grooves or glazing on the rotors it shouldn't be a problem, people routinely switch back and forth between street/track pads and it seems to work fine. :dunno:

Definitely don't machine them. I would just do a break bed procedure, but if they are for track I would just take it easy on them for a session.

Read the stoptech.com warped rotor myth article.

Going from some pads to other pads can lead to almost unremovable break pad deposits, unless you machine them, and you'll know because your breaks will feel warped (horribly so). Ask me how I know.

To be safe, machine them down, or if they're already worn down, get a new set (replacements can be cheap). If you machine down, be sure that they're within spec after the machining (although, a good machinist will do that). Know what the min spec is, and ask the machinist to measure before he thinks about machining to be sure that after he's done there'll be plenty of material left.

Going from some pads to other pads can lead to almost unremovable break pad deposits, unless you machine them, and you'll know because your breaks will feel warped (horribly so). Ask me how I know.

To be safe, machine them down, or if they're already worn down, get a new set (replacements can be cheap). If you machine down, be sure that they're within spec after the machining (although, a good machinist will do that). Know what the min spec is, and ask the machinist to measure before he thinks about machining to be sure that after he's done there'll be plenty of material left.

Hey Ben 'sup dood? I'm at TH.... where are you?

Jay

Dude, are you there for the NCRC weekend? I'm heading up there in a few hours! :) Just didn't ask for today off, so have to head up there tonight :)

Dude, are you there for the NCRC weekend? I'm heading up there in a few hours! :) Just didn't ask for today off, so have to head up there tonight :)

Yup. Been here since Tues night. Was at Sears Point and Laguna last Fri-Sun. Spent Mon and Tue at Tony's. Didn't want to drive all the way home and back down so I'm camping out. I'm set up just south of the main bldg on the concrete pad. I'm comfy here so I probably won't move.

Are you going to race with ARC?

See you Sat morning.

Jay

I am switching from Carbotechs to Hawk Brake pads, do I need to machine my rotors to clean the surface of the rotor? I have just always heard that when you switch pad manufacturers, you need to sand down the surface to clean it for the new pad. Is this true or can I just install the new pads and not do anything to the rotors?
If you're really concerned, you can keep a set of rotors for each type of brake pad. It's only an extra couple minutes per corner to swap rotors. Then you only have to bed brakes when you get new pads.

Otherwise, a good bedding-in should work just fine. Machine only if you encounter problems (unlikely).

-tammer

Yup. Been here since Tues night. Was at Sears Point and Laguna last Fri-Sun. Spent Mon and Tue at Tony's. Didn't want to drive all the way home and back down so I'm camping out. I'm set up just south of the main bldg on the concrete pad. I'm comfy here so I probably won't move.

Are you going to race with ARC?

See you Sat morning.

Jay

Just coming out to get some track time, sitting here at work atm waiting for traffic on 680 to die down so I can get a move on, see you tomorrow:alright

This is what happens if you swap different manufacturer pads:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9LWimVZAio













just kidding