Can the front brake rotor be "turned" like a car rotor? There are some small gouges in the rotor, but instead of replacing it, I though I might be able to resurface it instead..thoughts?
I don't believe that to be a problem if you can find someone to do it.
I don't think there is much to 'turn' on that rotor.. check the specs and see how thick it is now, and what the min thickness is. if i remember correctly, what they would take off by shaving the rotor would be less than the min thickness honda calls for. I remember reading about someone trying this before and it didn't work out too well.
I dug all through the service manual and found no spec's for the turning of the rotor. I would think though, from experience with other brake systems; you would not be able to turn it down very much, with out making it very prone to warping from heat build up.
I do NOT know the below for sure, but it is my observation..
I do not believe that turning the rotor is recommended.. IF you look closely at the rotor, it does NOT appear to be one piece.. It appears to be made of one material and then has two harder plates pressed on as braking surfaces.. Look at the edge of the rotor carefully.. I think if you tried to turn it, you would ruin it. So either live with the grooves (which the pad will adapt to) or replace the rotor.
Buy a new one.. They only have something like 1mm wear then they are out of tolerance, if memory serves me.
Actually, it may be a little more complicated than it appears. I met these guys at InZane this year.
Check out their site for more than you ever wanted to know about "turning" MC rotors.
http://www.site.truedisk.net/
I saw some of their "before and after" work and it was spectacular. The rotors are ground rather than turned, so there is far less thickness removed than when turning. This is also the only approach for stainless rotors where turning is not an option.
I know they designed and built the machines to do the rotors with. I met one person up there that tried to use a fly wheel grinder to resurface a Valk rotor. I asked him how it turned out and he just kind of mumbled, "Not so good..." :evil: I think he bought a new one. :lol: