rotors keep warping
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: denton tx
rotors keep warping
hey guys, anyone else have a case of this? im not extrememly hard on my brakes or anything but some how i keep getting warped rotors. anyone else have the problem? i machined my o.e. rotors a few times in the last year or 2 and so this time i just bought a new set. well about a month or so down the road its shuttering again. any ideas why it keeps doing this?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: northern mn
suprajztwenty
this is a guess but,calipers may not be letting loose all the way.Does it pull one way or the other when you are driving?Also do you get any road rumble when you are driving(I mean like wheel bearing sound)inner wheel bearings can go out,then brakes can rub and heat the rotors.
this is a guess but,calipers may not be letting loose all the way.Does it pull one way or the other when you are driving?Also do you get any road rumble when you are driving(I mean like wheel bearing sound)inner wheel bearings can go out,then brakes can rub and heat the rotors.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
I was using cheap rotors and even cheaper brake pads, the $10 dollar lifetime warranty jobs. They eat the rotors alive. They are impregnated with too much metal that take the rotor with it when the pad wears down. This time I went with cheap after market rotors, but I went back with OEM pads-$50 a set. So far, after 3000 miles I'm still good. Two other things can warp rotors as I understand it---overtightening the lugs and hitting a puddle of water after hard braking. I now torque the lugs to 85 foot-lbs. I also bled all four wheel cylinders thouroghly and it seemed to help the brake pedal firm up some.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 35
From: Kansas
Originally Posted by suprajztwenty
hey guys, anyone else have a case of this? im not extrememly hard on my brakes or anything but some how i keep getting warped rotors. anyone else have the problem? i machined my o.e. rotors a few times in the last year or 2 and so this time i just bought a new set. well about a month or so down the road its shuttering again. any ideas why it keeps doing this?
Stay away from the cheap rotors. A lot of these are Chinese made and
aren't worth the cheap price you paid for them. Stay away from the 'lifetime warranty' cheap pads that a lot of chain stores sell. Not only do they chew up the rotors, they STINK under hard usage. (literally!!)
If your Aerostar takes the directional rotors, make sure they are on the correct side. Don't put your right on the left or the left on the right. Torque the lug nuts to spec. Don't use an impact wrench like I still see a lot of shops using. Make sure the mating surface between the rotor and the wheel is clean. A small piece of dirt or rust between the wheel and the rotor can warp the rotor when the lug nuts are tightened.
The avoidance of puddles is good advice, just hard to follow.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,013
Likes: 205
From: SoCal
One other thing to be aware of is that the later models came with directional rotors. Their ventilation fins are curved to better expel air when turned in the proper direction. The proper direction is when the curved fins point backaward at the top of the rotor. It might be tempting to install them the other way, so that they scoop air inward when turning forward, but the way the vents work is by centrifugal force throwing the air outward. If they're installed thw wrong way, the air motion will be stalled, which will cause the rotors to overheat faster.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: The Show Me State
Guys,
I love this thread, 'cause we've all been here... I agree with all the mitigation strategies, but I can also state that the rotors will sometimes warp in spite of following best practices. I strongly feel that the rotors are too small for the vehicle, especially with what some of us ask of them. Do everything you can to help, but don't be surprised if it doesn't.
DadVan
I love this thread, 'cause we've all been here... I agree with all the mitigation strategies, but I can also state that the rotors will sometimes warp in spite of following best practices. I strongly feel that the rotors are too small for the vehicle, especially with what some of us ask of them. Do everything you can to help, but don't be surprised if it doesn't.
DadVan
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,013
Likes: 205
From: SoCal
I must agree with Dadvan; I griped about this before, but the brakes on the Aerostar are way too small. The way the caliper is part of the spindle, there is no easy way to replace it with something bigger from either another car or the aftermarket.
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
Ditto on the torquing. I used to think that my wrench hand was calibrated pretty well, but at least once a year I wound up having warped rotors -- not badly worn, just warped.
BUT, after I started torquing my wheels the problem went away.
Great thread. Real practical stuff from real people. The books don't cover that.
BUT, after I started torquing my wheels the problem went away.
Great thread. Real practical stuff from real people. The books don't cover that.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
KJNDIVER
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
37
Aug 19, 2020 11:24 PM
