Quote Originally Posted by nfpgasmask
So turning the rotors is basically grinding them down to remove any groves, right?
Yes. They grind them down perfectly flat, ensuring maximum surface contact with the pad. For obvious reasons, this can usually only be done once or twice depending on how bad the rotor has been worn, and sometimes cannot be done at all if the rotor has been neglected. There is a certain thickness spec that must be met or most shops won't even grind them for you. Turning will also remove the "glaze" that the pads leave on the rotor, which is especially important if you are switching between pad materials.