Turning brake disks?

My book say that the front brake disks on my '82 KZ750 are stainless steel instead of cast iron. If true, can they be turned like iron disks can? Or is some special macheinery needed? Thanks!

I'd call around at the brake shops, some can do SS. See if a metal spray shop can build up the surface like this: www.flamesprayinc.com/services.htm

I researched this a while back and here is the general upshot from the net:

MC discs can be turned, however: if they are turned on the typical lathes used to cut car rotors, they will chatter and damage the rotor surface.

There are ways to cut bike rotors but they take different machines and consequently cost more. Instead of a rotating lathe with cutting tools, the rotors have to be cut with a surface grinder that's very precise. from what I understand, places that have the equipment to cut flywheels have these.

you can turn them but you need a good machine shop that can handle the rotors, the best thing to is th have them ground.
once they have been run they get work hardened, this is why the grinding process should be the best method

Provided your rotors are thick enough and you need to resurface them, do not skim them on a brake lathe, but take them to an engine machine shop and refinish them on a flywheel refacer, making sure the thickness stays uniform. It takes off only a few thousandths, leaving a nicer finish without chattering, eliminates the phonograph record groove effect, takes out the hard spots better, and gives you really smoooooooth braking for about $20 - $30 a rotor. The minimum rotor thickness will be found in your service manual, or stamped on the rotor. Worked great on my bikes and Corvette too.

oldcoldankles wrote:

Provided your rotors are thick enough and you need to resurface them, do not skim them on a brake lathe, but take them to an engine machine shop and refinish them on a flywheel refacer, making sure the thickness stays uniform. It takes off only a few thousandths, leaving a nicer finish without chattering, eliminates the phonograph record groove effect, takes out the hard spots better, and gives you really smoooooooth braking for about $20 - $30 a rotor. The minimum rotor thickness will be found in your service manual, or stamped on the rotor. Worked great on my bikes and Corvette too.

ditto

Good info! Thanks all!