Brake Lathes

Brake lathes resurface rotors and drums so that a new pad or shoe beds onto a true, parallel friction surface instead of a warped or scored one. The listings here are the Ranger RL-8500 family: bench-mounted combination lathes that handle both discs and drums, supplied with a bench and standard tooling, plus a heavy-duty XLT version and a separate truck adapter package that fits both machines.

How to choose

The practical question is what you need to turn. A combination lathe covers both rotors and drums, which is what most general repair shops want from a single machine. If you service medium and heavy-duty trucks, look at the adapter package, because the standard tooling set is sized for passenger-car and light-truck hubs and larger rotors need the truck adapters. Compare maximum rotor diameter and drum diameter against the vehicles you actually service before choosing between the standard machine and the XLT. Treat tooling and consumables as part of the running cost, since cutting bits, silencer bands and adapters are ongoing purchases rather than one-time ones.

Installation, freight and what is included

Bench brake lathes ship by freight on a pallet. Read the listing carefully: the machines here are supplied with a bench and standard tooling, while the truck adapter package is a separate item that fits the RL-8500 and RL-8500XLT. You will need a solid, level location and a suitable electrical outlet, so confirm the voltage listed for the model. Calibration and first-cut setup are covered in the manufacturer’s manual, and a lathe that is not set up correctly will leave a poor finish regardless of the machine. New equipment carries a 6-month limited warranty as standard; the extended warranty offered on qualifying remanufactured drivetrain units does not apply to brake lathes. This is a small category, so if you are after a different lathe, call 440-374-1039 and we will check availability before you order.