Rotor Issues After Dealer Resurfaced

1674 Views 15 Replies 14 Participants Last post by joseph m fraumeni, 8 mo ago

John-

Discussion Starter · 8 mo ago

3

Looking for some advice before I go back to the dealer next week.
Long story short, I had some vibration in the front end when braking. Dealer couldn't figure it out, and resurfaced rotors. This dealer's service department is horrifically bad, which I'm finding out the hard way, unfortunately.

Rotors looked trashed after they resurfaced, like mud was sprayed all over it. Brake felt mushy after as well. Figured it was some type of residue from the resurface process. Looked a little better after driving a bit but still significantly worse than the rear rotors which look like mirrors.

Brought it to a local mechanic to take a look, he said the job looked rush, there was no final cut, and that it probably needs to be replaced.

Can our rotors be resurfaced? If not, where can I get "proof" of that to present to the dealer? A lot of conflicting info on this.

I attached a few pics for reference. Pics make it look better than it is.

Wheel Automotive tire Hubcap Tread Automotive design

Wheel Tire Vehicle Automotive tire Car

Wheel Tire Automotive tire Light Automotive design

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

RocketSled

· #2 · 8 mo ago

GM's service manual will say if the rotors can be resurfaced or not. I would be shocked if the rotors are spec'd to be resurfaced.

Reactions: 1

Red Obsession

· #3 · 8 mo ago

Be interesting if they're able to be resurfaced. I would think if they didn't replace the pads, you'd at least have to bed them in with the new rotor surface.

bettywhtV

· #4 · 8 mo ago

I’ve been told by a couple shops that 2 piece rotors couldn’t be resurfaced (never asked the dealership tho as my v2 is long out of warranty. Maybe you need to bed them again like @Red Obsession mentioned.

Sudderth

· #5 · 8 mo ago

Most horrible job of resurfacing I have seen. With the aluminum hat the rotor needs to have the damper on the outer surface to keep the rotor from moving when you cut it. This looks like a rough cut and as a result the pad moves in an out causing the soft pedal feel. Replacing the rotors is the only option. And, I would never resurface the Brembo rotors since they are cut thin in the first place to save weight. They are awesome brakes but they are disposable. On my third set and love them. Nut, they are pricy. Rockauto.com is the place that seems to have them for the cheapest. I could not bring myself to purchase one piece rotors due to the weight penalty. But, if it is a daily driver there are nice one piece rotors for much less money. Also, being a cheap ass I buy the Autozone Duralast Gold brake pads and they work great as long as you bed them in properly. I have an old Corvette 1992 and when the government outlawed asbestos brake pads I ended up going with Autozone pads. Interestingly enough I bought pads from Chevrolet for several years after the ban on asbestos pads and if you bought them from GM they were Australian pads that were still asbestos. Went through brakes once a year. Pads and Rotors. Anyway, it was like 1996 when I bought a new set from GM only to find they no longer were Australian. When you opened the box you found another box with the Gerlock pads inside the Australian box. Now, they were the manufacturer in North Carolina. The same place that makes the Autozone pads. Same pads just much cheaper... Anyway, just sharing my experience.

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Reactions: 1

Mr645

· #6 · 8 mo ago

Mine were resurface about 4k miles ago, looked about the same, no issues. Dealer measured the rotors and they had room to be cut. New pads and hardware and were ready to go

SilverSedan

· #7 · 8 mo ago

Sudderth said:
I could not bring myself to purchase one piece rotors due to the weight penalty.

I thought the 1 piece rotors were lighter.

John-

Discussion Starter · #8 · 8 mo ago

RocketSled said:
GM's service manual will say if the rotors can be resurfaced or not. I would be shocked if the rotors are spec'd to be resurfaced.

Thanks for the reaponse. I checked the service manual for the 2017 and 2019 model year, and there are generic directions on how to resurface the rotors with no differentiaiton between the cts and the cts-v. In the rotor diagnostic section of the manual, it does have a blanket statement for the cts and cts-v to be resurfaced if required. No stipulation for the V rotor not to be resurfaced. There are minimum thresholds listed for rotor thickness for the V, so it seems GM intended on having them resurfaced.

Did the same for the zl1 Camaro since the front rotors are the same. Read the same as the CTS manual.

northeast ctsv

· #9 · 8 mo ago

Bring it back to the dealer. You might get the dealer to replace them due to the bad resurfacing job they did.

John-

Discussion Starter · #10 · 8 mo ago

northeast ctsv said:
Bring it back to the dealer. You might get the dealer to replace them due to the bad resurfacing job they did.

I'm bringing it back Tuesday to see what they are going to say. Their mechanics are terrible, but their management has been receptive so far. This Cadillac is in the middle of nowhere, so I think management knows they are stuck with who they got. Not a big pool of people to hire from if they let anyone go.

gOt BoOsT

· #11 · 8 mo ago

Any rotor can be resurfaced (not cc) if there’s enough material thickness left. I would suggest taking it to a place that specializes in brakes because they will do it right. Not sure how a different outcome is expected from the same dealer.

RobF300

· #12 · 8 mo ago

if they say they can’t be cut again you may have some recourse with them. Argue that if they had done it properly the first time the rotors would be good for xxx more miles.
now they are ruined. maybe they will apply the credit towards new ones but they may beat you over the head on those

Reactions: 1

V locity

· #13 · 8 mo ago

Sewell Cadillac in Houston says they don’t resurface 2 piece rotors (according to GM, they must be replaced).

tinman

· #14 · 8 mo ago

Personally, I would never resurface our rotors. Only new.

Reactions: 2

Johnny Drama 65022

· #15 · 8 mo ago

RobF300 said:
if they say they can’t be cut again you may have some recourse with them. Argue that if they had done it properly the first time the rotors would be good for xxx more miles.
now they are ruined. maybe they will apply the credit towards new ones but they may beat you over the head on those

I’m looking at replacing rotors and brake pads on my 2016 ctsv. Rock auto has oem gm pads and rotors. They are pricey but going that route.

joseph m fraumeni

· #16 · 8 mo ago

Johnny Drama 65022 said:
I’m looking at replacing rotors and brake pads on my 2016 ctsv. Rock auto has oem gm pads and rotors. They are pricey but going that route.

Ive had mine cut and new pads (2011Ctsv coupe) Terrible!! Then put new rotors and pads all the way around Still bad .For a car that has the most performance equiment the factory can put in a car at that time ,someone was sleeping doing brakes!!

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