OK, so two weeks ago I install front Napa brand rotors and their ceramic pads. Yesterday I notice that my steering wheel shakes as I apply the brakes when going 55mph or so.... especially on a decline. Is it possible that the rotors are already warped? I always torque the lug nuts to 100 ft lbs. I don't understand. Never happened with my prior set which were Wagner rotors and OEM pads. Any advice?
Rotors already warped!!!
- Thread starter jeepzj
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I tend to torque my wheel nuts sequencially, meaning say to 50 ft-lbs. all around in opposing fashion, then to the spec'ed rating of 83ft-lbs.
When I changed all four rotors and pads, I remember something about a break-in procedure, for sintering or something.
The previous rotors had glazed and warped after some light trailer use. Now some 10K later, I do notice a very slight pulse from the steering wheel when lightly braking, and have heard that the front brakes take a lot of the work on this vehicle.
When I changed all four rotors and pads, I remember something about a break-in procedure, for sintering or something.
The previous rotors had glazed and warped after some light trailer use. Now some 10K later, I do notice a very slight pulse from the steering wheel when lightly braking, and have heard that the front brakes take a lot of the work on this vehicle.
What vehicle is this for?
Have you sprayed the hot rotors with water say when washing the vehicle?
Any racing events?
Have you sprayed the hot rotors with water say when washing the vehicle?
Any racing events?
I have heard that dirt between the rotor and the mating surface on the hub can cause a steering wheel shake/pulsation.
Very unlikely that the rotor warped. What is likely is the pad material is inadequate for your driving style and conditions. Pad material melts, deposits on the rotor surface, and you get the grabbiness.
http://www.raceshopper.com/tech.shtml#warped_rotors
http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/warped_rotors_myth.htm
http://www.raceshopper.com/tech.shtml#ceramic_pads
Ken
http://www.raceshopper.com/tech.shtml#warped_rotors
http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/warped_rotors_myth.htm
http://www.raceshopper.com/tech.shtml#ceramic_pads
Ken
We use to get the brakes done a lot for 'warped discs' as we live on a hill, have stupid automatics in both cars that have negative engine braking (it speeds up going down hill), so the brakes get used a lot. Since I started doing the brakes I noticed that as others mentioned, they would glaze sometimes but weren't 'warped', as some increasingly hard braking, in steps to avoid overheating, would 'unwarp' them.
This is on a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo I6. No off-roading at all. I don't drive aggressive, I broke them in the correct way. Is it possible that the new rotors wre defective and out-of-round from the start? I've always torqued to 100ftlbs and never had a problem.
Your torque specs are fine just got a bad rotor/rotors..happens from time to time.Napa carries the Chinese made rotors which out of about 12-14 sets I've installed on various vehicles 1(one) rotor was bad..to me this is acceptable and find the Chinese made rotors pretty good so far.
I have a friend in California who has a 1999 same outfit as yours and he was told after the 10th (TENTH) set of rotors being replaced on his 7/70k warrenty that they will not replace them anymore. Too many times to repair one part.
The tech said they are a weak point of the brake system.
But when asked to state that to his service "advisor" he shut up..
So, my friend has another year on his warrenty and is trying to get Jeep to buy it back since they will not warrenty it. (I told him good luck)
He does drive harder than I would say is normal, But crap, this is a jeep! It should have heavy-duty brakes IMHO!
Find a good brake guy and see if there is aftermarket to fix the problem.
Take care, Bill
Well, I'm going back to Napa to tell them the situation and hopefully they'll give me new rotors and pads. I previously had Wagner rotors from Napa (didn't have any in stock so that's why I gave the Napa brand rotors a try this time) and OEM pads from the dealer which I believe were semi-metallic. Looks like I'm going back to Wagner and semi-metallic pads.
I'm on my second set of Ceramix pads and rotors from Napa on my Cherokee with 168,000km...stops great!This combo is on various vehicles I servive...everything is fine
Could of just been a bad batch of rotors. Anyway I went to Napa and they are giving me replacements for no charge and refunding me the money for the pads. I ordered Wagner rotors this time and just bought a set of OEM semi-metallic pads.
Bill,quote:
Originally posted by Bill in Utah:
I have a friend in California who has a 1999 same outfit as yours and he was told after the 10th (TENTH) set of rotors being replaced on his 7/70k warrenty that they will not replace them anymore. Too many times to repair one part.
The tech said they are a weak point of the brake system.
But when asked to state that to his service "advisor" he shut up..
So, my friend has another year on his warrenty and is trying to get Jeep to buy it back since they will not warrenty it. (I told him good luck)
He does drive harder than I would say is normal, But crap, this is a jeep! It should have heavy-duty brakes IMHO!
Find a good brake guy and see if there is aftermarket to fix the problem.
Take care, Bill
Go to Autozone and get the Performance Friction Carbon Metallics. These are premium pads that have a good reputation of not warping the rotors.
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