Poor design for sure.

My 2 Accord suffered from it. Not my 2 Bimmers.

Still happening in the new models.

 

80's and 90's Acura's and Honda's had somewhat small brake discs for front and rear. Since early 2000's the size of their rotors have sized up. I haven't had a warped rotor on a Honda/Acura in my immediate family since the 90's. My 89 Legend and 86 Integra rotors would last ~60-80K miles. My wife's 2003 Pilot has ~143K miles and is still on the original rotors and second set of brake pads. In our current immediate family ((five Honda/Acura's, oldest model is a 2000 Accord) none have had any warping at all.

Also Honda/Acura's OEM pads used to be fair quality in terms of linearity and fade, now they're so much better to the point I replaced the Pilot with OEM pads. My TL with the Brembo's I'll go aftermarket since the OEM Ferodo brake pads are too dusty and abrassive on the Brembo rotors.

If rotors are warping on a recent Honda/Acura most probably the problem lies with overtorqued lug nuts and water sprayed on the rotors when hot, not the design. The only modern vehicle I've heard from a friend/neighbor with brake problems was a Nissan Titan which has gone through 3 sets of rotors and pads (under warrenty). Also 2G Odyssey's had problems with their rear drum brakes (TSB), but no problems with the discs that eventually replaced them in a couple years later.

 

Kinda OT, but does Powerslot make good rotors? I ordered some Stoptech rotors from a vendor and recieved powerslot...he told me theyre the same company but i'm sure there are some differences...just wondering if I should send them back or install them.

 

I've had my Powerslot rotors on for almost 30k miles now and have not had one problem with them.

 

For what its worth I have 55K on my OE rotors/pads on my 03CLS. My driving is about 70city/30highway so its not like I don't use my brakes. I rotated my tires a few weeks ago and noticed the pads and rotors still have lots of life in them and virtually no vibration. Im sure when its time to replace the brakes I will be putting OE back on the car.

 

On the contrary. The 2nd Gen TL used relatively large rotors on the car. Much larger than most of the counterparts out there and it still warped (couldnt fit a larger rotor under the 16" wheel if you wanted to). Quality of the material used is a big key

 

Haven't had any problems with the 14" rotors on my G37...

 

Our benz went through 3 sets of rotors (50k miles), my TL just hit 50 and the rotors need to be replaced. My brothers Z rotors have already been changed twice and he has about 65k miles

 

bump...

Is it unsafe to drive with warped rotors or is it more of a nuisance?

The rotors on my tl have been warped for a while, but recently its picked up a bit I think, more in the rear at least, since the car is shaking a ltl more than usual.

Is this something that needs to be fixed asap or is it fine to wait it out a while longer. Cause honestly I dunno how much longer I'm going to have this car and I dont wanna put to much money into fixing it.

edit: by the looks of this thread you guys may not know, maybe some new knowledge dawned on you guys but, is there any way to prevent warped rotors?

 

question, if your rotors keep warping why do you keep buying Acura rotors?

 

the only time the rotors warped was I was driving down a very steep hill. I had to make a sharp turn and drove thru a puddle of cold water. The brakes did not have enough time to cool down slow enough. My 06 tsx has the original rotors and pads with 120K Miles

 

If your asking me, then I think we replaced our rotors once, but that was when my parents had the car and I was much younger at the time and probably didnt even know what warped rotors were. I wouldnt buy them again

 

get some ebc ultimax rotors from placeforbrakes.com sign into their mailing list for a coupon before purchase. i have had mine for years and im still on the first set. ill probably always use these

 

Not sure why they're not a sponsor anymore, but BrakeMotive used to sponsor the site and sells sets for a fraction compared to brembo, etc.

If you're not looking to keep your car for a long time, wanting to be able to say you have Brems, or if you just want replacement brakes for not a lot of cash, check them out: http://stores.ebay.com/Brakemotive

I bought a set for my 03TLS and love them. They're drilled and slotted (didn't want slotted, but whatever). I think I paid $165 or so for fronts, backs, pads and shipping. My buddy and I put them on fairly quickly and I haven't had any issues with them. Get lots of compliments when getting my oil changed and whatnot. I know a lot of members bought them when they were a sponsor and the initial response was positive as far as I could tell.

Good luck!

 

About warped rotors being unsafe:

I thought the same, but according to the owner of the shop I take my car to, they only really become a problem when the steering wheel vibrates so much you can't keep the car pointed where you want.

My question: How common are warped rear rotors? I knew I had warped fronts (brake shuddering, steering wheel vibrating when braking from high speeds), but lately the brake shuddering has gotten worse, with no change in the steering wheel vibration.

Can't brake smoothly if my life depended on it

 

I just swapped my (insert large number here) set of warped rotors. 2-3 hours and $100 and will have to do it again in a year. I tried OE parts, replacement parts....both have issues. I think that today's driving in heavy traffic areas are conducive to warping.

Lucky for me that 1 year = 40K miles. I at least gets good enough use out of my rotors.

 

For what it's worth, I still have the same drilled rotors I posted about in '09 on with zero warping. 3 years and 60k + miles on them, no cracks or any issues whatsoever.

