Originally Posted By: eljefino
I brake lightly so I usually have "some other problem" before I run out of friction material.
This was a mismatch of hawk street/race pads and cheap chinese rotors, the hawks dug into the rotors and made grooves:
The hawks were also falling apart-- rust jacking, the seperation of lining and backing plate-- after 2.5 years on the car. Not okay.
I also find warped rotors or frozen pins/ calipers/ hardware before my pads wear out.
Other cars I've brought home have been metal on metal with oblivious former owners. The pedal only feels slightly different and the noise isn't awful either.
I like that vid! I too brake lightly, but I don't have that "raceway" going on. Well, it's there, but not quite that bad. The five year old rotors that I pulled looked worse; still had good pad lining but a couple were separating. Anyhow, I plan checking a couple times a year, and probably replace every five as a rule.
Otherwise, unless if the rotors are expensive and/or still in good shape, I'm not sure what is wrong with going until the pad wears out. Can change them sooner, but metal on metal stops ok, and if the rotors are just going to be changed anyhow...?