Building Brake Lathe Labor Sales

Oct 19, 2023

Many automakers are putting more "meat" on rotors compared to just a decade ago. Also, OE ceramic brake formulations are minimizing rotor wear due to less aggressive formulations that transfer a layer of friction material to the rotor. This means that rotors are lasting longer and seeing two or more sets of pads.

Is there profit in machining rotors? Yes, but you have to be willing to change your thinking and procedures. Your shop must also be willing to charge more for machining rotors.

Installing new rotors is not a way to avoid having to use a micrometer or dial indicator. For every brake job, you should always measure for runout (rotor and flange) and the dimensions of the rotor before brake service is performed.

After the rotor is resurfaced or a new rotor is installed, it should be measured for runout as a quality control method. A new rotor could have excessive runout when it is installed on the vehicle due to a stacking of tolerances.

It has often been said that you should never machine new rotors. But, what if the runout exceeds the manufacturer's specifications when the new rotor is installed on the vehicle? This is when it is permissible to machine a new rotor with an on-the-car brake lathe. This helps to match the rotors to the hub flange.

For far too long, brake lathes (bench and on-the-car) were pushed to the back of the shop. This can kill productivity. A brake lathe can be a noisy and dirty piece of equipment if not operated properly, but having to walk halfway across the shop a few times can make it a productivity killer. Position your brake lathe where you perform the most brake work.

Not having the right adapters and accessories can be a productivity killer, as well. Having to set up a lathe multiple times for the same rotor, or cutting runout into a rotor due to a mounting error can be very frustrating. Having the right adapters and accessories can speed setup and prevent mistakes.Just remember, the rotor should be removed to measure runout in the wheel's flange.

Even if you are using an on-the-car brake lathe, you should always remove the rotor before turning it. Removing the rotor may seem to mitigate the time-saving advantage of an on-the-car lathe, but it is a critical step that can help accentuate this type of lathe's main advantage — reducing runout and thickness variation.

You may think that you are not paid to measure thickness and runout, but are you paid for a comeback? Even if you install a new rotor, you are setting yourself up for a comeback if you do not measure using a micrometer or dial indicator. Even a "perfect" rotor will have runout if it is put on a flange with runout or corrosion.

Cutting a rotor in one pass is essential for productivity. For non-composite rotors, it is possible to take off as much as 0.020″ per side while still having an acceptable finish. However, with a composite rotor or one with hard spots, the depth should be reduced, likely below 0.010″ per side for a quality finish. In order to remove this much material, it is essential to have sharp bits.

To cut a rotor fast, you must go slow with the crossfeed. Cutting too fast will reduce the cut quality and possibly create chatter. A larger diameter rotor will need to turn slower than a small diameter one. Single-speed lathes are set at the slower speed of the largest application they are designed to cut. This is usually around 0.002″ per revolution.

For the speed of the arbor, rules are the same as the crossfeed: the bigger the piece, the slower the feed. Again, single-pass lathes are set to the slowest speed, typically around 100 rpm.

Being able to measure and machine rotors efficiently is critical. If you do not think you can do it the right way, it is time to invest in equipment and training or get out of the brake business.