So I switched to brembo blanks about a month ago, right after a fresh tire rotation/balancing/alignment because my stockers were very badly warped. I also went with Hawk HP Plus Pads (I wanted HPS's but they were all out, and gave me these at the same price).

Now the rotors are wapred again.

When I apply the brakes firmly at speeds above 120km/h the steering rattles. Not as bad as before, but I can feel it. I'm not excatly soft on my breaks, I do like to push it from time to time, but this is rediculous! I got these because the were not supposed to warp. What do I have to do? Get a big brake upgrade!? Fudge! I just don't have to money. Have any of you experinced this? I want to get rotors that DONT warp!

 

you might want to try going this route... http://www.frozenrotors.com I hear they work pretty well.

 

you probably have other braking issues. There is no brake rotor that is warpless.

 

did you install em yourself? maybe that can be the problem.

 

HP+ arent the friendliest pads, but a month is kind of ridiculous!

 

Were they properly broken in? I know it's a dumb question but I heard a lot of people just don't take the time to do little things that could help.

 

Has a torque wrench been used EVERY TIME the wheels have been installed on the car since installing the rotors?

 

I've had my Brembo blanks and Hawk HPs for about a year now and haven't had any problems.. I took special care/attention to brandish/bed/break in the pads and rotors and drove really calm for the first 500 miles or so.... I also did the bedding in process that came on that pink card w/ the Hawk pads initially... after that I drive pretty hard but I always do the following...

properly tighten my lug nuts w/ a torque wrench, don't let any mechanic or tire shop guy go crazy w/ an impact wrench.. since I installed the brakes no one other than myself has touched my car because I haven't needed new tires yet.. but I'm about to need new tires soon... I'm going to tell them IN ADVANCE to hand torque it or else I'm not paying...

also don't wash your car after a drive... the hot rotor/brake components plus the cold water will warp them.... make sure your lugs are torqued evenly and to spec.. also after a hard drive don't sit on the brakes or park it right away.. the heat from the pads/the part the caliper/pads sit over could warp due to diff in temps and such.....

I know for a fact that I drive hard.. but following the above I've had my brembo blanks and Hawk pads for over a year w/o any problems...

you could try the cryo'd route but thats pretty expensive... all rotors are succeptible to warpage if not brandished/bedded in or used improperly....

 

I was suspectiong this

"Has a torque wrench been used EVERY TIME the wheels have been installed on the car since installing the rotors?"

No one hasn't. I'm buyinh one this weekend. I did the install with a friend who is a mechanic. Yes they were propely broken in.

I never really know that you had to torque the bolts to spec or they would be prone to warping. I'm pretty sure my friend told me to get them torqued when I had a chance too. I just forgot. FUG! I'm gonna pick up so Hawk HPS's soon (for winter) and I'm gonna try a new set of Brembos in the summer, no point now.

 

I keep one of my torque wrenches in my car just in case the tire shop guy doesn't have one.. I'll bust it out of my trunk and set it to the correct setting then he has no excuse not to listen to my request/demand to torque it down by hand... also in case I'm working on my car away from home or need to swap rims or something.. I keep my torque wrench and a breaker bar w/ a 21mm socket for my rim key in the car...

after you use your torque wrench make sure u dial it back down to 0.. or whatever the lowest setting is...

 

 

I didn't wait 500miles to break them in, the card said 300km. I never wash my car after it's been driven. Always early in the morning after it sat overnight.

Maybe I'm just a dumbass and don't know how to drive. It's possible that I drove home fast, hit the brakes hard, coasted on my street, then put on the hand brake and left it for the night.

My friend tells me that a torque wrench from snap-on will cost me like 4 bills!!! (CDN) for the cheapest model. I just boght a set of mags and will be getting winter tires put on the old set. I'll be swappinf wheels from season to sean so I guess I have no choice...

 

Ohlias its all about the torque wrench. The rapid heating and cooling will only accelerate the warping.

Anyway, I'd recommend just getting a good old mastercraft or craftsman torque wrench. Often on sale at $69.99 (CDN) or regular price $99.99. Works excellent, all the way up to 130 or 140lb-ft.. Torque your lugs at 80ft-lbs

 

Some rotors require resurfacing out of the box because they come warped from the factory but I never had any problems with my Brembos. The cheap ones from like PepBoys and AutoZone requires a clean cut before install (I know this for a fact because I used to work there and cut many rotors out of the boxes before installing them.)

 

I did "clean" the breaks before install with this spray liquid. I reallt drenched the stuff with it. We also put this blue goo all over the outside of the pads. Maybe I did't break them in enough and also I didn't torque the lugs right. I didn't really want the HP Plus either. He gave them to me at the same price as the HPS so I thoght I was getting a good deal. The REALLY squeal alot. It's very embarassing. But When you need to stop and press them hard, the bite and don't make any noise at all.

I guess I'll get that torque wrench. I hope it's a good one, thanks Richie

 

I have Power Stop cross-drilled rotors. They are made by Brembo. I had a similar problem with my stock ones and a bunch of shops told me to switch to cross-drilled. Under hard braking at high speeds they cool a lot faster. I'm also using Akibono pads (metal) which are very nice.


[Modified by NOINTEGReddy, 4:20 PM 10/11/2002]

 

Meaning resurfacing/cutting the rotors; not cleaning cleaning.