How many sets of brake rotors have you warped?

[toph99]

my second set is going(15k miles) on the alero, the first ones were fixed because of a GM recall on that batch of rotors, and now these ones are starting to warp(only notice it when braking between 110 and 150km/h)
So how easy is it to warp rotors? or am i just plagued by bad luck? I know soemone else who has an alero and he had warped 3 times before 15k miles

 

[goodoptics]

0 but I don't have a GM car

 

[BillGates]

The rotors on my '99 Taurus are all but shot - looking into prices for new rotors and pads and hopefully doing it myself. Should be able to get it done for less than $200.

 

[Aceman]

With my Grand Am I go through rotors every 20-25,000 miles. I found out from a GM mechanic that the Grand Ams have a problem with the fact that the rear brakes need adjusting. If they get adjusted there's less "stress" on my front brakes/rotors

 

[toph99]

<< With my Grand Am I go through rotors every 20-25,000 miles. I found out from a GM mechanic that the Grand Ams have a problem with the fact that the rear brakes need adjusting. If they get adjusted there's less "stress" on my front brakes/rotors >>



really? i'll have to ask about that when i take it in for servicing, because a grand am is an alero with a different body. my rear brakes don't look like they do too much... the driver side one doesn't look as shiny as the others, almost like the pad isn't touching much, and the passenger side is the only one that locks up with the parking brake when i pull it at low speeds(in a straight line)

 

[rgwalt]

Nowadays they aren't making rotors big enough to handle the heat generated when breaking. Also, the composite materials they use don't hold up as well as pure steal rotors. I've gone through one set already, and I'll probably go though another before it is all over.

Ryan

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I have never done this. While some rotors are quite prone to it, this is often caused by pilot error, most often by braking hard to come to a sudden stop, then holding the car stopped with the brakes for a long period (as at a stoplight).

 

[BCYL]

I think mine are warped.... when I brake at most speeds, my steering wheel vibrates... but once I let off the brakes it stops vibrating.... does that mean my rotors are warped? I initially thought my wheels were bent... but it only happens when I brake so it doesnt make sense...

 

[Squisher]

Went through one set on my '91 Dakota. I've stopped having rotors turned, nobody seems to be able to machine out a warp.

 

[Vette73]

Has a lot to do with the way you drive and what kind of rotors you have, plus the brake pads.

I have 3 GM cars and a Truck and have over 50K on the rotors on my Buick and the others I just turned them if it needed brakes.

But if you have a lot of hills or drive high speeds that does not help. I live in Wil. NC so all sea level flat land, that and I brake very smooth, I don't wait until the last second.

 

[RambleOn]

<< I think mine are warped.... when I brake at most speeds, my steering wheel vibrates... but once I let off the brakes it stops vibrating.... does that mean my rotors are warped? I initially thought my wheels were bent... but it only happens when I brake so it doesnt make sense... >>



Your tires might need to be balanced

 

[BCYL]

<<

<< I think mine are warped.... when I brake at most speeds, my steering wheel vibrates... but once I let off the brakes it stops vibrating.... does that mean my rotors are warped? I initially thought my wheels were bent... but it only happens when I brake so it doesnt make sense... >>



Your tires might need to be balanced >>



But I am still using the set of wheels/tires that came with my car from the factory... and if it were my wheels/tires, wouldnt it be happening all the time instead of only when I'm braking?

 

[toph99]

i try to stop as smoothly as i can, because i've been tryign to avoid warping the rotors. i don't think having steel rims helps much as i bet airflow to the rotors is less than with aluminum rims

 

[308nato]

Most all GM vehicles feature rotors which don't have enough metal to make a good razor blade. They are basically made at damn near the minimum thickness. Disposable; they aren't the only manufacturer either. They dispel heat not very well at all hence the warpage. Brought to you by the need to get better gas mileage through weight reduction.

With these thin rotors you MUST use a torque wrench and the proper sequence to tighten the lugs. Just by putting the wheel on without doing this your rotor may warp the first time it gets warm.

 

[iamwiz82]

i have never warped a rotor, neither has my father, who has been driving almost 50 years. Then again, i dont ride my brakes, and my rims are pretty well adapted to airflow.

 

[RayH]

It may not help in all cases, but using a torque wrench on the wheels and tightening to spec and not over can help prevent warped rotors.

If there's uneven brake pad wear, make sure brake calipers move freely on guides and pistons in the calipers are not seizing.

 

[Aceman]

Wheel vibrates when braking on that car..............ROTORS! Get the pads replaced and the rotors turned before it's too late

 

[N8Magic]

My old '95 Cavalier Z24 would practically eat brake rotors. I had to get them replaced or machined every 12-15,000km. My new VW doesn't seem to have that problem, but it has rear discs as well... maybe it distributes the braking more evenly with rear discs?

 

[amnesiac]

I ditched my craptastic 1995 GMC Jimmy 3 years ago and I STILL get recall notices every couple months.

GM can suck an egg and go to hell for all I care. Shoddy parts, shoddy build, shoddy service. I'm glad I bought an American truck this time around (my 2000 Toyota Tundra) instead of a Mexican one.

 

[RGN]

My 93 Maxima has teh original set - with 99,49x miles on it. Next brake job, I'll have to get new ones.

 

[Bignate603]

just one

 

[Bignate603]

oh, those were on a van though

 

[Ornery]

Hah! My rotors are almost 1.25" thick. I can't even picture one of those things warping!

Some of these new cars use thin rotors that look like something that belongs on a motorcycle. No wonder they're prone to warping!

 

[StageLeft]

Hmm never. I put 25k miles on a subaru impreza 2000 on the original set, 8000miles on an 89 accord I had and so far 5000 miles on my current 93 sentra and none have had rotor problems.

 

[fatalbert]

0