Brake warping

goaliedave40
07-11-2002, 10:50 PM
Does somebody out there know how to keep F-body brakes from warping? I thought new rotors would help; no luck. I don't really want to drop 3 grand on a new brake system. Are the bearings the root cause? Any info would be helpful. Thanks!

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1999 Z-28 M6: Gran.MAF, LS1 MoSports intake, K+N filter,Corsa exhaust, PowerSlot rotors, Hoch. strut tower bar, still working

Camaro ChriSS
07-12-2002, 01:23 AM
It's such a common problem that there is a STB on it.

Things that help:

Torque all the wheel nuts to 100 ft-lbs precisely - the dealer hardly ever does it, but is leads to uneven wear.

Most warping occurs due to heating up the pads and rotors as you slow down, and then having to sit at an intersection with the brakes on. The pads contact one piece of the rotors for a long period of time which causes the rotor to warp over time. By rolling your car slowly forward and minimizing the time that you stand on your brakes (and force to pads to contact the same spot on the rotors for any long periods) minimizes the problem.

No one really ever cures it though. Most people go through a lot of rotors.

Slappy3243
07-12-2002, 02:00 AM
There is a very simple solution to this problem without having to drop over a grand on a new brake system. The stock GM rotors suck plain and simple. Mine warped 3 times. I got sick and tired of it. When you buy new rotors from GM they just give you the same, low quality part. I got aftermarket rotors from KVR and have not had a single problem with over 20,000 miles on them. They are much more solid and better vented then the stock GM crap. Save yourself some headaches and buy them. http://www.fasttoys.net That is where I got mine. You won't regret it and it is A LOT cheaper then a new system.

-Adam

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2000 Firebird
Y-87 Package
Borla Cat-Back Exhaust
SLP RAM-AIR Hood
KVR Rotors
KVR Carbon Metalic Pads
Pics: http://photos.yahoo.com/slappy3243/

nikkev
07-12-2002, 05:24 PM
Hmmm,maybe it's in the way the car is driven? http://web.camaross.com/bb/confused.gif I have 45k on my '98 with the stock rotors and they haven't warped yet.Is this only a problem with later years?
Kevin

hammerhead
07-12-2002, 06:24 PM
I stepped up to Baer Eradispeed rotors. My stockers started warping around 25,000 and I don't beat the the car or the brakes. ES's are possibly the best direct-replacement rotors you can get. I got them on a LS1.com GP for a little over 600. Well worth it to me. That's about the most I'd spend anyway.

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2000 SS Onyx/Ebony M6
SLP lid w/K&N, SLP SFC's, BMR STB, GMMG catback, Baer Eradispeed rotors, Harlan shiftlight, clear corners, tint, Firebat's decals, Mobil1
323RWHP/334RWTQ
Ram clutch coming soon

[This message has been edited by hammerhead (edited July 12, 2002).]

striemWS6
07-12-2002, 06:41 PM
I have the same problem, but mine is an odd case. I have 45K on my car and my brakes go through phases. Sometimes my brakes pulse horribly, then other times, my brakes work awesome. I do nothing to the car, but drive it. I don't understand why my brakes do this, but I have been told that maybe my calipers stick sometimes and rub on the rotors to heat them to the point of warping. I question that theory, but I have no better idea to explain my sporadic pulsing brake phenomena.

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Mark Striemer
'00 T/A WS6
M6, Borla, SLP:Y-pipe/Lid/MAF/SFC's/STB, K&N, 4.10's

PSU 98
07-13-2002, 08:56 AM
As was already said, the stock rotors suck, plain and simple. Mine warped right around 10,000 miles http://web.camaross.com/bb/mad.gif When I looked into this, a lot of guys recommended Aimco brand rotors from AutoZone (p/n 55034). There are even those who autocross with them. I'll be picking up a set for the front next week.

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2002 "35th Anniversary" Camaro Z28
Member Street Lethal F-Body Association of NEPA www.slfba.com (http://www.slfba.com)

IROC Z 350
07-13-2002, 05:13 PM
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by PSU 98:
As was already said, the stock rotors suck, plain and simple. Mine warped right around 10,000 miles http://web.camaross.com/bb/mad.gif When I looked into this, a lot of guys recommended Aimco brand rotors from AutoZone (p/n 55034). There are even those who autocross with them. I'll be picking up a set for the front next week.

</font>

How much are those gems? I think I need some.



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*1985 Camaro IROC-Z28 H.O. 350 A4 3.73 TPI Accel 58mm runners 24# injectors hughes 700R-4 3000 stall BFG DR's and..
*2000 Camaro Z-28 A4 3.23 MTI lid K&N Flomaster !EGR Ram Air Cutout

Slappy3243
07-13-2002, 07:12 PM
I looked them up on autozone's website.

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?UseCase=C001&UserAction=performSearch&Parameters=Auto+Store%7C%7EREGULAR+PARTS+LOOK+UP%7 C%7EBRAKE+ROTOR+FRONT

-Adam

PSU 98
07-14-2002, 10:18 AM
I believe the AutoZone rotors run about $40 / each.

