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Rotors warped?

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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 03:56 PM
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sprinklerguy's Avatar
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Rotors warped?

From reading and searching on here....it sounds like it is a common problem

My brakes are pushing back at me when rolling very slow.....I assume this means my rotors are warped.

Has anyone come up with a fix.....different rotors that match up and last longer and brake better?

Thanks in advance.
 
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 05:20 PM
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Many people like the cryo treated rotors, I have had excellent luck with the Brembo replacement rotors. They're a little cheaper than the cryo'd and have cured warping problems on several vehicles.

http://www.tirerack.com/affiliates/l...sp?AFFCODE=BL9
 
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 06:35 PM
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I have heard not to wash your truck or car while the rotors are hot. I guess the claim is that cold water on hot rotors causes them to warp. I don't know if that is true or not.
 
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 07:21 PM
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I don't know if washing them would really do it. Seems kind of iffy you would be getting your rotors that hot and suddenly washing your car.

I think you have more chances driving through puddles or high water. Snow for that matter.

But, with how cruddy these rotors are.....I guess you can't rule out anything.

I too bought the Brembro rotors. I still have a clunk/tap on the drivers side with every wheel revolution. It is totally better than it was.
I think I will yank them off and have them cut just in case.

I read on a post that even brand new rotors will likely need surfacing....
Depending on how long since your last brake job..it may be a chore to get the old rotors off.
 
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 08:02 PM
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it clunks/taps whenever it's rolling or just under breaking? You need to make sure that the lug nut get torqued correctly/evenly too.

It never went away even with new rotors? Even at first? But it got better?

Scuffing them up maybe, I've never had to turn a new rotor though.
 
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 09:16 PM
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I took off both tires and checked the rotors and pads. I then put the tires back on. Hmmmm, I think I'll rotate the tires just incase. I'll retorque but I don't think that is it....
 
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 10:16 PM
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Well, the torquing needs to be correct from when they are first installed.

So i hear, unevenly/improperly torqued nuts can lead to warping problems. If they're already warped though, re torquing them isn't going to cure it.

I'm still curious about the other question above though. Thanks
 
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Old Mar 16, 2007 | 11:16 AM
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I was told that the rotors warp due to heat. My 97 F-150 had this 'pulse' when applying brakes that was really noticeable right before the truck came to a stop.

I had the front rotors turned along with new brake pads and that cured the problem for several years. Just recently the brakes started the same thing and new pads along with having the rotors turned fixed it. The next go round will require new rotors I'm sure.
 
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Old Mar 16, 2007 | 11:23 AM
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I feel it is a mistake to ever turn rotors now. They start out too thin to begin with and turning them just makes them more prone to warp. If they're warped, get good quality replacements and torque the wheels to spec.
 
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Old Mar 16, 2007 | 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by tdister
I have had excellent luck with the Brembo replacement rotors. They're a little cheaper
I have the Brembo OEM replacement rotors and Hawk LTS pads on my truck, love the combo.
 
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Old Mar 16, 2007 | 01:49 PM
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Yes it's because of heat, but there are usually going to be other factors when talking normal street use. From the incorrect torquing to heating too fast/unevenly, cooling to fast/unevenly or, what I suspect is often a bigger part of the equation, poor quality metal and/or manufacturing in OE rotors.

The metal qualities really stick out in my mind from my experiences. Warping several OE rotors on different vehicles and not ever having it happen again with the above rotors (same size and design, not slotted/drilled, just OE style replacements) will do that. Not that I've had the metals tested for grade or anything, but I have a hard time believing they aren't of a better quality.
 
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Old Mar 16, 2007 | 02:16 PM
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rotors

i worked in auto shop in high school for 4 yrs then worked in various mechanic shops from then till now. ive turned a few rotors in my life and ive come to the conclusion that it is just as cheap and faster to buy new ones that worry with havin the old ones turned the new ones will last you longer than the ones you had turned and next time you get new brakes your just gonna have to buy new ones anyway so why not just save the hastle and buy new ones to begin with
 
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