Just a theory

L

LUXHTRD_54

Registered
Ok I have a theory. I just did brakes not 5 months ago, the job included new pads (ceramic) and rotors (Brembos from Tire Rack) all around. The problem now is...you guessed it..wobble wobble. Here is my theory. From the manufacturer a rotor is said to be true in shape (although not always the case). Fine, now this new rotor has never been heated then cooled, heated then cooled and so on. As you all know when metal is heated it is prone to changing its shape. I know that not many people like to resurface rotors and it is recommended to buy new because less material=easier warping. But, the theory is this: The rotor has already been through the rigerous heating and cooling and now has a new shape, as warped as it may be Wouldn't you think that resurfacing this rotor would actually be better than buying a new one because you are resurfacing an already "tempered" piece of metal? I would think that this would only work once but will at least last longer than a lousy 5 months and be cheaper than new rotors.

Any thoughts or experiences?

Sorry for the long post, this forum hasn't had some action in a while anyway.
 
RE: Just a theory

if they're not below the minimum thickness, just cut them and reuse them.

I buy NAPA rotors, they're premium variety (they have two choices). I bought a set about two years ago, and they were just starting to warp last summer/fall (50+ dragstrip passes, plus testing on the street, will do that). The ceramic pads were even starting to crack (i guess they don't like being heated until they smoke). NAPA replaced the pads for free, and i got them to replace the rotors too, since they sold me brazilian ones when they were supposed to be made in north america.
 
RE: Just a theory

Dang it!! I just got a set of Brembos thinking they will be better than the ones i got from Kragen before. Sigh another 90$ out the window.
 
RE: Just a theory

Sleeper, I took your advice and went the same way. Napa (premium) and ceramics. I too have just started to warp, but it is the longest time between pads. Those pads are great. Are Napa rotor guaranteed not to warp?
 
RE: Just a theory

I bought the cheapest I could find, pads and rotors, ran me around $120 if I remember correctly. I believe it was in the Summer of 2000. Not one single problem since. :) Unless you spend BIG amounts of dough on your brakes, you aren't going to see much improvement over stock (IMHO).

As far as your theory is concerned, it does make sense. I always resurface if possible.

Kale
 
RE: Just a theory

No, NAPA doesn't warranty them against warpage. I just found, like you, that they last pretty long without warping. I'd turn them and toss them back on, if they're just starting to warp.

It took me some finagling to get them to replace my rotors for free. My primary complaint was that the pad is warrantied by NAPA, and one of the backing plates had slid down and started cutting into the hat on the rotor, making it unsafe. I was trying to get them to replace the rotor(s) based on that. In the end they ended up replacing them because they were made in brazil, and they said it on the box and on the rotors, and the guy at NAPA knew that that rotor was supposed to be made in the US or Canada, and that they use different steel in Brazil. So he replaced them based on that, with rotors that said "made in Canada" on them. The pads were only minimally worn, but they had the beginnings of cracks running through the friction material, so i had them replace those under warranty too. There wasn't any chunks missing or anything, and i tried to split it open at one of the cracks without any success, so i doubt the cracking on the pads was a problem though. But they have a lifetime warranty, and they're not supposed to do that, so i had them replace them. I of course omitted the part about how i treat my brakes.
 
RE: Just a theory

You may be right. I bought my 95 Mark in 97 with 38k on it. After a couple of hard stops, the rotors warped. I took them to Autozone to get them turned, but they were too thin. I bought Autozone rotors. In no time it seemed they warped. I took them back and they informed me that the warranty does not include warping. They did turn them for free. I watched them being machined and the lathe was cutting off metal to get them flat again. That was a long time ago. I have tried to brake easily since then and I have not had problems since then. I now have 94k on the car. Sometimes I notice a very very slight vibration when braking. I haven't bought pads yet. I reused the ones on the car. They looked new when I installed the Autozone rotors.

Roadie
95 Champagne Mark VIII
00 Ford F150 Supercab 4x4
02 Mazda Protege
86 Chevy Monte Carlo SS
81 Honda CB900C
 
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