Do you think my front rotors are warped? i have 65k miles on my car. I've had the rotors turned once. I also put on new brake pads about 5k miles ago. About 1000 miles ago I started to notice the steering wheel shuddering when applying pressure to the brakes. If it is the rotors, do you think it's just the front? Also, since I recently replaced the pads, will they still be ok to use if I replace the rotors? Thanks.

 

Just have the front rotors turned. Technically they aren't warped per se, but it's commonaly called that. It's actually disc thickness varianace from pad material depositing on the rotor surface and basically making them lumpy. It only take about 0.0004" DTV before you notice it with a pulsation while stopping (in the pedal or in the way the car stops). Once it gets to about 0.001 or so, you'll notice it in the wheel as a vibration when stopping from higher speeds. It doesn't take much DTV to make it an issue. A lot of highway driving can cause DTV.

With 5k on the pads, you probably should just replace them. Depends on how much is left on them. A good brake shop will turn the rotors right on the car.

 

^^^ exactly what he said. Also, replace your "new pads" with better quality pads that won't leave deposits. I suggest Hawk HPS.

 

I have Raybestos Ceramic pads on the front. I guess I was wrong in thinking they would be fine for everyday driving. What's a fair price for getting my rotors turned?

 

14$ for both is what I pay at Kragen/Checker

 

Hmmm...i am slightly confused about this DTV. If there is NO actual warping going on, (no rotor deformation from heat) why are people upgrading to 6 gen brake kits and saying that the main reason for it is to have larger rotor = less warping??? If this "warping" effect/feeling is caused only by brake pads deposits, isn't it easier to just use better pads + stock size rotors and eliminate the warped rotors problems?? What do you think?

I am asking because i almost bought the 6 gen brake hardware. Currently, I have almost new Power Slot rotors and new Raybestos Ceramic brake pads....and only after 8-9k miles of driving, my steering wheels vibrates when braking. I hate that feeling and i know that it comes from the front brakes. I really expected that these new rotors will last longer. I do 50/50 mix of city/highway driving. 9k miles on new rotors in my opinion is way too early for them to be warped. Now, after this post, i am thinking that the "problem" may be in the brake pads, not the rotors. IS this a safe assumption?

 

Your rotors arent warped just your pads are Pieces of shiat, i just put in Hawk hps and brembo blanks in my maxima. No steering wheel shake, brakes like a motha. I payed 110 for 2 brembo blanks and 65 for hawk hps, best pads i've ever had. I drive hard and brake harder and after 500 miles no problems. Last time i changed pads to the ""BETTER ONES"" that i got from the auto store after 500 miles the shakes resumed. I drove like that for a year and then took some advise from a friend and spent the extra money and now im happy. Oh btw i got my pads and rotors from www.tirerack.com i ordered it on monday and everything was at my house on wednesday.

 

Thanks. I'll get my rotors turned to solve the problem. If/When it happens again I'll go with the recomended pads.

 

same thing here. It seems new pads/rotors only fool us to thinking of a period of time which is a BIG difference from one came from. I have Axxes pads and slotted irotors. NONE of that warp issue for about a month and dammit again i'm shakin at the wheel. I do 85% hwy driving. Cant be MY rotors? I'm going for Quietstops, have worked really good in the past.

BTW - what material are people using out there? Ceramic, semi, or that compound?

 

I upgraded to the 6th gen setup to get more surface area and heat dissipation for autocross and road racing. plus, larger rotors give a larger torque arm for stopping. Warping or not, the stock rotors and calipers are just a bit on the small side for a car this size, IMO.

 

My front rotors are also "warped" with 16,xxx miles on the car total. So if I was to re-surface the rotors, and put in new pads in the front, what about the back? Does the back not matter since braking is mostly shifted to the front anyways? And I'll just replace the rear pads later on (after they wear out)?

OR, should I just start off new and get 4 new rotors and new pads all around?

