Quick, Can you "cut" slotted rotors

[drivemusicnow]

Ok .. blah blah, rotors got screwed up with a bit of metal to metal contact (umm slotted rotors, metal master pads... and about 10k miles... WTF.) I need to know if you can resurface slotted rotors on a normal disc brake lathe. will it mess up the machine? also, how hard is it to change the back brake lines?

[gsodonis]

You can turn slotted, dimpled, crossdrilled rotors to your hearts content, as long as you leave sufficient material to meet the minimum service thickness of the rotor. Most quality rotors have that numbers cast into the rotor itself. If the number is not on the rotor, the machine shops that do the work look up the minimum thickness(es) in a book.

There are two numbers that they go by:
1. A minimum starting thickness. The lathe has to take a certain amount of material off each pass to get a clean cut. To little and the rotor won't be true. Too much, and the cutting tool will chatter and/or break.
2. A minimum finished thickness.

If either of these is exceeded (not enough to start or too small after the machining is over) they will recommend new rotors. If they exceed the minimum thickness after the machining is complete, they will more than likely trash the rotor for the sake of liability. If a rotor is too thin, the caliper piston runs the risk of jamming in its bore or even popping out (moving past the seal) in the extreme event of wearing the pads to the metal backing plates.

As long as your rotors have never been turned, there should be sufficient material for them to machine to restore a good clean braking surface.

Most machines can do it, but older rotor turning machines may not be able to do so. Check your local place!