new rotors at 50K?
 

For a 3.2 car, how long should the rotors last under normal driving conditions? I'm looking at a low mileage 3.2 and the PPI recommends new rotors at about 50K total miles. Sound right? I would have thought the rotors would last longer. That being said, the rotors on my wife's A8 were replaced at 30K...

The rotors on my old '88 3.2 lasted over 100K of normal street driving.

Stan Cappon
71 S

The wear on rotors depends a lot on how often the pads have been changed. If someone waits to replace the pads until you have metal on metal, the rotors won't last too long.

On the other hand, if the pads are replaced at the correct time, rotors can last for damn near forever.

I'm not an expert on this but from my experience, as long as pads are replaced before metal-to-metal contact, the rotors don't wear much from actual braking use.

What does happen is they either warp or develop high spots, etc so need to be turned. After a couple of times, they get too thin to be machined any further and need to be replaced. So you can assume that they were machined by the PO and at the limits of their specifications.

Even is you need new rotors, to replace a pair up front will set you back not much more then a $100 if you do it yourself. Not enough to let a deal go through. Replacement depends on the pads you use also. Check them for thickness if no warping is apparent.

I've got a set of OEM Zimmermann discs at the front that are 2 years and 25000 kms old. Lately I have experienced a slight shaking in the steering wheel as I brake. That's probably because the discs are no longer perfectly straight?? Am I too hard on my brakes? I always expected them to withstand occasional hard braking.

There are many reasons why rotors will warp. While they are designed to withstand high heat from hard braking, under certain conditions they will warp. Cold water splashing on a hot rotor, for example, such as if you drive through a puddle.

Nostatic, what else did the ppi turn up?
If it were only rotors it could be that was the only thing the tech could find that was questionable. "No car is perfect" may be in the conversation somewhere.
The car you are looking at is between 12-17 years old. The pads have probably been replaced at least once. May be the PO installed a more agressive pad?
How long tires, brake pads, rotors, last depends on how the car is driven. Carrera rotors are pretty cheap. Seldom is it worthwhile to turn them as it is an all labor cost. Takes more time to turn them than to change them.

Compression and leak down good (165-170 and less than 5%), a few minor oil leaks (pulley seal, head gasket). Loose front wheel bearing, front tires worn on the inside edges, rotors "very dished". Front fender had a dent pulled and was repainted. AC compressor seal leaking, and a few cracked lenses. It also is due for tune/valve adjust. Nothing else major has been replaced (50K miles on the clock). Asking is around $26-$27K, but I think that is high for the immediate work that needs to be done (major service and brakes).

HUH??????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????

Didn't you do this already with a nice car?
Good Luck.

I'm lost too.
Didn't you just have, and shortly thereafter sell a clean 3.2 in the interest of supposed marital harmony?

Guess I better post a scorecard...

Yes, sold the '87 in the name of "marital harmony". While the "you might as well keep it" card was waved, I considered it "fruit from the poison tree" and sold. Both of us now aggree it was a mistake made in haste...live and learn. Spousal unit is now engaged in the process, so I'm in the hunt again. Looked at 993's but didn't want to spend that much, and by now I have a pretty good idea about some of the issues with 3.2 cars. Also considering an M Coupe (the "has a warranty" fallback position).

I think that covers it...

Nostatic, I don't check this bb very often but I seem to remember late summer the thread about your wife wanting you to sell the car.
Not trying to bust your chops but the car is not a cream puff. Sounds like PO only did the bare minimum on maintenance. I would get a little nervous when obvious little things like lenses are ignored, possible problems with the a/c, previous body damage, etc. Almost sounds like as long as the car would run the PO did not care.
Don't know year but car seems a little pricey even considering the lo miles (which aren't really that lo).

No chop busting taken...I am in total agreement. The car is an '89, and while the mileage is low, the PPI seems to indicate someone that didn't exactly fuss over their car. Not the end of the world, but also not worthy of a top dollar price...especially when there are quite a few p-cars around....

Does the seller have service records? I bet not. The head gasket leak would cause me concern over everything else, but I bet that car needs at least $3K to put it right. Also the worn tires and broken lenses tells me the seller was not a maintenance fanatic. Based on what you've posted, I wouldn't give him a dime more than $20K (and maybe not that much). The asking price is just not reasonable for this car.

Stan Cappon
71 S

Here we go again.
Sure Noscrote - go ahead and jump in and buy this car so we can all re-enjoy listening to your neverending rendition of marriage-made-in-hell.
Speaking for the majority of readers here I'm sure, we need a good laugh again.

Maybe I missed something, but why does the 89 have a 3.2? Or are you guys talking about another car, a 89 with a 3.6? In that case the leaking head gasket in the 3.6 would be a big concern because 89's didn't come with a head gasket. I don't know the fix, but Porsche did warranty the problem.

'89 had both. There was a run of 3.2 cars, along with the introduction of the C4 with a 3.6.

Ya know jimbo, the way you personally respond to all my queries, people will think we're going steady or something.

Sorry big guy, but I'm taken. But then again, maybe I can buy this car and I'll get divorced and be available...perhaps that was your plan all along? http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/wink.gif

This is going to be fun. Keep it coming!