A vehicle's brake rotors must be smooth and free of any damage to be effective. Anomalies, such as grooves in the surface, can lessen the effectiveness of the brake pads. These grooves also wear the brake pads much more quickly than they would otherwise wear. The way brake rotors work is through friction. The brake pads work with the caliper to squeeze the rotor between them to slow and stop the car. If there is surface damage, you need to have the rotors turned to make them smooth again. This involves taking the rotors to an automotive machine shop for resurfacing.
Park the car on a level surface and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Raise the vehicle with the automobile jack. Place a jack stand under the car near its jacking point and raise it to the frame. Lower the automobile jack until the car is sitting on the jack stand. Move the automobile jack to the other side of the car and raise it up. Place a second jack stand under the car and raise it to the frame. Lower the automobile jack so that the car is resting on the two jack stands.
Remove the lug nuts from the wheels with a lug wrench then remove the wheels. Remove the brake caliper on each side with a socket and ratchet. Secure the calipers to the struts with wire ties. Do not allow the calipers to hang by the brake lines or you will damage the hoses.
Pull the rotors off the wheel assemblies. Take the rotors to an automotive machine shop to have them resurfaced.
Place the rotors onto the wheel assemblies. Cut the wire ties holding the caliper to the struts with a pair of pliers and place the calipers in the mounting brackets. Tighten the bolts with the socket and ratchet. Remount the wheels onto the car and tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench. Raise the car high enough with the automobile jack to pull a jack stand from under one side. Lower the automobile jack and repeat the process on the other side to remove the other jack stand. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
