brake pulsation
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 156
Likes: 8
brake pulsation
brakes are pulsating when slowing at lower speeds . 04 Convert has 40,000 miles, no hard braking. The dealer said about a month ago the pads were going to need replacing in a few months. I have had bad luck with turning rotors on other cars as they pulsate in a few weeks due to being thin, I think. Could it be just the pads? The rotors look smooth with no burnt spots or oil. Should I replace the rotors if needed rather than turning them?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 11
From: Newport, RI
I've had this problem on MANY vehicles. It was solved every single time with new rotors. Sometimes I tried turning the rotors, and that worked for a little while. But the problem seemed to quickly re-appear. So, I would recommend you buy new rotors.
Just my $.02, of course...................
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Just my $.02, of course...................
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: Arden NC
brakes are pulsating when slowing at lower speeds . 04 Convert has 40,000 miles, no hard braking. The dealer said about a month ago the pads were going to need replacing in a few months. I have had bad luck with turning rotors on other cars as they pulsate in a few weeks due to being thin, I think. Could it be just the pads? The rotors look smooth with no burnt spots or oil. Should I replace the rotors if needed rather than turning them?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Here's my story and permanent solution to this very issue......
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ulsations.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ulsations.html
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Not had the problem on the Vette but new rotors fixed the same issue on my son's Camaro. I had tham skimmed for a start but it took new rotors to finally fix it.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
Turning rotors does nothing but buy time, and it is only a cheaper solution to doing the correct thing which is buying new rotors.
When you turn a rotor, you remove metal and thickness. Less metal thickness to absorb and disapate heat = quicker warping.
I had this problem on my '95 full size chevy truck. I went from driving an S10 which doesn't weigh nearly as much, to driving the full size truck. When I would try to stop, it took alot longer and alot more pedal pressure to get it to stop like my little truck. After going through brakes and rotors about every 5 months while daily driving it I see that the issue was the weight of the truck. All the hard braking and the brakes trying to stop what was basicly a train ruined my rotors. I had them turned once or twice, but I don't even bother now. Just buy new ones. That is your best bet. While you are there you might as well stick on new pads.
When you turn a rotor, you remove metal and thickness. Less metal thickness to absorb and disapate heat = quicker warping.
I had this problem on my '95 full size chevy truck. I went from driving an S10 which doesn't weigh nearly as much, to driving the full size truck. When I would try to stop, it took alot longer and alot more pedal pressure to get it to stop like my little truck. After going through brakes and rotors about every 5 months while daily driving it I see that the issue was the weight of the truck. All the hard braking and the brakes trying to stop what was basicly a train ruined my rotors. I had them turned once or twice, but I don't even bother now. Just buy new ones. That is your best bet. While you are there you might as well stick on new pads.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: Arden NC
Here's a pretty good article on brake pulsing.
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...rakedisk.shtml
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...rakedisk.shtml
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
Pulsating is most often caused by pad build up on the rotors. It is very rare that a rotor is actually warped.
Most often "warped rotors" are a statement brakes shops use to get you to buy new rotors.
If a shop tells you they are warped make him put a dial indicator on it and show you. Or just pull your caliper off and rig up a simple bracket to hold the indicator and turn the rotor on the spindle to see if it has any run out.
Drilled under everyday street use are perfectly OK if you are not hard on you brakes. Not recommended for track cars.
Myself and lots of other Forum Members have used have used DS rotors for years with no cracking or other problems.
Most often "warped rotors" are a statement brakes shops use to get you to buy new rotors.
If a shop tells you they are warped make him put a dial indicator on it and show you. Or just pull your caliper off and rig up a simple bracket to hold the indicator and turn the rotor on the spindle to see if it has any run out.
Drilled under everyday street use are perfectly OK if you are not hard on you brakes. Not recommended for track cars.
Myself and lots of other Forum Members have used have used DS rotors for years with no cracking or other problems.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
I'd suggest trying to "clean" the rotors off by doing some real hard braking. Same procedure as seating in new pads. If the rotors do have material built up on them, the hard braking may get rid of it and give you a smoother stop. When you do get them good and hot, don't hold the brakes on when you've come to a stop. Let the rotors cool off by driving for a few miles without using your brakes.
Doesn't cost anything to try it!
RonJ ...
Doesn't cost anything to try it!
RonJ ...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 4
From: NW Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 2
From: Humble TX
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
Here's a pretty good article on brake pulsing.
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...rakedisk.shtml
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...rakedisk.shtml
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
If you never brake hard, it could be build up.
Our Impala brakes started pulsing, and on a weekend trip I had to apply the brakes hard at highway speed to avoid a merging car. Brakes smoothed out.
On another GM car though, I had the rotors turned and the problem came back. I bought new Wagner rotors and the problem never returned.
Our Impala brakes started pulsing, and on a weekend trip I had to apply the brakes hard at highway speed to avoid a merging car. Brakes smoothed out.
On another GM car though, I had the rotors turned and the problem came back. I bought new Wagner rotors and the problem never returned.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
The "bedding in" procedure may work, but it is far easier to get a set of slotted rotors and be done with it - no painstaking bedding procedure, no periodic slamming of the brakes, and NO pulsations from uneven deposits - EVER. It's an easy fix.
