Brake Rotors
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 169
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From: Columbus GA
Brake Rotors
I have been very unhappy with my 2002 coupe brake rotors. They were out of round within a few weeks of getting the car so the dealer turned them. However, in a couple of weeks they were "pulsing" again. This time the (a week ago) the dealer replaced the front rotors with what he says is a new design that is thicker. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this "new design" theory? Why do they put rotors on a peformance car that get out of round so easily?
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 483
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From: Austin Tx
Re: Brake Rotors (DanielJordan)
Notwithstanding the poor materials quality of GM Vette Rotors, It is the job of the driver to avoid warping the rotors!
After a heat loading cycle (rapid deceleration) the rotor assumes a warped shape; it has to!, the outer part of the rotor is much hotter than the inner part, this causes it to expand, since the inner part does not expand, poof, it is warped. However, the warp will go away if the rotor is left to cool without any strees being applied. This means:
A) don't hold the brakes at a stop sign or light, be in neutral (yes even autos should be shifted into neutral, manuals should be in neutral clutch pedal out)
B) don't use the parking brake for at least 5 minutes after coming to a stop
C) If you cannot avoid heating the brakes, stop 20 feet early and creap up on the stoplight at 0.2 MPH allowing each section of the rotor equal access to cooling air.
D) quit driving hard 5 minutes before arriving at your destination
After a heat loading cycle (rapid deceleration) the rotor assumes a warped shape; it has to!, the outer part of the rotor is much hotter than the inner part, this causes it to expand, since the inner part does not expand, poof, it is warped. However, the warp will go away if the rotor is left to cool without any strees being applied. This means:
A) don't hold the brakes at a stop sign or light, be in neutral (yes even autos should be shifted into neutral, manuals should be in neutral clutch pedal out)
B) don't use the parking brake for at least 5 minutes after coming to a stop
C) If you cannot avoid heating the brakes, stop 20 feet early and creap up on the stoplight at 0.2 MPH allowing each section of the rotor equal access to cooling air.
D) quit driving hard 5 minutes before arriving at your destination
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington DE
Re: Brake Rotors (DanielJordan)
Daniel, GM did make heavy duty rotors a year or so ago, but they are no longer available. The stock GM rotors are fine for "normal" driving and should not warp if you follow the advice of the previous post. Another thing, make sure all the bolts are torqued to the same Ft-pounds of torque (90 to 100 is fine).
Jim
Jim
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Re: Brake Rotors (Jim 47)
Being easy on the brakes can lead to pulsing. I have worn out several sets of C5 rotors over the last 6 years but have never warped any. I didn't worry about keeping my foot off the brake after a quick stop at a traffic light either (street stops even at the bottom of some steep hills just don't build a lot of heat).
Bill
Bill
