Why do the rotors warp?

AndysGX · 05-15-2010, 12:50 AM

Did we ever figure this out? Is the car too heavy, or the lug nut torque specs too high....?
Factory rotors warped, so my 'ho got GM replacements. Those warped so it got Powerslots. Those warped so it got eBay cheapies. Those warped so it got Duralast Golds. Those are warped.
Are there ANY rotors that will last longer than 12-15 months of daily driving?? No, I don't want the giant brake kit, just a badass stock size.

Redog · 05-15-2010, 12:57 AM

Parts just wear out, it just happens.

I usually get about 20 to 26 months out of rotors, how hard are you braking? and if your doing stock style rotors, why are you not getting them cut?

cavaliers60 · 05-15-2010, 12:59 AM

I think it just happens, especially if you are heavy on the brakes. I just got my front ones replaced not to long ago. Only advice I can give is try braking not as hard and start sooner. It seems to work well for me. The only reason mine got warped the last time was because some idiot in a van slammed on his brakes in front of me for no reason, and we were on a highway. The car shook ever since. Feels good to have a shake free stop.

AndysGX · 05-15-2010, 01:23 AM

I'm a cheap ass, so I wait too long and they end up beyond turning.

Also being a cheap ass, I'm a hyper-miler wannabe, so I do time lights & such in order to brake as little as possible. My wife has a Mustang that is 400 lbs heavier, same driving conditions, her factory rotors are 6 years old and work fine.

Is there any benefit to expensive rotors like Brembo & Stillen? Or is it all stopping power with no durability?

cavaliers60 · 05-15-2010, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndysGX

I'm a cheap ass, so I wait too long and they end up beyond turning.

Also being a cheap ass, I'm a hyper-miler wannabe, so I do time lights & such in order to brake as little as possible. My wife has a Mustang that is 400 lbs heavier, same driving conditions, her factory rotors are 6 years old and work fine.

Is there any benefit to expensive rotors like Brembo & Stillen? Or is it all stopping power with no durability?

By that, you mean you wait as long as you can before braking? If that's the case, you probably ARE braking to hard. Our cars aren't the best with rotors. Buying more expensive rotors probably won't help at all.

whiterider00 · 05-15-2010, 01:56 AM

i must have gotten ridiculously lucky with the random ebay brand rotors and pads i bought 3 years ago. ive gone a little over 40k on some off brand pads, and no name d/s rotors, and just now im going to have to change pads. rotors are fine tho. no warp at alli resally dont know what causes it, but seeing as its happened across many different brands of rotors, im going to assume its something on the car. dont know what, but thats what i would assume.

Weazel · 05-15-2010, 04:14 AM

How much is it to get the rotors cut? My rears are beyond cutting, but I've had them for over 2 years and the way they looked I'm sure they were on my car a lot longer than that (I've only had her for 2~ years). With the cheap price of rotors, is it really worth the time and money? Because let's not forget, time = money.

cherrington17 · 05-15-2010, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavaliers60

By that, you mean you wait as long as you can before braking? If that's the case, you probably ARE braking to hard. Our cars aren't the best with rotors. Buying more expensive rotors probably won't help at all.

it means he coasts as long as possible before braking very lightly. (i do the same when i can)

my brakes warp due to temp. almost ALWAYS in the winter one hard brake (due to idiots who can't drive in snow) with cold brakes almost always warps them.

but the other bad thing is, my rotors ALWAYS rust apart. the inner fins and outer rim rust to hell in under a year.

. Like redog... i usually get a full year, almost 2 if i'm lucky.

zzyzzx · 05-15-2010, 08:26 AM

Rotors warp easily on these cars????
I have to admit on mine, which only has 26K miles on it I am already wondering what was causing that.

So some of you are just changing them out without even changing the pads?

Obligatory pic:

Maybe you should stop buying Chinese rotors.

cherrington17 · 05-15-2010, 08:31 AM

considering the pic... i apparently always buy chinese rotors. Even the Bendix rotors i got, were the same as the one on the left.

So where do I find the ones on the right?

comanche · 05-15-2010, 12:00 PM

There is a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) out in regards to adjusting angle of the rotor or something like that on these cars....

It's been 5 years since I've seen it...

Anyone know what I'm talking about??

Cliff8928 · 05-15-2010, 12:41 PM

Rotors don't really warp. It could be your driving style. If I ever got that vibration in my brakes I could make a firm stop and it would go away.

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...rakedisk.shtml

Banks860 · 05-15-2010, 04:07 PM

i went down to advance today to try to get driled an sloted roters but they didnt ave them..... what do i do?

cavaliers60 · 05-15-2010, 05:53 PM

Before I got mine changed a couple months ago, I last got them changed back in 2006. Have not been changed until this year, and I only replaced the front rotors with used ones that were machined. The pads that were on the rears were the same pads that were from 2006, and I changed my front pads 2 years ago. Don't see how anyone could be going through pads and rotors every 12-15 months.

Guess I'm a little too nice to my car. I try not to be to hard on the brakes. I want them to last a while.

[ion] C2 · 05-15-2010, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banks860

i went down to advance today to try to get driled an sloted roters but they didnt ave them..... what do i do?

Seriously? You think a chain store would carry drilled or slotted rotors?

Aleromod Upgrades > Performance > Brakes > Rotors

AndysGX · 05-15-2010, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrington17

it means he coasts as long as possible before braking very lightly.

This.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff8928

Rotors don't really warp. It could be your driving style. If I ever got that vibration in my brakes I could make a firm stop and it would go away.

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...rakedisk.shtml

That. Is an outstanding link. Thanks.
I'm gonna get some garnet paper and see how it goes. The local Home Depot doesn't have it, so i'm gonna try a lumber place Monday. I'll post the results, but hopefully its a $10 solution.....

Cliff8928 · 05-16-2010, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [ion] C2

Seriously? You think a chain store would carry drilled or slotted rotors?

Aleromod Upgrades > Performance > Brakes > Rotors

Not for the Alero, but some of the AutoZone stores do (or did?) carry Baer DecelarRotors

Daytona · 05-16-2010, 08:23 AM

Summit and Jeg's carry slotted rotors. I forget the brand Redog talked me into buying but they've been great on my car the past 2 years. Just don't buy ceramic pads, go for the regular pads. Ceramics don't wear or stop as well IMO (from personal experience), though maybe they do slightly help keep the rotors from wearing/warping prematurely..

lord2heart · 05-16-2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff8928

Rotors don't really warp. It could be your driving style. If I ever got that vibration in my brakes I could make a firm stop and it would go away.

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...rakedisk.shtml

is number 6 true on our cars?

Redog · 05-16-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daytona

Summit and Jeg's carry slotted rotors. I forget the brand Redog talked me into buying but they've been great on my car the past 2 years. Just don't buy ceramic pads, go for the regular pads. Ceramics don't wear or stop as well IMO (from personal experience), though maybe they do slightly help keep the rotors from wearing/warping prematurely..

It's the Summit name brand.

Cheap and awesome.

I get 2 years out of mine, rears have to be changed soon and they've been on the car for 4 years now.

I get the center hub powdercoated though. They rust in the middle (surface rust) and look like shit behind open spoke rims. That's just my .02 cents