Break Problems
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 127
Likes: 1
From: Yorba Linda, CA,,,USA
Break Problems
I've had my 2001 C5 for about 16 months. After I reached 8000 miles, I had to have the rotors replaced due to severely pulsating breaks. I have about 16000 mile on it now, and I have the same problem. My wife primarily drives this car for to and from work transportation. I doubt if she is encountering any instances where she would have to break hard enough to warp the rotors. The first set was replaced under warranty. I am told that it is GMs policy to only replace one set. Does any one know what causes this? I have never had this problem with any car I have owned. Also, if I purchase and install the GM slotted and drilled rotors, will this correct the problem?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,360
Likes: 1
From: DFW TX
Senior Member
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Break Problems (Jamn)
Maybe your wife drives more aggresive than you think?
If the rotors are warping abnormally and aren't being abused then something is causing them to heat up abnormally.
Are all the rotors doing it? Just the fronts? Both fronts? Were the pads changed, and were the brakes properly bleed? Perhaps they aren't fully disengaging and the rotors are getting heated up.
I have had severl stock rotors last me less than <10k miles but I do abuse them...
If the rotors are warping abnormally and aren't being abused then something is causing them to heat up abnormally.
Are all the rotors doing it? Just the fronts? Both fronts? Were the pads changed, and were the brakes properly bleed? Perhaps they aren't fully disengaging and the rotors are getting heated up.
I have had severl stock rotors last me less than <10k miles but I do abuse them...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 1
From: San Jose CA
Re: Break Problems (Jamn)
I had same problem. Replaced the rotors twice but warping came back every time. (even during a 3000 mile highway cruise on brand new rotors and virtually no braking))
Finally the problem was diagnosed that the brake booster had a problem. This lead to the brake pads constantly rubbing the rotors, heating them up.
After replacing the brake booster and front rotors, problem never came back. (over 55000 miles now)
Oh, and I got the new disks under warranty because it was due to a faillure of the booster. (GM was aware of this problem)
Hope this helps
Roger
Finally the problem was diagnosed that the brake booster had a problem. This lead to the brake pads constantly rubbing the rotors, heating them up.
After replacing the brake booster and front rotors, problem never came back. (over 55000 miles now)
Oh, and I got the new disks under warranty because it was due to a faillure of the booster. (GM was aware of this problem)
Hope this helps
Roger
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 127
Likes: 1
From: Yorba Linda, CA,,,USA
Re: Break Problems (rhoeven)
Rhoeven:
How did you (or the dealer) come to the conclusion that you had a brake boster problem? I also heard thet this was a problem for 02s.
How did you (or the dealer) come to the conclusion that you had a brake boster problem? I also heard thet this was a problem for 02s.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Re: Break Problems (Jamn)
I had similar problems with rotors when I bought my used 97 and replaced all pads and rotors. As a precautionary measure I ensure the bolts are torqued on correctly (100 ft-lb)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 1
From: San Jose CA
Re: Break Problems (Jamn)
Rhoeven:
How did you (or the dealer) come to the conclusion that you had a brake boster problem? I also heard thet this was a problem for 02s.
How did you (or the dealer) come to the conclusion that you had a brake boster problem? I also heard thet this was a problem for 02s.
The dealer contacted GM technical dept. and they recommended to replace the brake booster and install new rotors at the same time. Both items got replaced under warranty but I had to pay for the brake pads. (which was OK for me)
Never had any problems since.
I hope this solves your issue too. Good luck
Roger
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 1
From: Richmond Ca
Re: Break Problems (Jamn)
I've had my 2001 C5 for about 16 months. After I reached 8000 miles, I had to have the rotors replaced due to severely pulsating breaks. I have about 16000 mile on it now, and I have the same problem. My wife primarily drives this car for to and from work transportation. I doubt if she is encountering any instances where she would have to break hard enough to warp the rotors. The first set was replaced under warranty. I am told that it is GMs policy to only replace one set. Does any one know what causes this? I have never had this problem with any car I have owned. Also, if I purchase and install the GM slotted and drilled rotors, will this correct the problem?
That leaves driving habits. Hard braking does not warp rotors, cooking them does. Does your wife's driving habits include riding the brakes? If you heat them (rotors) up them sit at traffic likes with the brakes applied they'll warp. Is there a long downhill on the way to/from work with a traffic light at the bottom?
Look for situations where the rotors are heated up then either the brakes are applied for a period, or the brakes are heated up then the car is parked immediately without cooling the rotors down.
Good Luck.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Erial NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Break Problems (Jamn)
Here is my brake warping story. Bought my car used with 21,000 miles and a rear rotor was warped. I lived with it until 44,000 miles. One of the rear wheels was way overtorqued. Coincidence? I don't know, but doubt it.
