Problem with warping my front brake rotors.

[STiedVR4Guy]

So when I first got my car a few years ago the brake rotors were ok but shortly after they began to warp.

Something leading up to this just for background (I have no idea if this has anything to do with it). I was beating on the car through some back roads with some nice S corners when I came over a hill and someone was rolling to a stop at the intersection, I wasn't sure if they were going to stop or not so I got on the brakes pretty hard (no tire screech or anything) and it sounded like a piece of metal popped and I could feel it in the brake pedal.

I could not find anything wrong with the car from just looking at it afterwards and the car seemed to brake just fine still.

So that being said. I warped my stock rotors which I assumed had just been used and old. I got the IPS street brake package (IPS Motorsports) which I installed and brakes were nice and smooth again.

Drove it around for quite a while no problems. A short time later I got some 5Zigen Fn0rc1 (or w/e they are called) wheels and installed those. Still no problems for a few months or so then they start to warp again. At this point I was not sure that the first ones were the issue so I got them turned and installed again (the stock rotors). Few months pass, warped again, rinse and repeat about 3 times now after turning both sets 2 times or so.

I know that turning the rotors may make them out of balance and they will be susceptible to warping more easily but after a few thousand miles that does not seem right.

SO all of that being said here are the few things I need to know.

1. Could the wheels that I got put an uneven surface on the rotor to the point that they are warping them? Note: I have had these on and off a few times and torque them to speck each time.

2. I believe I am missing the little spring-loaded piece of metal that sits between the 2 pins on the back of the calipers (can't remember if its both sides or just one). Could this be the thing that I hear "pop" when I was on the in the first few weeks of having the car? and could this affect me constantly warping rotors?

3. I have been told that crappy pads can cause rotors to warp if you drive it somewhat hard (I do drive it hard but not to the point it should warp rotors like this). So would replacing AGAIN with new rotors and better pads correct the issue? I plan on going with carbotech rotors and pads.

ANYTHING else that someone has experienced and/or troubleshot with the same issue would be incredibly helpful as I don't want to just go spending money to replace everything if thats not what fixes it.

[EvanH]

I had just done my brakes with DBA rotors and Carbotech BobCats all around, after I had a warp feeling going on. Finished my swap, everything worked great for a few thousand miles.

Turned out my rear caliper was slowly seizing causing my rear rotor to warp. Didnt figure it out till one day I walked past my car after parking it, in shorts, and felt the heat coming off the wheel on my leg. Felt it with my hand and it was HOT. It had finally seized enough to cause warping from the excess friction.

And now I have another warped rotor because of that. So that was my problem. But I replaced my caliper.


edit: I hope this isn't to confusing, as I can see how it is. Sometimes I don't write to composed.

[STiedVR4Guy]

Ok that makes sense. Why were the calipers seizing though? Just old age or possibly the brake fluid is to old to disperse heat fast enough? That is another thought I did not flush my brake fluid.... Could this have something to do with it?

[EvanH]

Mine was just age. Original calipers on the car with 150,000 miles on them.

[STiedVR4Guy]

bump for more info.

[HLxDrummer]

StopTech : Balanced Brake Upgrades

Multiple causes. Not using star pattern and torque wrench, uneven hubs/knuckles, didn't break in brakes properly, etc. Most of the time it is not heat.

[STiedVR4Guy]

Ahh that is one thing I did not do is break in the brakes. This would be "bedding" them after install? How long the calipers last on these cars? (I think mine have over 160k on them)

[EvanH]

Guess, I should mention that...I bedded mine as per the in box instructions. Anywho, good luck with getting it all worked out.

[R/T93]

I suggest a rebuild of your calipers, rebuild kits can be bought from any dealership or online parts store. Maybe replace your wheel bearings, too.

[GTOJOE]

Ahh that is one thing I did not do is break in the brakes. This would be "bedding" them after install? How long the calipers last on these cars? (I think mine have over 160k on them)

In theory the caliper will last forever. However if you fluid is old and dirty they may need servicing [Colt45 post a how to for this]. Perhaps your calipers need servicing as a stuck caliper piston can cause warping. Also when ever chaning rotors you should bed them in. The documentation that came with them should explain this process.