 

Basically what makes the brakes on a honda not so great, are the type of pad, most rotor sizes are sufficient though, and the fact that some of you think this is a race car which it is not, that is why they use single piston calipers (the secondary main culprit for warped rotors).

The main cause for warped rotors, is the driver, and it will always be the driver, if you are going so fast that in 12k miles you warp your rotors, you need to change your driving habits.

I changed to NSX calipers on my CL 4 years ago, and I have 160k miles on my stock rotors, no warping.

Honda does not make a shitty product, yes they use cheap parts, but its more driver error than faulty products.

But yes honda does use shitty pads for rotors that probably doesn't help either.

 

I'd be interested to know what habits a driver can have that causes warped rotors. Driving through puddles and washing wheels before letting the brakes cool makes sense, and the latter isn't even while driving. Don't see much else a driver can do to warp rotors.

 

Same here haha, but mines more on highway speeds or if I'm going downhill. City speeds its mostly fine. But it does get annoying. Coming down from big bear mountain last year after snowboarding was really bad. The whole way down hill when ever i had to step on my brakes the steering wheel would shake quite a bit. But my car still goes straight. Its not dangerous yet.

Yea, I'd like to know these driver errors also. I know our car is not a race car, but I do some spririted driving every now and then. I still dont think that should cause my brakes to go bad.

 

Sorry, But i have to say

I race my car (auto x and lapping days) I have had the same rotors on my car for the last 150k. I have had them glowing red on numerous occasions. Braking is still butter smooth. Quality rotors, pads and having the wheels torqued properly is KEY. I never had a rotor warp on the TL before they were worn out (and i have over 400k on it). The slots are completely worn off my rotora rotors and in need of replacement but they are still warp free.

 

So what are the chances that Firestone is torquing my wheels properly?

 

not very good. I never trust any place. I always retorque my wheels any time a shop has touched them.

 

Probably about the same that my shop is, which I'm guessing is around the neighborhood of 0%

Consider the number of cars they work on, they don't have time to look up the torque specs for your car's lugs.

Fatty, how do you torque your wheels? Is there some sort of measurement device you can get at Autozone/Wal-Mart, etc that shows how much lugs (or any bolt or screw I guess) is torqued?

 

toque wrench. Canadian tire or Princess auto both sell them. They are pretty expensive though, If i recall when I bought mine I got it on sale for $30 or so.

 

So anyway it goes it is still driver error, whenever I have tires replaced I ALWAYS ask may I see the torque wrench and torque the wheels myself.

Basically it is the driver to make sure everything is working like it should be, I recommend people do walkarounds their cars like pilots and I do before I get in.

Not trying to start a fight, but what you have posted in response to my post is that you know how to drive since you have yet to have warped rotors.

Doesn't hurt, takes time yes I know but no one ever has time now anymore they are so intent on getting where they need to.

 

By "driver error" thought you meant habits from behind the wheel.

 

To an extent, I have seen some people wait until almost the last minute to brake, and I have seen some that ride their brakes forever, but I have seen both of them complain about warped rotors.

But when I "driver" that is anyone with the keys to the car that drives it regardless of whether or not they work on the car or not. It is their car and I assume like insurance does, you are responsible for it.

 

My old Civic had warped rotors. We replaced the rotors over Christmas break so hopefully they'll be better this go around?

The TSX now is starting to shimmy when braking heavily. I'm thinking the rotors are going to warp soon...

 

I have only had warped rotors once.

You have to have a proper braking-in period. (Get it? Nevermind). I go very easy on my brakes the first 500 miles, and whenever I brake, I always basically pump the brake (never one, single brake use). This has caused me to have solid, non warping brakes for years.

 

busiest thread title ever.

 

Like mentioned, get a torque wrench and torque your lugs in a star pattern to 80 ft/lbs. Once you see what 80 ft/lbs feels like, you'll likely realize you (or a shop) have been over-torquing them.

 

So you thik the rotors wrap, read this article.
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...rakedisk.shtml

Our 2008 Knock around car started with the steering wheel and pedal vibration, then when the wear indicator made contact with the rotor at 74,000 miles, time for a change. Roughed up the rotor with some emory cloth, installed new Raybestos pads and what do you know, after a short period, no more vibration, smooth as glass.

 

Then why didnt you say that in the first place. You implied that it was driver error as in it was the way they drive. I simply pointed out that driving has little to do with it. How many people out there even know what a torque wrench is. Most bring there cars in because they dont have the knowledge, time or ability to do many of the things to their vehicles. When one brings it in it is under the assumption that the guy doing the work is doing it correctly. Sure there are many things that every one should do to their vehicle on a regular basis. Is owning a torque wrench for say a 40 year old woman so she can check her wheels after bringing it into the shop one of them?

 

Torque wrench. I suggest owning one.

 

Interesting article. Very good read and the author definitely seems to know his stuff. I always break my pads in the right way, so whether it's that or the drilled rotors doing a better job of cooling, I appreciate not having any vibration in my steering wheel when braking.

 

I NEVER bed them in right away. Give them 500 or so miles first. Cycle them. Some of the new pads have a break-in layer. Give that a chance to cycle (especially with new rotors). Been doing that for 15 years after learning it at a lapping day from a veteran racer. Never had a warped rotor since.

 

no such thing as warped rotors..

 

^I really hope you mean that

 

Care to expand?