[Joe Pozer]

After two years of use the front rotor on my bike has become warped. Is this right in terms of longevity for a rotor?

Also, can it be straightened or am I going to have to purchase a new one?

Oh yeah, I run Magura Louise on my bike.

Thank you for the help...

 

[Brian HCM#1]

If its not to bad, you can work them out abit with a couple cresent wrenches. If its too far gone, you gotta get a new rotor.

 

[strakos]

you can heat it up, then it get´s easier to unwarp.
Remove the rotor from the wheel, heat it up with Acetylen or LPG or any other gas and when it get´s very hot it´s easy to make it straight.
Just don´t touch it with your hand.

 

[HELLTACO]

Originally posted by strakos
you can heat it up, then it get´s easier to unwarp.
Remove the rotor from the wheel, heat it up with Acetylen or LPG or any other ging and when it get´s very easy to make it straight.
Just don´t touch it with your hand.

?

 

[strakos]

what?!

 

[Ranger]

Servus!

From a metalworking standpoint - safer to buy an new rotor.

Yeah, two years of constant use sounds about par for the course on something like that. As for straightening it yourself, this would be a bad idea in my book. First of all, you will never get it as straight as it would come from the factory - ever. Bending it, even a little, stresses the metallic structure in ways it was never designed to. This may cause your rotor to crack and possibly seperate, causing a spectacular endo most unexpectedly. Heating the rotor to the point where it is malleable is also bad because that will change the overall crystalline structure of the steel in one particular area. The only safe way to bring it back in true is to heat it up to red - bright red on the scale (for stainless) and to put it in a hydraulic press and then air quench. This is something I wouldn't take part in even with some experience in metalworking.

Spend the extra few bucks... It's like when my wife complains about the price of bike helmets - "how much is my head worth to you honey?" You'll ride safer.

 

[Joe Pozer]

Originally posted by Ranger
Servus!
Spend the extra few bucks... It's like when my wife complains about the price of bike helmets - "how much is my head worth to you honey?" You'll ride safer.

You are right...I had to open up the pads a little than I cared for while riding this weekend.

I think I'll just bite the bullet and order a new rotor this week.

 

[Merwin5_10]

No way around it. even if you don't burn your fingerprints off your hand trying to flatten the rotor, the "memory will allow it to warp anought o be a continuios problem for you. Spring for a new rotor and save yourself a long headache.

 

[Taz]

If it isn't worn from the pad, then I would just bend it back. You haven't warped it beyond it's plastic region, cause it still ride in between the caliper. And when you bend it back, as long as you don't bend it beyond it's plastic region it will be fine. SS can take a lot of abuse.

a friend of mine run a rotor for 3 years, finally had to replace it cause the middle of it (in comparison to the pad) was wearing thin.

 

[shocktower]

If the rotor is bad enough that you need a mallet 2 cresent wrenchs go buy a new one ,But if it`s only a slight tweak just use your hands the rotors are only .0625