2023-2024 Acura Integra Rotor Replacement: Resurface or Replace

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

On a 2023-2024 Acura Integra, the rotors can be resurfaced only if they are still comfortably above the minimum thickness marked on the rotor, run true, and show no cracks, deep grooves or heat damage. Because the Integra's rear rotors are thin solid discs, they usually have little metal to spare, so replacing them, along with new pads, is often the more reliable fix for vibration or scoring.

What brake rotors the 2023-2024 Integra uses

Acura's own specification sheets show two different brake packages across these two model years. Every 2023 Integra trim, and every non-Type S 2024 trim, uses ventilated front discs and solid rear discs. The 2024 Integra Type S gets a much larger package with Brembo four-piston aluminum front calipers. Knowing which one you have matters, because the rotors are not interchangeable.

Both years also have an Electronic Parking Brake with Automatic Brake Hold, ABS, electronic brake distribution and Brake Assist as standard. The electronic parking brake is important for anyone doing the rear rotors at home, as covered below.

Resurface or replace: how to decide

Resurfacing (machining the rotor on a brake lathe) removes metal to restore a flat, true surface. That only works if there is enough metal left. Use this order of checks every time the pads come off:

1. Measure thickness with a micrometer. Measure at several points around the braking surface and use the lowest reading. Compare it to the minimum (discard) thickness, which is usually cast or stamped into the rotor hat; Brembo calls it the "Min. Th." marking. The factory service manual lists it too. A rotor at minimum, or one that would drop below minimum after machining, must be replaced.
2. Look for cracks and heat damage. A cracked rotor is never a resurfacing candidate, no matter how thick it is. Deep grooves and signs of overheating also point to replacement.
3. Check runout and thickness variation. Trade guidance from Tire Review puts acceptable lateral runout at under .002 inch, and notes that only about .001 inch of thickness variation can be felt as pedal vibration.
4. Clean the hub before blaming the rotor. Rust or dirt between the hub face and the rotor hat can cause runout by itself. Wire-brush both surfaces before measuring.

Why the Integra's rear rotors are usually a replace job

Acura lists the 2024 Integra's rear disc at 0.30 inch thick when new, a solid (non-vented) disc. Thin rotors have little material between new and discard, so after normal pad wear there is often not enough left to machine and still stay above minimum for the next set of pads. Tire Review notes that thinner modern rotors can reach minimum thickness by the time the first set of pads is worn out, and that thin rotors have less mass to absorb heat. The front rotors on the standard Integra are thicker and vented, so they are more likely to have room for one resurfacing if they are only lightly scored.

The 2024 Type S uses thicker rotors front and rear (1.05 inch front, 0.36 inch rear when new), so it has more material to work with. The same rule still applies: measure first, and machine only if the rotor will stay above its marked minimum after the cut.

Symptoms that your Integra's rotors need attention

• Pedal or steering wheel vibration when braking from speed. Brembo links this to warped or uneven discs. It is usually thickness variation, not true warping.
• A raised lip at the outer edge of the rotor and visible grooves on the braking surface.
• Grinding or scraping. Squeal usually starts at the pads, but if pads wear to the backing plate the rotor is damaged quickly.
• Blue or dark heat spots or fine cracks on the braking band.

Doing the job: pads, hardware and the electronic parking brake

If you replace rotors, replace the pads with them. Brembo explains that a used pad has conformed to the old disc, so on a new rotor it contacts a smaller area, brakes weaker until it beds in, and can scratch the new surface. Pads alone are fine only when the rotors are above minimum with no deep grooves or warping.

For the Integra, a good set of parts per axle looks like this:

• A pair of rotors for the axle, never one side only. Browse brake rotors and confirm the size for your trim.
• New pads, such as 2023-2024 Acura Integra rear ceramic brake pads, or other ceramic brake pads for a quiet, low-dust daily driver.
• Fresh clips and slide-pin boots from a brake hardware kit.

The rear brakes are where the electronic parking brake comes in. The rear caliper pistons are driven by the parking brake motor, so the system must be put into its service or maintenance mode (using the procedure in the service manual, typically with a scan tool) before the pistons are retracted. Forcing them back with a C-clamp can damage the actuator. Front rotors on a standard Integra are a straightforward bolt-on job for a home mechanic with a torque wrench; the rears add the parking brake step.

When the wheels go back on, tighten the lug nuts with a torque wrench to the factory value in the owner's or service manual. Uneven or excessive lug torque can distort the rotor hat and cause the same wobble you just fixed. Then bed the new pads in: Brembo recommends avoiding hard, sudden stops at first and making a series of moderate stops with cooling time between them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just resurface my Integra's rear rotors?

Only if they measure well above the minimum thickness marked on the rotor, have no cracks or heat damage, and the cut will not take them below minimum. Because the rear disc is a thin solid rotor, replacement is often the practical choice.

Do the 2024 Integra Type S rotors fit a regular Integra?

No. Acura lists the Type S with 13.8-inch front and 12.0-inch rear rotors and Brembo front calipers, versus 12.3-inch and 11.1-inch rotors on the other trims. Order rotors by exact trim.

Should I replace rotors every time I replace pads?

Not automatically. Measure the rotors at every pad change. If they are above minimum with no deep grooves, warping or cracks, new pads alone are acceptable. If they are near minimum or damaged, replace rotors and pads together.

Why does my steering wheel shake when I brake?

Most often it is thickness variation in the front rotors, sometimes caused by runout from a dirty hub or uneven lug torque. As little as about .001 inch of variation can be felt.

Do I need a scan tool for the rear brakes?

The Integra has an electronic parking brake, so the rear calipers must be put into service mode before retracting the pistons. Follow the service manual procedure; many shops and capable home mechanics use a scan tool for it.

Sources

1. 2024 Acura Integra and Integra Type S Specifications (Honda News) - rotor sizes, disc thickness, Brembo calipers, electronic parking brake
2. 2023 Integra Specifications and Features (Acura News) - 2023 rotor sizes and brake equipment
3. Brake Rotors: When to Resurface, When to Replace (Tire Review) - runout, thickness variation, thin rotors, hub cleaning, lug torque
4. Brembo brakes for Honda Civic (Brembo) - pads with new discs, minimum thickness, vibration, bedding in