Hokie D

Hey, has anyone else had problems with rotors getting warped? I'm fine as long as I break slowly, but if I ever push kinda hard, the vibration comes through the steering wheel. Very annoying.

I think it all started when I was coming back from Blacksburg, VA headed to Roanoke and took the back roads...lots of twisties. Probably wasn't smart on my part because I had some crap in the trunk I didn't want to spill so I had to use the brakes quite a bit. When I stopped at a convenience store I smelled brakes very strong and ever since then, the vibration started.

I would love to have some slotted or cross-drilled like my Stang, but I gotta think parts for the Acura will be 2-3 times the cost of Mustang parts. Take headers for example. I can buy headers for my Stang for $159. Did I read the price correctly for headers on the Acura at $1200? That's sick!

Has anyone replaced their rotors yet? What brand and how much did they cost?

------------------------------------------
2002 Acura TL Type-S
Aegean Blue, Blk Leather
No Modifications
------------------------------------------
1993 5.0L Mustang Coupe
Dugan Racing X-Drilled Rotors
Kenny Brown Subframes
Baumann Shift Kit
3:73 Motorsport Gears
Eibach Pro Kit Springs
ADS Computer Chip
Motorsport Pulleys
1.5" Mach I Ram Air Hood
Flowmaster 2.5" Exhaust

car_lost

well... u can get obx headers for $390 shipped over at acl.com in a group buy. the $1200 headers are the comptech ones. there are MANY threads about obx vs. comptech going on now so u may wanna look a little. as for the brakes... my car had about 3500 miles and my rotors were warped... i took it to the dealer for the oil change and told them about it. they fixed it under waranty.

samkws

our brakes are very weak...

u probably burned ur disc and it was in irregular shape...

RedLined

Hokie D --

This is a very common problem in our cars. Mine warped at about 20000 miles and were resurfaced at no charge (but it seems not all dealerships are willing to cover this) at Duncan Acura in Roanoke. I believe there have been service bulletins posted for this problem. Like you, I first experienced problems in the mountain twisties (I love this area!). I used to travel to and from Charleston, SC and would usually take 221N from Hillsville to Roanoke. Fun road but hard on the brakes.

Since then, the brakes have been fine. I now have 45000 on the car.

Go Hokies!!!

LarryLynx

I just had my 30,000 mile service and my dealer said that Acura is now specifying new pads. They turned my warped rotors and replaced the pads under warranty. My car is still flawless at 31,000. The more I drive the more I like. My only complaint (since new) is with the body roll under cornering and nose dive when braking. As soon as my Michelins wear out, which looks like a while yet, I'm planning on new Yokohama performance tires and H&R springs.

rysky007

ive had my car for 7k when i needed resurfing, but i had vibration feed back at light breaking at fast speeds, my mom had same prob three times, and so did other ppl in my family with that car. its just how they are...

power3dfx

i too have the problem, when at high speed and light braking. so the dealer is supposed to be responsible for the rotor resurfacing, but what about the brake pads. Larrylynx, are you sure the pads were changed, that sounds like regular maintainence to me.

numbaonexstunna

dont wash ur car after driving................

RUF87

FYI -

Don't know this is true, but a guy at the dealer told me on the side that the rotor are not true from the rotor manufacturer.

He said to tell others to insist onthem being inspected and surfaced before accepting delivery.

RUF

BlueXTC

it's because of the VSA! when u floor it from complete stop...your front wheels start slipping... . and your VSA will grip the front rotors while it's spinning.... that's why my front rotors had to be turned at 10,000 mile... so i usually drive with the VSA off except when it's raining.... make sure it's off when ur racing

fla-tls

Hey Hokie D, is that a picture of your TL's dash in your sig? If so, how did you get a picture showing the car going almost 140 - with no rise in coolant temp?

dantopia

Thats an interesting observation, I was wondering that myself....

pianoman41

VSA just activates the ABS system. It's no different than hard braking to activate the ABS. The rotor is *always* spinning when the brakes are applied--the only difference here is whether you are pressing the pedal or the VSA is activating the ABS system on its own. Rotor warping is caused by three things (in order of most common to least common):

1. Uneven cooling of the rotor surface
2. Uneven torqueing of lugs
3. Brake pads too hard for the rotor surface

Acura issued a TSB for the 2000-2001s after they discoverd the pads may have been too hard for the stock rotors. Many people with the 2002s and newer have also had rotor warpage problems and have had them taken care of under warranty (myself included), and only twice have I ever had VSA kick in (and that was during a snow storm). Fact is, the rotors on the TLs are just too soft to handle the braking task.

Racing in and of itself usually won't warp the rotors. How you drive afterwards can, though. If you make a hard run to high speed, then stop quickly and keep the car still, the area under the rotor (when the car is stopped) is not cooling nearly as fast as the rest of the rotor exposed to the air, and that's how you get warpage. The fastest/harder you stop, the hotter the rotors get and the more crucial it is to have even cooling.

