Pretty sure I warped my rotors

Solus · 09-17-2009, 10:13 PM

I go driving in the mountains and play around a lot with a good bit of pretty hard braking. I noticed now when i brake if I am not laying on the brakes the whole car shakes, pretty sure I warped my rotors

Island_370 · 09-17-2009, 10:31 PM

99% of time, it is not warped rotors but rather uneven pad deposits. You can try a brake pad bedding process to see if it smooths out. Or in a few days (or weeks if the pads are not aggressive) the pedal feel should smooth out.

When you use the brakes hard, try to avoid being stationary with the brakes on....easier in a manual. But try to keep creeping slowly rather than come to a complete stop.

Trapping a lot of heat from the rotors in one place under pressure of the pads is VERY bad.

bigaudiofanat · 09-17-2009, 10:49 PM

I agree I doubt you warped them. I do the same thing with my civic and it smooths out over a few hours of normal driving.

M.Bonanni · 09-17-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island_370

99% of time, it is not warped rotors but rather uneven pad deposits. You can try a brake pad bedding process to see if it smooths out. Or in a few days (or weeks if the pads are not aggressive) the pedal feel should smooth out.

When you use the brakes hard, try to avoid being stationary with the brakes on....easier in a manual. But try to keep creeping slowly rather than come to a complete stop.

Trapping a lot of heat from the rotors in one place under pressure of the pads is VERY bad.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Cjanik · 09-18-2009, 12:01 AM

it smooths out over a few hours of normal driving?

my last 4 cars all had the same issue. there's no way normal driving would remove it. I've always believed it to be from warping the rotors. if you suggest otherwise, please tell me how to cure this without getting them machined.

M.Bonanni · 09-18-2009, 02:06 AM

Most likely from overheating your stock pads as explained earlier. Only way to prevent it is to either stop driving so hard on them or upgrade to a pad with a higher operating temperature. To fix the problem you already have, your best bet would be to get the rotors turned and hope it fixes it.

ResIpsa · 09-18-2009, 10:54 AM

Another way of fixing this problem is getting a set of track pads and driving on the street for about a week.

I had horrible brake judder (aka warped rotors) on my G35 which I cured with a set of Porterfield R4 pads. On the street (when cold), the pads are abrasive and act in the same way as a brake lathe. After a week my rotors were shiny metal and when I switched back to my street pads the judder was gone.

There are some downsides to this method...

1. Track pads are very noisy. They don't squeal they howl. You will learn to time stop lights and use your parking brake to avoid embarrassing your self.

2. Track pads are very dirty. You thought early model brembo's were dirty? They were nothing compared to a track pad. And the brake dust pits the paint on your wheels.

3. Track pads are expensive. Considering that a brake lathe cost only around $50.

Come to think of it, unless you plan on tracking your car this is a bad idea.

kannibul · 09-18-2009, 01:59 PM

If your rotors were warped - you would hear it, feel it, and when a wheel car is off the ground, you'd hear it, feel it, and see it by spinning the tire.

Solus · 09-18-2009, 02:39 PM

I am going to go get them turned and see if that fixes it.. i sure hope so.. i always thought it was a good idea to brake kinda hard as opposed to riding them like most people do to keep it from getting uneven wear? I think it was just something I was told growing up and happened to be one of the very few things I never looked into myself to see if it was true...

kannibul · 09-18-2009, 03:25 PM

The amount of energy being dissipated will be the same...just over a long stop, there is more air resistance, rolling resistance and more chance for air cooling.

Still, that's pretty minimal.

Brake like you normally do. Chips fall where they may.

Modshack · 09-18-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island_370

99% of time, it is not warped rotors but rather uneven pad deposits. You can try a brake pad bedding process to see if it smooths out. Or in a few days (or weeks if the pads are not aggressive) the pedal feel should smooth out.

.

Next time it rains (like this weekend) go out and do some pad bedding. I've found in the past, that some good hard wet stops will cure some of the transfer juddering...

Namir · 09-18-2009, 03:42 PM

Jack your car up, spin the front wheels, listen/look/feel. If your rotors are badly warped you will hear and feel contact with the pad and they will probably stop spinning.
You could also have poor alignment that just becomes more pronounced under braking, or a problem with a wheel bearing.

