The things we find while servicing! These front brake rotors came off a Mitsubishi Triton, and the cracks across the braking surface are hard to miss. Cracked brake rotors are a serious safety issue, and this is a good example of why brakes get a proper inspection on every service.
The job at a glance
- Vehicle: Mitsubishi Triton
- Problem: Front brake rotors with major cracks across the braking surface
- Found during: A routine service
What causes cracked brake rotors?
Brake rotors turn the energy of a moving vehicle into heat. Every time you brake hard, the rotor surface heats up rapidly, then cools again. Over thousands of these cycles, fine heat cracks can form on the surface. If the rotor keeps being pushed hard, those cracks grow deeper and longer.
Things that make it worse include:
- Towing, or carrying heavy loads in a ute like a Triton
- Long downhill runs, such as coming down from the hinterland
- Rotors that have worn thin, so they can’t absorb and shed heat as well
- Worn or low-quality brake pads
- Sticking calipers that keep the pads in contact with the rotor
Why cracked rotors are dangerous
A rotor with surface heat cracks my still be stop your vehicle. But any cracks, like the ones on this Triton, weaken the rotor. Under heavy braking, a badly cracked rotor can fail, and that’s the last thing you want when you’re stopping a loaded ute.
Cracks can’t be machined out of a rotor. Once a rotor is cracked like this, it needs to be replaced.
Warning signs of brake rotor problems
- Vibration or pulsing through the brake pedal or steering wheel when braking
- Squealing, grinding or scraping noises
- Longer stopping distances, or a brake pedal that feels different
- Visible cracks, grooves or a heavy lip on the rotor’s edge
- A burning smell after braking
Brake rotor replacement
Rotors are replaced in pairs on the same axle, so the vehicle brakes evenly, and new rotors are fitted with new brake pads. It’s also the right time to check the calipers, brake hoses and brake fluid. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, which lowers its boiling point and reduces braking performance, so it needs replacing at the intervals in your logbook.
We’ve written more about brake shudder and mobile brake repairs in earlier posts.
Is it safe to drive with cracked brake rotors?
Fine surface heat checks aren’t unusual on a hard-working ute, but cracks like these aren’t something to keep driving on. If cracks are deep, run to the edge of the rotor or you can catch a fingernail in them, have the brakes inspected straight away.
Brake inspections on the Gold Coast
Brakes are inspected on every logbook service, and our mobile mechanics can check and repair your brakes at your home or workplace across the Gold Coast. If your brakes are noisy, pulsing or just don’t feel right, don’t wait. Call 0478 499 369 or contact us to book.
Need a mobile mechanic on the Gold Coast?
Certified Automotive offers professional Logbook Servicing across the Gold Coast, with mobile mechanics who come to you 7 days a week and a workshop in Mudgeeraba.
We service Burleigh, Varsity Lakes, Southport and all Gold Coast suburbs. Call 0478 499 369 for a free quote.