Edit: Bought a set for the front this afternoon. $86 total http://web.camaross.com/bb/smile.gif

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2002 "35th Anniversary" Camaro Z28
Member Street Lethal F-Body Association of NEPA www.slfba.com (http://www.slfba.com)
GO LIONS!!

[This message has been edited by PSU 98 (edited July 14, 2002).]

IROC Z 350
07-14-2002, 04:20 PM
Wow. That's cheap. So these things really don't warp? Are we talking the "extreme rotors" or are the standard ones still better than stock?

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*1985 Camaro IROC-Z28 H.O. 350 A4 3.73 TPI Accel 58mm runners 24# injectors hughes 700R-4 3000 stall BFG DR's and..
*2000 Camaro Z-28 A4 3.23 MTI lid K&N Flomaster !EGR Ram Air Cutout

PSU 98
07-14-2002, 07:06 PM
According to the people I've talked with, these rotors haven taken abuse and not warped. I'd be happy to let you all know my opinion after another 10,000 or so miles http://web.camaross.com/bb/smile.gif I picked up the regular Aimco rotors, not the 'extreme', as these were the ones that were recommended to me. I don't autocross and don't have major performance work done, so I figure these should suffice.
Honestly I think anything would be better than the stock GM rotors... can't understand why they're so crappy http://web.camaross.com/bb/mad.gif

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2002 "35th Anniversary" Camaro Z28
Member Street Lethal F-Body Association of NEPA www.slfba.com (http://www.slfba.com)
GO LIONS!!

IROC Z 350
07-14-2002, 08:14 PM
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by PSU 98:

Honestly I think anything would be better than the stock GM rotors... can't understand why they're so crappy http://web.camaross.com/bb/mad.gif

</font>

Hmm. Maybe so after our little 30K warrarnty expires they can rape us for $500 ever 10K miles or so. Bastages.

PSU 98
07-14-2002, 09:41 PM
My car's only six months old, this happened within the first 10,000 miles! From what I understand, brake parts and other equipment considered having "normal" wear http://web.camaross.com/bb/rolleyes.gif are not covered by the factory warranty. I didn't even bother to fight it, because I don't want another pair of these junky rotors anyway.

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2002 "35th Anniversary" Camaro Z28
Member Street Lethal F-Body Association of NEPA www.slfba.com (http://www.slfba.com)
GO LIONS!!

Steve2001Z28
07-14-2002, 10:26 PM
You guys are right,

The factory rotors suck plane and simple. Mine got warpped around 5000 miles so I was covered under GM's warrenty if your aligment screws up or your rotors under 7000 miles they have to deal with it. All they had to do was machine shave my rotors but if it happens again I will probally replace them with a performance set.

Camaro00_ss
07-15-2002, 01:41 AM
I must agree with the masses! Our '01 T/A warped the rotors after 16K. We took it to our local dealer and they cut the rotors. Haven't had any problems so far, up to 21K now.
My '00 Camaro's rotors are really warped, with .070 runout on the right and .048 on the left! That's bad!! I'll be cutting them myself tho, dealer won't cover those 22K on the odo).


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2000 Pewter Camaro SS, K&N, SLP lid, Flowmaster catback, 160 stat, Hurst short throw, and SLP springs!!
2001 T/A WS6, K&N, SLP lid, Flowmaster catback, A4 tranny, best time of 13.24 with Mickeys!! Lookin for more!!

Ed Blown Vert
07-15-2002, 05:36 PM
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by PSU 98:
I believe the AutoZone rotors run about $40 / each.

Edit: Bought a set for the front this afternoon. $86 total http://web.camaross.com/bb/smile.gif

</font>

I also did mine with AZ rotors. $26 ea. http://web.camaross.com/bb/smile.gif



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Black 1999 LS1 Convertible (http://members.cox.net/blownls1) A4, 3.23
Whisper Lid, Borla Cat-Back, HPP3, Powerstat 160
Vigilante 2800, B&M 24K Tranny Cooler
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WhoBetter?
07-15-2002, 07:10 PM
i think the reson they have problems is because they are identical to corvette, right? and corvette has a brake cooling system and it weighs like 400 pounds less and people who drive corvettes don't beat the hell out of them.

i suspected my before but now they work fine. maybe it's when they get hot?

PSU 98
07-15-2002, 09:46 PM
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by WhoBetter?:
i think the reson they have problems is because they are identical to corvette, right? </font>

I don't believe that's true, although I can't show you the proof to say it isn't either.
You're right about the cooling ducts though. I know Lingenfelter sells take-offs for like $30. Has anybody adapted these to the F-Body? Might be something to look into...



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2002 "35th Anniversary" Camaro Z28
Member Street Lethal F-Body Association of NEPA www.slfba.com (http://www.slfba.com)
GO LIONS!!