Solus · 09-18-2009, 04:05 PM

well i don't think its the alignment or a bearing because it rides perfectly fine but it is a very huge juddering when i brake..

iceman21_23 · 09-18-2009, 05:25 PM

did you break the pads in properly? just out of curiosity

Solus · 09-18-2009, 06:19 PM

i babied this car for the first 5000 miles or so with the exception of 2-3 nights at the local drag strip then i started taking it to deals gap etc

09-17-2009, 10:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Solus Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 453 Drives: 2009 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 16	Pretty sure I warped my rotors I go driving in the mountains and play around a lot with a good bit of pretty hard braking. I noticed now when i brake if I am not laying on the brakes the whole car shakes, pretty sure I warped my rotors

09-17-2009, 10:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Island_370 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 228 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z SR M6 Rep Power: 16	99% of time, it is not warped rotors but rather uneven pad deposits. You can try a brake pad bedding process to see if it smooths out. Or in a few days (or weeks if the pads are not aggressive) the pedal feel should smooth out. When you use the brakes hard, try to avoid being stationary with the brakes on....easier in a manual. But try to keep creeping slowly rather than come to a complete stop. Trapping a lot of heat from the rotors in one place under pressure of the pads is VERY bad. __________________ Autobahn Country Club (North and South Tracks), Blackhawk Farms, Grattan, Gingerman, Mid-Ohio, Putnam Park, Road America, Sears Point, Thunderhill, VIR and "The Ring"

09-17-2009, 10:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	I agree I doubt you warped them. I do the same thing with my civic and it smooths out over a few hours of normal driving. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

09-18-2009, 02:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1320	Most likely from overheating your stock pads as explained earlier. Only way to prevent it is to either stop driving so hard on them or upgrade to a pad with a higher operating temperature. To fix the problem you already have, your best bet would be to get the rotors turned and hope it fixes it. __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

09-18-2009, 10:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
ResIpsa Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 564 Drives: 09 RACING HEN Rep Power: 338	Track Pads Another way of fixing this problem is getting a set of track pads and driving on the street for about a week. I had horrible brake judder (aka warped rotors) on my G35 which I cured with a set of Porterfield R4 pads. On the street (when cold), the pads are abrasive and act in the same way as a brake lathe. After a week my rotors were shiny metal and when I switched back to my street pads the judder was gone. There are some downsides to this method... 1. Track pads are very noisy. They don't squeal they howl. You will learn to time stop lights and use your parking brake to avoid embarrassing your self. 2. Track pads are very dirty. You thought early model brembo's were dirty? They were nothing compared to a track pad. And the brake dust pits the paint on your wheels. 3. Track pads are expensive. Considering that a brake lathe cost only around $50. Come to think of it, unless you plan on tracking your car this is a bad idea. __________________ The Reed Law Firm; Michael Fasano VA Attorney and Counselor at Law: A Virginia Traffic, Criminal, and Family Lawyer.https://reedlawva.com/

09-18-2009, 12:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
Cjanik Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 578 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 17	it smooths out over a few hours of normal driving? my last 4 cars all had the same issue. there's no way normal driving would remove it. I've always believed it to be from warping the rotors. if you suggest otherwise, please tell me how to cure this without getting them machined.

09-18-2009, 01:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
kannibul A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jenks, OK Posts: 2,281 Drives: 370z Touring/Sport Rep Power: 267	If your rotors were warped - you would hear it, feel it, and when a wheel car is off the ground, you'd hear it, feel it, and see it by spinning the tire.

09-18-2009, 02:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
Solus Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 453 Drives: 2009 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 16	I am going to go get them turned and see if that fixes it.. i sure hope so.. i always thought it was a good idea to brake kinda hard as opposed to riding them like most people do to keep it from getting uneven wear? I think it was just something I was told growing up and happened to be one of the very few things I never looked into myself to see if it was true...

09-18-2009, 03:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
kannibul A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jenks, OK Posts: 2,281 Drives: 370z Touring/Sport Rep Power: 267	The amount of energy being dissipated will be the same...just over a long stop, there is more air resistance, rolling resistance and more chance for air cooling. Still, that's pretty minimal. Brake like you normally do. Chips fall where they may.

09-18-2009, 03:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
Namir Track Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: OH and VA Posts: 627 Drives: 09 G37S 6MT Rep Power: 255	Jack your car up, spin the front wheels, listen/look/feel. If your rotors are badly warped you will hear and feel contact with the pad and they will probably stop spinning. You could also have poor alignment that just becomes more pronounced under braking, or a problem with a wheel bearing. __________________ Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in. G37S\|6MT\|PREM\|NAV\|Eibach\|Ichibia\|Injen

09-18-2009, 04:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
Solus Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 453 Drives: 2009 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 16	well i don't think its the alignment or a bearing because it rides perfectly fine but it is a very huge juddering when i brake..

09-18-2009, 05:25 PM	#14 (permalink)
iceman21_23 Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: league city, tx Posts: 757 Drives: 09' Solid Red 370z Rep Power: 17	did you break the pads in properly? just out of curiosity

09-18-2009, 06:19 PM	#15 (permalink)
Solus Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 453 Drives: 2009 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 16	i babied this car for the first 5000 miles or so with the exception of 2-3 nights at the local drag strip then i started taking it to deals gap etc

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