 

just worry about the front....my backs are still the same rotors (never resurfaced) that were on the car 90,000 miles ago....I have replaced the pads a few times...

 

OK, thanks for the help.

 

I am also using Raybestos QuietStop....and my PowerSlot rotors are warped so early in the game.
Not sure what to get next. Most likely, i will install the 6gen. front brakes. I REALLY hope that there will be no warped rotors with them.

 

those pads are garbage...get some better pads...also when u hit the brakes...it's a good idea to use them...and let go...let some air get to them...and then use them again....the less you use them and the more air that hits them means they won't get heated up as quick.

 

I followed your advice and bought a set of hawk hps pads, i also upgraded to a set of brembo blanks for the front of my 02 GLE.

I have about 5K on them and the shudder is coming back. Do I need to turn the rotors or will brake cleaner help.

Keith

 

did you "bed" the pads correctly?

 

I had those pads and they were great. I have never had the so called warped rotors problem on either of my 5.5 gens. My 6 speed still has the nissan pads on and not a problem. I have some Bendix Titaniumetallic pads laying around ready to be put on. I agree that high quailty pads are a must to stop the problem from appearing again.

 

Going back the original post...If he has already had the rotors turned once they probably wont do it again. Once you turn them once they are too thin to turn them again...especially the stockers.

 

Bendix titanium grooved my rotors like a ****....they worked ok, but really were harsh on the rotors. i would go with Hawk HPS, which perform just as well but do not groove the rotors.

 

how to bed them in?

 

how to bed them in? like this:http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm

 

I bought this same setup maybe 4 or 5 months ago from ProCarParts.com and guess what, already having the shudder issue. I'm gonna call them to complain cuz there is no reasonable explanation why the Brembo blanks would be warped already.

 

seems this is a common problem...just bought my car with 63k...definately want to get this fixed

 

Thanks for the heads up. I was wondering how hard they'd be on my rotors. I may just go back to cermaic pads

 

My car felt the same way about 2 months ago...steering wheel would shudder when I hit the brakes. I also thought it was the rotors. About 2 weeks ago, my brakes gave out almost completely. Turns out I had master cylinder leak.

Edit - Not to hijack, but is this leak a common problem to 5th gens?

 

Yes, I followed the instructions on the box. It said a few 30-35 mph slow stops and then a few hard.

 

yeah I am having this same problem, I know the front brakes only have about 5k miles on them, I'm gonna go get my rotors turned...

 

There are lots of reasons your rotors may have become warped! yes warped! I highly doubt it has anything to do with deposits on your rotors. Did you follow brake-in instructions? Correct torque at the lugnuts(this is very important). You must have same and correct torque at each lug or it may distort the rotor at the hub. If you brake hard getting off the highway and then stop at the end of the offramp your veryyyyyy hot brake pads are resting on only one small portion of the rotor causing distortion which can also cause, you guessed it! brake rotor warping! Allow some cooling when braking very hard, then parking or resting with the brakes locked(or dont brake hard before getting off the highway). Turning your rotors just brings the high spots level with the low and thins your rotors minimum thickness is noted on the rotor so it may be cut more than once depedning on how much has previously been removed.

 

My $.02, but I think you should probably read this website. http://www.babcox.com/editorial/bf/bf100326.htm
Pretty convincing arguments about what really goes wrong with brakes. Hope this helps.

 

Just my $.02 - I switched to Brembo blanks with factory pads about 10K ago to combat the brake shudder problem. I am just beginning to have the problem again only when braking hard from triple digit speeds. Under normal braking conditions, I'm still OK for now. I really inclined to believe the problem might be with the factory pads leaving deposits on the rotors, because I've had Brembo blanks on other cars, although those cars were significantly lighter (Civic and Protege) and never had any trouble for many miles. It seems that people have issues no matter what brake combo they go with - maybe the rotors are too small for this car? It's not like Nissan doesn't have a history of brake problems - take a look at the Nissan Titan/Armada forums....