At around 44,000 miles, I replaced all 4 rotors and all four sets of brake pads. At 56,000 miles there was a very slight pulsing, which once again seemed to be from the rear. Then, just a few weeks ago, I took the car to a road course where I performed repeated 95+ MPH to 40 MPH (or less) hard braking. I had fully expected the slight pulsing to get worse as had been the case with the original rotors when they got hot. Guess what? The brakes have never been smoother than they are now. There is no hint of pulsing whatsoever. I'll have to see how they hold up over many months of driving around town. Maybe what we consider easy braking isn't as easy on the rotors as we think?
At around 44,000 miles, I replaced all 4 rotors and all four sets of brake pads. At 56,000 miles there was a very slight pulsing, which once again seemed to be from the rear. Then, just a few weeks ago, I took the car to a road course where I performed repeated 95+ MPH to 40 MPH (or less) hard braking. I had fully expected the slight pulsing to get worse as had been the case with the original rotors when they got hot. Guess what? The brakes have never been smoother than they are now. There is no hint of pulsing whatsoever. I'll have to see how they hold up over many months of driving around town. Maybe what we consider easy braking isn't as easy on the rotors as we think?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Re: Break Problems (NassauBlue)
Here is my brake warping story. Bought my car used with 21,000 miles and a rear rotor was warped. I lived with it until 44,000 miles. One of the rear wheels was way overtorqued. Coincidence? I don't know, but doubt it.
At around 44,000 miles, I replaced all 4 rotors and all four sets of brake pads. At 56,000 miles there was a very slight pulsing, which once again seemed to be from the rear. Then, just a few weeks ago, I took the car to a road course where I performed repeated 95+ MPH to 40 MPH (or less) hard braking. I had fully expected the slight pulsing to get worse as had been the case with the original rotors when they got hot. Guess what? The brakes have never been smoother than they are now. There is no hint of pulsing whatsoever. I'll have to see how they hold up over many months of driving around town. Maybe what we consider easy braking isn't as easy on the rotors as we think?
At around 44,000 miles, I replaced all 4 rotors and all four sets of brake pads. At 56,000 miles there was a very slight pulsing, which once again seemed to be from the rear. Then, just a few weeks ago, I took the car to a road course where I performed repeated 95+ MPH to 40 MPH (or less) hard braking. I had fully expected the slight pulsing to get worse as had been the case with the original rotors when they got hot. Guess what? The brakes have never been smoother than they are now. There is no hint of pulsing whatsoever. I'll have to see how they hold up over many months of driving around town. Maybe what we consider easy braking isn't as easy on the rotors as we think?
My opinion is that most pulsing has nothing to do with rotors warping. Most has to do with brake pad material building up on the rotors. This would appear to be what happened in your case, and you finally got them hot enough and scrped hard enough to clean the rotors.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 1
From: Richmond Ca
Re: Break Problems (Richin Chicago)
Here is my brake warping story. Bought my car used with 21,000 miles and a rear rotor was warped. I lived with it until 44,000 miles. One of the rear wheels was way overtorqued. Coincidence? I don't know, but doubt it.
At around 44,000 miles, I replaced all 4 rotors and all four sets of brake pads. At 56,000 miles there was a very slight pulsing, which once again seemed to be from the rear. Then, just a few weeks ago, I took the car to a road course where I performed repeated 95+ MPH to 40 MPH (or less) hard braking. I had fully expected the slight pulsing to get worse as had been the case with the original rotors when they got hot. Guess what? The brakes have never been smoother than they are now. There is no hint of pulsing whatsoever. I'll have to see how they hold up over many months of driving around town. Maybe what we consider easy braking isn't as easy on the rotors as we think?
My opinion is that most pulsing has nothing to do with rotors warping. Most has to do with brake pad material building up on the rotors. This would appear to be what happened in your case, and you finally got them hot enough and scrped hard enough to clean the rotors.
At around 44,000 miles, I replaced all 4 rotors and all four sets of brake pads. At 56,000 miles there was a very slight pulsing, which once again seemed to be from the rear. Then, just a few weeks ago, I took the car to a road course where I performed repeated 95+ MPH to 40 MPH (or less) hard braking. I had fully expected the slight pulsing to get worse as had been the case with the original rotors when they got hot. Guess what? The brakes have never been smoother than they are now. There is no hint of pulsing whatsoever. I'll have to see how they hold up over many months of driving around town. Maybe what we consider easy braking isn't as easy on the rotors as we think?
My opinion is that most pulsing has nothing to do with rotors warping. Most has to do with brake pad material building up on the rotors. This would appear to be what happened in your case, and you finally got them hot enough and scrped hard enough to clean the rotors.
[Modified by wwashing, 9:36 AM 8/14/2002]
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 127
Likes: 1
From: Yorba Linda, CA,,,USA
Re: Break Problems (wwashing)
I may go to the dealer with the brake booster theory. I have noticed a huge amount of brake dust on the rims after driving for only about 30 miles or so. After a week of light driving, the rims are black, and the rear of the car also has brake dust on it. I'll keep you posted on the outcome.
