Warped rotors "normal"?

FricFrac · 05-18-2010, 04:48 PM

I've got the sports package and it feels like my front rotors are warped (shudders under braking). I've got less than 10K miles on the car and its only a year old. I know brake components are not covered under warranty but 10K miles seems absurd to me. I don't granny the car but I'm not ragging on it either. I phoned my local dealer and they said if something failed and warped the rotors its covered but if its just the rotors its not. I'm bringing it in on Friday.

Anyone else had any problems with the rotors?

Modshack · 05-18-2010, 04:55 PM

Warping is pretty unlikely under those conditions. It is more likely what they call "Pad transfer" which feels and acts just like a warped rotor. Try several high speed bedding passes and see if you can't clear them.

Lots of tech papers here: StopTech : Balanced Brake Upgrades

Demon Z · 05-18-2010, 05:10 PM

If you spray your car off after you've been driving it and you get the wheels/rotors, it could cause warping if you do it too often. I speak from experience.

daleks · 05-18-2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FricFrac

I've got the sports package and it feels like my front rotors are warped (shudders under braking). I've got less than 10K miles on the car and its only a year old. I know brake components are not covered under warranty but 10K miles seems absurd to me. I don't granny the car but I'm not ragging on it either. I phoned my local dealer and they said if something failed and warped the rotors its covered but if its just the rotors its not. I'm bringing it in on Friday.

Anyone else had any problems with the rotors?

I had an intermittent issue on my 350Z that felt like brake shudder. It turned out to be a loose axle nut that got more loose over time. The first dealership I took it to said I wasn't letting my Brembo's heat up, but it happened even after several hard stops. The next dealership I took it to figured it out immediately.

theDreamer · 05-18-2010, 05:29 PM

I have this issue, and have done the hard brake that Modshack suggested and it work for a few days and then it came back.

FricFrac · 05-18-2010, 05:41 PM

Thanks for the info Modshack - I'll check it out.

Oh and I only wash the car cold so its not from the brakes getting sprayed....

ddvette9 · 05-18-2010, 05:54 PM

I had the same shudder at 10k miles. Took it to the dealership and told them. The tech road tested it, re surfaced the rotors and I was on my way all under warranty. Rides fine now, but there is a rust color ring around the rotor which looks ugly, my buddy said it's from when they cut the zinc coating. Anyways, take it in, act upset and dumb, and they should resurface them for free and your car will be back to smooth braking in no time at all. Btw, I painted my calipers and the dealership still worked on my rotors. The manager wasn't happy but he did it under warranty anyways

kenchan · 05-18-2010, 06:20 PM

yah, i think they are the pads too. if it was my car, i would do 3-4 cycles of full brake stopping from 50mph to zero on a open road and see if i can rid the top surface of the pads. if that doesn't work, i would swap out the pads to something better... if that doesnt work then i would consider getting the rotors resurfaced.

RCZ · 05-20-2010, 10:44 AM

I need to take mine in for this too.

Solus · 05-20-2010, 12:43 PM

I have to get mine done too. but lucky for me I can get them resurfaced for $7 a rotor so its not a big deal at all

FricFrac · 06-04-2010, 02:59 PM

Forgot to give you guys the update. Turns out the rotors were warped. Nissan fixed the problem under warranty (turned the rotors down). Ticked me off though when they washed my car - asked them to add a note to the file not to ever wash it. Didn't find any damage to the paint - thankfully I had just waxed it days before....

kenchan · 06-04-2010, 04:50 PM

^^ glad your car's fixed.... warped rotors = swirls?

spearfish25 · 06-05-2010, 06:50 AM

i turn my rotors down and remove excess stock pad goo by putting track pads on. Abrasive little ba$tards take the stock pad right off the rotors.

Lee123 · 06-06-2010, 03:53 PM

Did Nissan just get a batch of bad rotors or what? Rotors shouldn't warp like that. Any idea why these are warping?

Both front rotors warped within a couple thousand miles on a Suzuki 1100 I had a few years back and the service manager said they had a batch of rotors that were improperly heat treated. He said if the second set did it they would turn them and then they'd never do it again, but the second set were OK.

Zeto · 06-28-2010, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FricFrac

Forgot to give you guys the update. Turns out the rotors were warped. Nissan fixed the problem under warranty (turned the rotors down). Ticked me off though when they washed my car - asked them to add a note to the file not to ever wash it. Didn't find any damage to the paint - thankfully I had just waxed it days before....

Turned the rotors down? Did you get new ones?

