Vibration when braking...warped rotors?

dsgrillot · 09-11-2012, 08:37 PM

Help please. I get a lot of vibration in the steering wheel when braking. Still have plenty of pad life left. The dealer says the rotors are warped. Only 25,000 miles on the car...warped rotors? Really?

So how do I check them myself ? If they are warped, how do I replace them and should I use OEM or some upgraded rotor?

Any advice is appreciated.

Finnegan · 09-11-2012, 08:42 PM

More likely pad deposits. While it's not unheard of, warped rotors is pretty uncommon with our floating rotor design.

You could always try the bedding procedure and see if that helps.

Kgolf31 · 09-11-2012, 08:51 PM

Dealer tried to tell me I had warped rotors as well when I went in for control arms.

This was right after my first track day where I took it easy and broke early on alot of turns (rain).

Anyways, I told them a BS excuse that I'd replace them later, got the car, re-bedded my pads and it's perfect again

MikeRua · 10-25-2012, 01:37 AM

aaaah some thing I can relate too, I had this issue - I have very low Km's on my Zed, and was concerned after getting the Rotors replaced 3 times under warentee, I did not understand why so soon, then I had the wheels checked and found that they where the cause, get your wheels checked out first.

inTgr8r · 10-25-2012, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finnegan

More likely pad deposits. While it's not unheard of, warped rotors is pretty uncommon with our floating rotor design.

You could always try the bedding procedure and see if that helps.

^ this....
Before you do the bedding procedure, it's best to clean the existing deposits off of the rotors.
Use some brake cleaner & an aggressive scour pad.

mhughett · 10-25-2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

^ this....
Before you do the bedding procedure, it's best to clean the existing deposits off of the rotors.
Use some brake cleaner & an aggressive scour pad.

I've had significant problems with brake vibrations and while my car was under warranty, rotors and pads were changed out by the dealer about 6 times. I know the rotors weren't warped and I suspected somehow I was getting pad deposits. So after the warranty expired I tried inTgr8r's method above but it didn't work. I finally got the problem fixed by using the method recommended on Stop-Tech's website--that is to buy some aggressive track pads and "clean the rotors" using their documented technique. It's similar to bedding in the pads except you do NOT want the pads/rotors to get so hot that the pad material transfers to the rotors. This involves a lot of driving with no braking in between the hard stops to allow the rotors to cool down. You only want to use the abrasiveness of these pads to clean the rotors. It's kind of like putting the rotors on a lathe except you don't have to take them off the car. Stop-Tech recommended Hawk blue pads so this is what I used. This method worked for me and I no longer have these vibrations and if they come back, I know how to deal with them.

inTgr8r · 10-25-2012, 02:31 PM

^ yeah, that's really the best way if you can put your hands on some aggressive pads.

Alexander · 10-29-2012, 08:03 PM

Sounds like it.

Finnegan · 10-29-2012, 08:32 PM

Yup, Hawk Blues are the next best thing to sandblasting or a lathe.

09-11-2012, 08:37 PM	#1
dsgrillot Private Drives: 2008 Z4M Roadster Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Beckley, WV Posts: 83 iTrader: (0)	Vibration when braking...warped rotors? Help please. I get a lot of vibration in the steering wheel when braking. Still have plenty of pad life left. The dealer says the rotors are warped. Only 25,000 miles on the car...warped rotors? Really? So how do I check them myself ? If they are warped, how do I replace them and should I use OEM or some upgraded rotor? Any advice is appreciated. __________________ M School
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09-11-2012, 08:42 PM	#2
Finnegan Major General Drives: Sapphire Black/Black Z4Mc Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: At the track..or wishing I were at the track Posts: 5,482 iTrader: (17)	More likely pad deposits. While it's not unheard of, warped rotors is pretty uncommon with our floating rotor design. You could always try the bedding procedure and see if that helps. __________________ 2007 Sapphire Black Z4M / Apex EC7s / Eisenmann Exhaust / Euro Headers/Cat / Aero Sideskirts / DIY Stubby / Ultimate Pedals / AS SSK / RB Rotors / Other Stuff #1047

09-11-2012, 08:51 PM	#3
Kgolf31 Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 2007 Z4MC, 2012 128i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,524 iTrader: (2)	Dealer tried to tell me I had warped rotors as well when I went in for control arms. This was right after my first track day where I took it easy and broke early on alot of turns (rain). Anyways, I told them a BS excuse that I'd replace them later, got the car, re-bedded my pads and it's perfect again __________________ 07 Z4M Coupe: 235/265 Hankook RS3, H&R E46 M3 30mm Front Sway Bar, Hawk HP+ Pads, Vorshlag Wheel Stud Conversion 12 128i Coupe: Stock, for now

10-25-2012, 02:31 PM	#7
inTgr8r Major General Drives: 07 M Coupe Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 7,107 iTrader: (6)	^ yeah, that's really the best way if you can put your hands on some aggressive pads. __________________ Alpinweiss '07 M Coupe •Eisenmann Sport-Ceramic Black•Diablo-X•Fabspeed Headers•VRS Hyper-Narrow rear wing•Autosolutions SSK•APR splitter•Tekarbon headlights•StrongStrut STB•KW Clubsport•Poly FCAB/RTAB•Volk Racing G2•Direzza ZII•Stoptech BBK c/w Cool Carbon pads

10-29-2012, 08:32 PM	#9
Finnegan Major General Drives: Sapphire Black/Black Z4Mc Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: At the track..or wishing I were at the track Posts: 5,482 iTrader: (17)	Yup, Hawk Blues are the next best thing to sandblasting or a lathe. __________________ 2007 Sapphire Black Z4M / Apex EC7s / Eisenmann Exhaust / Euro Headers/Cat / Aero Sideskirts / DIY Stubby / Ultimate Pedals / AS SSK / RB Rotors / Other Stuff #1047

10-25-2012, 01:37 AM	#4
MikeRua Enlisted Member Drives: 2009 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: South Africa Posts: 45 iTrader: (0)	aaaah some thing I can relate too, I had this issue - I have very low Km's on my Zed, and was concerned after getting the Rotors replaced 3 times under warentee, I did not understand why so soon, then I had the wheels checked and found that they where the cause, get your wheels checked out first.

10-29-2012, 08:03 PM	#8
Alexander Mad tyte EuR0 style boooi <--- Joke Drives: E30, E85, MKVI Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Deal's Gap Posts: 2,473 iTrader: (0)	Sounds like it.

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