ScrapScrap Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) Prices in Illinois
Check current national and local payouts for Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) in Illinois. Our market data tracks the latest prices so you know exactly what your heavy brake scrap is worth before pulling up to the scale.
Average Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) Price
- Low (around $0.13): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.13): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.13+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 2 live board rates in this area.
Top Scrap Yards Buying Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) Illinois
Before you load up your truck with heavy brake rotors, browse these local yards in Illinois to compare current cast iron payouts. National averages provide a great baseline, but local foundry demand dictates the final ticket. Always call ahead to lock in today's price.
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶| Metal grade | Average price (per lb) |
|---|---|
| Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) | $0.13 / lb |
| Plate & Structural Steel (P&S) | $0.13 / lb |
| #1 Prepared Steel (HMS) | $0.12 / lb |
| Unprepared Steel (Torch & Shear) | $0.11 / lb |
| Light Iron & Shredder | $0.11 / lb |
| Cast Iron (Heavy) | $0.10 / lb |
| #2 Prepared Steel | $0.10 / lb |
| Tin (Sheet Metal) | $0.08 / lb |
| Steel Turnings | $0.05 / lb |
| Wire Fence | $0.04 / lb |
Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) Price Trends & Market History
This chart shows where the market is headed. If the line is climbing, prices are rising — you might get a better deal in a few days. If it's dropping, don't wait: sell today before yards lower their buy prices further.
Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums): Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (CME)
Avg scrap yard price
Today's world market price (CME)
Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums): Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 (current) | $0.1889 / lb | $0.13 / lb | −$0.06 (31.2%) |
| March 2026 | $0.1774 / lb | $0.13 / lb | −$0.05 (26.7%) |
| February 2026 | $0.1697 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (29.3%) |
| January 2026 | $0.1692 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (29.1%) |
| December 2025 | $0.1653 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.06 (33.5%) |
| November 2025 | $0.1626 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (32.3%) |
| October 2025 | $0.1588 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (30.7%) |
| September 2025 | $0.1557 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (29.4%) |
| August 2025 | $0.1588 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (30.7%) |
| July 2025 | $0.1592 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (30.9%) |
| June 2025 | $0.1550 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (29%) |
| May 2025 | $0.1579 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (30.3%) |
| April 2025 | $0.1612 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (31.8%) |
| March 2025 | $0.1692 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (29.1%) |
| February 2025 | $0.1660 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.06 (33.7%) |
| January 2025 | $0.1587 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (30.7%) |
| December 2024 | $0.1590 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (30.8%) |
| November 2024 | $0.1660 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.06 (33.7%) |
| October 2024 | $0.1733 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (30.8%) |
| September 2024 | $0.1682 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.06 (34.6%) |
| August 2024 | $0.1661 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.06 (33.8%) |
| July 2024 | $0.1748 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (31.4%) |
| June 2024 | $0.1737 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (30.9%) |
| May 2024 | $0.1746 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (31.3%) |
| April 2024 | $0.1741 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (31.1%) |
| March 2024 | $0.1747 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (31.3%) |
| February 2024 | $0.1836 / lb | $0.13 / lb | −$0.05 (29.2%) |
| January 2024 | $0.1855 / lb | $0.13 / lb | −$0.06 (29.9%) |
| December 2023 | $0.1898 / lb | $0.13 / lb | −$0.06 (31.5%) |
| November 2023 | $0.1828 / lb | $0.13 / lb | −$0.05 (28.9%) |
| October 2023 | $0.1681 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.06 (34.6%) |
| September 2023 | $0.1719 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (30.2%) |
| August 2023 | $0.1694 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (29.2%) |
| July 2023 | $0.1674 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.06 (34.3%) |
| June 2023 | $0.1718 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (30.2%) |
| May 2023 | $0.1690 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.06 (34.9%) |
| April 2023 | $0.1870 / lb | $0.14 / lb | −$0.05 (25.1%) |
| March 2023 | $0.2034 / lb | $0.14 / lb | −$0.06 (31.2%) |
| February 2023 | $0.2007 / lb | $0.14 / lb | −$0.06 (30.2%) |
| January 2023 | $0.1883 / lb | $0.13 / lb | −$0.06 (31%) |
| December 2022 | $0.1755 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.06 (31.6%) |
| November 2022 | $0.1593 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (30.9%) |
| October 2022 | $0.1616 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (31.9%) |
| September 2022 | $0.1627 / lb | $0.11 / lb | −$0.05 (32.4%) |
| August 2022 | $0.1736 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (30.9%) |
| July 2022 | $0.1698 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (29.3%) |
| June 2022 | $0.1738 / lb | $0.12 / lb | −$0.05 (31%) |
| May 2022 | $0.2172 / lb | $0.15 / lb | −$0.07 (30.9%) |
| April 2022 | $0.2718 / lb | $0.19 / lb | −$0.08 (30.1%) |
| March 2022 | $0.2935 / lb | $0.20 / lb | −$0.09 (31.9%) |
| February 2022 | $0.2297 / lb | $0.16 / lb | −$0.07 (30.3%) |
| January 2022 | $0.2138 / lb | $0.15 / lb | −$0.06 (29.8%) |
Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) Scrap Price History — Daily Data
A day-by-day market snapshot in exact numbers. Every day we aggregate buy prices from local scrap yards, recording the average, low, and high. Use this table to track real price movement over recent days.