Word to the wise--don't make a hard, high speed run and then park the car. Keep rolling for a bit.

LarryLynx

power3dfx

I was told that Acura blames the warping on the original equipment pads, and replaced them along with the rotor repairs. There was another '02 WDP just like mine being picked up and they got the same treatment. I'll be happy to believe them, and hope the warping stays away. My '87 325is rotors remained permanently warped, despite constant dealer repairs and replacements. I've lived with that for 270,000 miles and I don't want to have to go through it with my Acura.

scandal37

My rotors also warped on my '03 TLS at around 8900 miles. Dealer replaced the pads and rotors. . . Everything's fine now but I have noticed that our brakes really are pretty weak at higher speeds compared to the german cars. . .

FTM-1

pianoman41 is correct about the problem & its causes its quite common to our cars. At around 12,000 miles I had mine resuface on my 2000TL under warranty. The same problem happen again & at 15,000 service they replaced with new pads & rotors under warranty. I also was told about the uneven torqueing by a tech at another service place. He said HONDA cars a know for warped rotors. I have 28,000miles now & the brakes work fine. I have one exception to that statment ACURA said I had about 10% on the rear pads last week when I had the oil changed & other warranty work done. I will get them replaced at the next oil change.

fsttyms1

ive had mine doing 140 + a couple of times and the coolant temp has never risen

Avirex34

yea, i have the same problem guys, at high speed braking my steering wheel tends to vibrate a lot , and it gets really annoying. i'm pretty sure the dealer would replace them under warranty..at least i hope they do when i bring my car in.

car_lost

photoshop.

99Hokie

No problems on mine yet but, I'm only at 1,500 miles. Just noticed Hokie D started this thread and wanted to comment......didn't realize we had so many VT fans on the board.

Frogger

If one dealer doesn't cover this under warranty, is it as simple as driving to a different dealer even though you didn't buy it there?

Yeah Go Hokies!

Michellene

I am a lot disappointed. Perhaps you can help me get over it.

I had the warpage and needed new brakes in the front. 9100K miles. 2003 TL-S. Ok...this is bugging me...I just got rid of my Integra GSR (96) which didn't need brakes until 129K...that's right...129,000...I know this car is WAY heavier...but come on now...just over 9K and it needs brakes? Hope this isn't a regular occurence. I will be very sad.

It was covered under warranty. So yes I am thrilled I didn't have to pay for it, it's just the point of spending so much on a car and it's going to be in the shop...

Mr Hyde

I warped mine at about 14k, new pads and recutting the rotors solved the problem under warranty. New slotted and dimpled rotors along with better pads will be replacing the stockers shortly. Hopefully they along with the goodridge lines will improve the pedal feel and braking.

P.S. I also warped my Accords rotors as well, and its not common on them, but it isnt uncommon either just like with the TL's. They just have undersized front rotors.

juniel

My rotors warped at about 8000 miles. Same with my sister's 99 Odyssey at about 25000 miles. I just had the mechanic resurface it at the shop and it's ok now.
juniel

Hokie D

Can you even buy larger slotted or cross-drilled rotors for TLs? If so, where and how much?

I will take the car to the dealer and tell them that the warpage occurred somewhere between 20,000 and 25,000 b/c I'm not exactly sure what my mileage was when it began vibrating. Reading these posts sure doesn't make me feel good about Acura's choice for a brake system. People getting them replaced under 10K miles is ridiculous. 50K - ok, but 7100 miles? C'mon Acura!

Yes, GO HOKIES! Gotta start putting together some wins now and finish out the season in the top 20.

------------------------------------------
2002 Acura TL Type-S
Aegean Blue, Blk Leather
No Modifications
------------------------------------------
1993 5.0L Mustang Coupe
Dugan Racing X-Drilled Rotors
Kenny Brown Subframes
Eibach Pro Springs
Steeda Camber Plates
Baumann Shift Kit
3:73 Motorsport Gears
ADS Computer Chip
Motorsport Pulleys
1.5" Mach I Ram Air Hood
Flowmaster 2.5" Exhaust

KJ32

Other than just how you brake and how you cool down the brake. Make sure the wheel lugs are tighten evenly. That can warp your disc too.

Allout

Try Cryogenic Rotors if you want to avoid warpage and don't want to do the Big Brake Upgrade.

jbrown

I went through two sets of rotors before 20k miles, so I switched to Comptech x-drilled rotors (bought at dealer ~$250.00 for the front pair) and Axxis Ultimate pads (www.cobaltfriction.com) and now my car stops like mad and doesn't vibrate! I definitely recommend this combination to all TL and CL owners!