Quite simply, brake glazing is the hardening of the brake friction material due to excessive heat. To complicate matters, the hard glazing typically transfers from the pad surface onto the brake disk. That means the friction component is significantly diminished, resulting in reduced braking performance and often a noticeable brake vibration when brake pad material builds up unevenly on the disk. You may also see cracks or fractures on the brake pads. Follow below to know the process of how to deglaze brake rotors.
Most people know what a brake rotor looks like but they’re not all the same. Brake rotors are an important component in the braking system that stops your vehicle. Brake rotors are what your vehicle’s brake pads clamp down on to stop the wheels from spinning. It is also known as a brake disc.
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Why Brake Rotor Glazed?
Glazing happens when temperatures exceed the brake pad limits. The pad material hardens and forms a glassy, smooth pad surface. Pads may also crack and fracture. Brake pads can’t provide the necessary friction with the rotors to stop the vehicle when glazing occurs. Stopping distances are compromised. Many times brakes will squeak under light braking conditions or vibrate and shudder during normal braking.
There are several reasons for brake pad glazing.
- Repeated hard and rapid braking at higher speeds raises the temperature to the point where it exceeds the limit of the pad material.
- Driving with a foot on the brake pedal is called dragging the brakes. It keeps the pads in contact with the rotor. This constant rubbing spikes temperatures beyond the limits that passenger vehicle pads are designed for.
- Continuous application of the brakes when coming down a steep hill can result in glazing.
- Mechanical or hydraulic failure of the caliper can cause glazing. The caliper forces the pads to constantly rub against the rotor, like riding the brakes or coming down a steep hill. It’s the most dangerous cause of glazing because it occurs without the driver’s knowledge.
- Racecar brakes are specially designed for the racing environment, so glazing is rare. Racing pads have very high-temperature limits to prevent glazing during a race.
How To Deglaze Brake Rotors?
There are few steps below to know how to deglaze brake rotors. In case you do not follow the steps properly, it will be better to take the car to the auto repair shop for deglazing.
1. Visual Examination
Examine the brake pads visually. You can tell in case the pads are glazed or not. If you can run your finger over the surface and it’s smooth. A shiny or crystallized look to the brake pad is also an indication that it has glazed over. This is how you examine visually.
2. Listen For Weird Sound
Listen for a squeaking or squealing sound when you press down on the brakes. This is one of the most common signs that the brakes are smooth due to overheating and have become glazed.
3. Scratching Sound
Listen for a continuous scratching or squeaking sound even when you don’t press on the brakes. In this case, the brake pad may be consistently dragging across the rotor while you’re driving. This continuous friction causes overheating that results in a glazed brake pad.
4. Stopping Power Of Your Vehicle
Test your vehicle’s stopping power, when driving, in a safe location. Or you can park the car in empty parking. If you experience difficulty with stopping the car, such as a delay in slowing down the vehicle or vibrations coming from the wheels, this could be a sign of glazed pads.
5. Remove The Wheel
Remove the wheel from the car and be sure that you use jack stands to hold up the vehicle weight. You do not have to remove the rotor to remove the glaze. Wrap the 1500 grit sandpaper tightly over the sanding block.
6. Sand The Entire Disc
Lightly and evenly sand the rotor surface turning the rotor as you go along to be sure that you are along. Make sure to sand the entire disc. Do not use much pressure here to avoid scratching the surface. Much better to go over the same area numerous times rather than sand hard all at once.
7. Removing Sanding Dust
Wipe off the rotor surface with a clean cotton rag to remove any sanding dust. Now using the 2000 grit sandpaper wrapped around the sanding block sand again. To ensure that you will have a very smooth surface on the rotor. The last thing you want is to scratch the rotor surface with sandpaper. Sanding is best accomplished using a flat block rather than just using your fingers behind the paper to avoid uneven sanding.
8. Wear Safety Glasses
Put your safety glasses on to protect your eyes from splashback and spray the rotor surface with a brake cleaner. The cleaner is meant to air dry on its own so it will not be necessary to wipe it off.
Check that all the glaze has been removed visually. The rotor should be smooth and glaze-free. If any glaze remains continue sanding and spraying with brake cleaner until you are satisfied. All areas of glaze need to be removed to ensure smooth braking. This is the process to know how to deglaze brake rotors
Are Glazed Brakes Are Dangerous?
Glazed brake pads have been heated up to the point that they become hardened and are no longer create enough friction on the brake drum or rotor. This condition can occur after the brakes have been overused, either because of excessive panic stops, riding off the brake, lots of city driving, or in some cases driving on steep hills. The braking materials must be soft enough to wear and grab hold of the drum or rotor to stop the car. Excessive overheating hardens the braking material beyond its ability to do this. This condition can cause the brakes to make all kinds of noises, from squeaking to grinding. It will also reduce braking performance.
Cost Of Brake Pad Replacement
Using the same vehicle and year, the cost of front brake pads from a major retailer varies from $27 to $99. Rear brake pads range from $27 to $93. The price difference includes the type of brake pad friction material such as semi-metallic or ceramic brake pads. Also, Brake pad selection should be based on how the vehicle is used.
Brake pads for the front and rear brakes could range from $55 to $200, not including local taxes and fees.
Conclusion
Do you do a lot of stop-and-go driving? In case you do a lot of stop-and-go driving, the rotors can be glazed. Applying your brakes lightly, over and over again, as is typical in bumper-to-bumper traffic can polish discs to a mirror-like surface and glaze the pads. When the pads glaze over it is a microscopic change to the friction material on the very surface of the pad caused by heat.
The best fix for this one is to change your behavior and not ride the brake in stop-and-go traffic. Typically, brakes glazed like this will fix themselves with 2 or 3 hard stops from highway speeds. To avoid it happening in the future, use the brakes with more authority, and avoid repeated light application of the brake pedal.