| Date | Avg price (per lb) | Change | Range (Low/High) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.13 / lb | — no change | $0.13 – $0.13 | |
| 3/23/2026 | $0.13 / lb | — no change | $0.13 – $0.13 |
| 3/22/2026 | $0.13 / lb | −$0.02 | $0.13 – $0.13 |
| 4/27/2023 | $0.15 / lb | +$0.01 | $0.15 – $0.15 |
Cashing In On Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums)
If you run a mechanic shop or do a lot of brake jobs in Illinois, Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) is a heavy, consistent money-maker. Unlike light sheet iron, brake rotors and drums are a premium foundry-grade cast iron. Because of its density and predictable melting point, scrap buyers are actively looking for it. Currently, our data shows yards are paying anywhere from $0.11 to $0.19 per pound, with the national average hovering right around $0.13. Since these parts are incredibly heavy, even a small bucket of old rotors can add up to a significant payout at the scale.
Don't Let the Scale Boss Downgrade Your Load
The cardinal sin of scrapping heavy cast is tossing it into a bin with lower-tier ferrous metals. If you mix your premium Automotive Cast Iron with light shred like Wire Fence or thin tin, the yard manager will downgrade the entire load to the lowest denominator. That lazy sorting mistake could cost you roughly $0.09 per pound instantly. Keep your rotors and drums in their own dedicated barrels to maximize your profit.
- #1 Prepared Steel (HMS): This heavy melting steel grade generally trades between $0.11 to $0.13/lb.
- #2 Prepared Steel: Slightly thinner or galvanized heavy steel often fetches $0.09 to $0.13/lb.
- Cast Iron (Heavy): General heavy cast items usually command $0.08 to $0.13/lb.
Field Prep for Maximum Payout
Sorting is simple: keep your auto cast clean and separate from regular steel scrap. You don't need to worry about the surface rust that naturally forms on old brake rotors—foundries expect it. However, you do need to make sure there are no excessive fluids, grease puddles, or non-ferrous attachments mixed in with your bin. A clean, dedicated barrel of nothing but rotors and drums guarantees the fastest weigh-in and the highest cast iron rate.
Yard Pro Tip: Watch out for modern composite brake rotors. Some newer or high-performance vehicles use rotors that feature a cast iron friction ring bolted or riveted to a lightweight aluminum 'hat' (the center hub). If you throw these mixed-metal composite rotors into your clean cast iron pile, the yard might catch it and downgrade the whole bin to a 'dirty aluminum' or standard light iron rate. Always check your load with a magnet and remove those aluminum centers if possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do rotors and drums pay a different rate than regular steel?
Automotive Cast Iron is a specific, high-density material. Foundries prefer clean auto cast because it melts predictably and contains specific carbon levels compared to a random mix of standard steel scrap. This specialized industrial demand helps maintain a solid national average of $0.13 per pound.
How does the market dictate cast iron prices?
Like all ferrous metals, cast iron pricing is heavily tied to domestic mill demand, export orders, and the CME. Local buyers must factor in the heavy transportation and handling costs to move this dense material, meaning your local yard price will typically sit about 31.6% below spot market rates.
Do I need to clean the rust off my old brake rotors?
No, surface rust is completely normal and expected on used Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums). The scrap yard and the foundry do not care about rust. Just make sure there is no heavy grease or non-metallic garbage mixed in your load.
Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) scrap prices in Illinois on the map
The map shows cities in Illinois with Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see Automotive Cast Iron (Rotors/Drums) prices in that location.