05-18-2010, 04:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
FricFrac A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 1,481 Drives: 370Z 300ZX 280ZX 240 Rep Power: 228	Warped rotors "normal"? I've got the sports package and it feels like my front rotors are warped (shudders under braking). I've got less than 10K miles on the car and its only a year old. I know brake components are not covered under warranty but 10K miles seems absurd to me. I don't granny the car but I'm not ragging on it either. I phoned my local dealer and they said if something failed and warped the rotors its covered but if its just the rotors its not. I'm bringing it in on Friday. Anyone else had any problems with the rotors? __________________ '09 370Z - '93 300ZX Vert - '83 280ZX - '83 280ZXT -'81 280ZXT stroker - '72 240Z - Stillen CBE, HFC, G3, Grounding Kit, Sways // Swift Spring // H&R 15mm // 5% Tint // Clear Bra //

05-18-2010, 04:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Modshack A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greenville NC Posts: 2,883 Drives: 370Z Sport Rep Power: 976	Warping is pretty unlikely under those conditions. It is more likely what they call "Pad transfer" which feels and acts just like a warped rotor. Try several high speed bedding passes and see if you can't clear them. Lots of tech papers here: StopTech : Balanced Brake Upgrades __________________ Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S Oil Cooler DIY: Here!

05-18-2010, 05:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4210	I have this issue, and have done the hard brake that Modshack suggested and it work for a few days and then it came back. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

05-18-2010, 05:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
FricFrac A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 1,481 Drives: 370Z 300ZX 280ZX 240 Rep Power: 228	Thanks for the info Modshack - I'll check it out. Oh and I only wash the car cold so its not from the brakes getting sprayed.... __________________ '09 370Z - '93 300ZX Vert - '83 280ZX - '83 280ZXT -'81 280ZXT stroker - '72 240Z - Stillen CBE, HFC, G3, Grounding Kit, Sways // Swift Spring // H&R 15mm // 5% Tint // Clear Bra //

06-04-2010, 02:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
FricFrac A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 1,481 Drives: 370Z 300ZX 280ZX 240 Rep Power: 228	Forgot to give you guys the update. Turns out the rotors were warped. Nissan fixed the problem under warranty (turned the rotors down). Ticked me off though when they washed my car - asked them to add a note to the file not to ever wash it. Didn't find any damage to the paint - thankfully I had just waxed it days before.... __________________ '09 370Z - '93 300ZX Vert - '83 280ZX - '83 280ZXT -'81 280ZXT stroker - '72 240Z - Stillen CBE, HFC, G3, Grounding Kit, Sways // Swift Spring // H&R 15mm // 5% Tint // Clear Bra //

05-18-2010, 05:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Demon Z Base Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 229 Drives: '13 FR-S Rep Power: 16	If you spray your car off after you've been driving it and you get the wheels/rotors, it could cause warping if you do it too often. I speak from experience.

05-18-2010, 05:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
ddvette9 Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 823 Drives: 2013 Scion FRS Rep Power: 16	I had the same shudder at 10k miles. Took it to the dealership and told them. The tech road tested it, re surfaced the rotors and I was on my way all under warranty. Rides fine now, but there is a rust color ring around the rotor which looks ugly, my buddy said it's from when they cut the zinc coating. Anyways, take it in, act upset and dumb, and they should resurface them for free and your car will be back to smooth braking in no time at all. Btw, I painted my calipers and the dealership still worked on my rotors. The manager wasn't happy but he did it under warranty anyways

05-18-2010, 06:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	yah, i think they are the pads too. if it was my car, i would do 3-4 cycles of full brake stopping from 50mph to zero on a open road and see if i can rid the top surface of the pads. if that doesn't work, i would swap out the pads to something better... if that doesnt work then i would consider getting the rotors resurfaced.

05-20-2010, 10:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1118	I need to take mine in for this too.

05-20-2010, 12:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Solus Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 453 Drives: 2009 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 16	I have to get mine done too. but lucky for me I can get them resurfaced for $7 a rotor so its not a big deal at all

06-04-2010, 04:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	^^ glad your car's fixed.... warped rotors = swirls?

06-05-2010, 06:50 AM	#13 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	i turn my rotors down and remove excess stock pad goo by putting track pads on. Abrasive little ba$tards take the stock pad right off the rotors. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

06-06-2010, 03:53 PM	#14 (permalink)
Lee123 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Phoenix Posts: 84 Drives: 2010 370Z Roadster Rep Power: 15	Did Nissan just get a batch of bad rotors or what? Rotors shouldn't warp like that. Any idea why these are warping? Both front rotors warped within a couple thousand miles on a Suzuki 1100 I had a few years back and the service manager said they had a batch of rotors that were improperly heat treated. He said if the second set did it they would turn them and then they'd never do it again, but the second set were OK.

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