This may sound like a stupid question but here goes, is it possible for brake rotors to warp due to lack of use ? I can understand heat due to hard brakeage causing the rotors to warp but how would lack of use cause it. Any experts out there?

 

Don't know about that.... but I've been told that overtightening the lugs can cause a rotor to warp..

 

You wouldn't think so, but I've had problems with the rotors becoming warped on my '04 Monte when it sat nearly most last summer because I was driving the Vettes more. Also had a similar problem a few years back w/the Buick. Must be a "General" thing .

 

Yes, it can happen, sort of. If the car is driven hard and the rotors are hot when parked, the area between the pads cools slower and can actually melt a little of the pad material which causes a high spot on the rotor. The longer the cars sits, the more tenaciously the pad material can stick.

If the car sits a long time the exposed area can rust where the area under the pads does not, which can also be felt as warpage if the rust accumaltion on part of the wheel is sigmificantly more than the rest.

Both conditions will also be worse if the lugs are over-torqued or torqued unevenly.

Heres a great article with info on brake warping:

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

 

Great info

 

Brake rotors DO NOT warp. The inner and outer rotor surfaces can become "out of parallel" if the wheel does not fit flush to the hub, or if there is sufficient hub bearing lateral run out, or if the wheel is not torqued properly.

Any brake rotor surface oxidation will be removed after just a few moderate brake applications.

 

Thanks guys, this forum is fantastic!

 

You're welcome and now, a word from our sponsor ............... Ralph the dog. Arf

 

That was true when the hub and rotor were one piece, but not today.