Warped rotors

I don't believe warped rotors are caused by external ambient temperature. I believe they are caused by heat buildup from heavy braking. When you resurface a rotor, you remove material that will make the rotor thinner, making the rotor more susceptible to further warping. I believe most rotors can only be resurfaced once or twice before replacement. Perhaps Honda, or some third party vendor, have heavier duty rotors that will resist warping.

Good Luck,
Mike

Buy a torque wrench and make sure you set every lug nut to the recommended factory torque figure. This needs to be done every time the tires are rotated. If the dealer rotates them, go home and re-torque. If you get new tires, go home and re-torque. I have found a majority of places just tighten, and not torque to spec. This is not safe and causes warp. If the lugs are all at different torque then they will warp.

I used to have this issue years ago but once I started re-torquing and never one problem with the rotor on 5+ cars since. I believe when the lugs are at different torque spec the rotor becomes warped after continued heat cycles.

I noticed the brake disks on the PP have a 'sandwich' construction, I'm assuming they are vented? The venting is to dissipate heat buildup from hard and frequent breaking. The PP, as we have been told, was purpose designed for off-road and 'adventure' activities with the appropriate breaks designed to give us all the 'adventure' we can stand. With that in mind, brake warping should be a rare occurrence. Yes?

mtunofun said:

So took my car for the A1 service at 7500 miles. I noticed the brake vibrations around 6k miles. Basically the vibration is very noticible when braking at 70mph. I live in CA and summers get pretty hot so it’s understandible that the rotors overheat, especially if driving over the grapevine when it’s 100 degrees out, but shouldn’t Honda put more robust rotors on it or am I asking too much? Anyone else experience this issue? The dealership was very nice and covered resurfacing the rotors, but the advisor was adamant that it was my fault! Just thought that was weird as it makes me think that others have experienced this if the dealership offered to cover it so quickly...or maybe he thought I was a nice guy idk.

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There are 2 reasons rotors warp from the factory. The rotors were defective. Possible but unlikely. And the lugs were unequally as well as over torqued. possible but unlikely. Your resurfaced rotors given the way you demonstrated driving are even more likely to warp. They are thinner.

VERY frustrating!!!! My rotors warped within 3-5k miles of purchase with normal daily driving. The dealership resurfaced them and the brake pulsation returned within 2-3k miles. The dealership then replaced all 4 rotors and scuffed up the pads. The rotors warped again within 5k miles. I purchased and replaced all 4 rotors and pads with aftermarket products. They again warped within 5 k miles. After that, I purchased another set of OEM rotors and pads, but they still warped within 7k miles. I'm fed up with the brakes on this vehicle!!! I purchased one more set of aftermarket rotors and brake pads with another company and I HOPE this finally resolves the premature rotor warping issue!!! Apparently I will have to purchase a torque wrench to ensure the tech did their job correctly. By the way, what is the proper torque for our wheels? Thank you.

tsherriff, you're experienced with your rotors warping after driving relatively few miles is exceptional. You have gone far beyond what is required and necessary for an owner/drive to do. The only remaining question I have is your driving style, namely are you "riding" the brakes while driving? Just a thought.

mtunofun said:

So took my car for the A1 service at 7500 miles. I noticed the brake vibrations around 6k miles. Basically the vibration is very noticible when braking at 70mph. I live in CA and summers get pretty hot so it’s understandible that the rotors overheat, especially if driving over the grapevine when it’s 100 degrees out, but shouldn’t Honda put more robust rotors on it or am I asking too much? Anyone else experience this issue? The dealership was very nice and covered resurfacing the rotors, but the advisor was adamant that it was my fault! Just thought that was weird as it makes me think that others have experienced this if the dealership offered to cover it so quickly...or maybe he thought I was a nice guy idk.

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DudeCS said:

94 ft-lb / 127 N-m
View attachment 6320

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Thanks!

elder prep said:

tsherriff, you're experienced with your rotors warping after driving relatively few miles is exceptional. You have gone far beyond what is required and necessary for an owner/drive to do. The only remaining question I have is your driving style, namely are you "riding" the brakes while driving? Just a thought.

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Haven't rode the brakes and no hard braking....just normal driving as with all my vehicles. However, for whatever reason this one warps the brake rotors way to soon.

Thanks for the quick response. Your answer eliminates my question as to your driving pattern(s). See my comment above eleven months ago on the subject of warped rotors. Good luck with your problem and be sure to let us know the solution to the problem.

tsherriff said:

Haven't rode the brakes and no hard braking....just normal driving as with all my vehicles. However, for whatever reason this one warps the brake rotors way to soon.

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Are you in an urban area with lots of stop & go traffic? Also unless necessary, avoid applying the parking brakes when the rotors are hot. Search the internet for "myth warped rotors"... pulsation and vibration are due to other causes.

I also drive the Grapevine in CA and when I do, I use the paddle shifters and engine braking to prevent the rotors from being overheated and warped.

DudeCS said:

Are you in an urban area with lots of stop & go traffic? Also unless necessary, avoid applying the parking brakes when the rotors are hot. Search the internet for "myth warped rotors"... pulsation and vibration are due to other causes.

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I live just outside a small town and do 75% of of my driving in the country to and from work.

Rotors warp from breaking, such as long, heavy breaking like coming down out of hills/mountains and the air temp is already high. I've actually seen rotors glow red after long a decent. I've also seen rotors warp after a single hard breaking incident, such as 80mph on highway full-stop sudden breaking due to object on the road.

My comment is addressed to all participating in the 'warped rotor' discussion. As I mentioned 10 months ago, the Honda PP was designed for 'adventure' driving. My definition of 'adventure' driving would include hard braking in hot climates, such as your lovely southern California deserts. If as DudeCS mentioned, braking vibration is not caused by warped rotors, we need to seek another solution to the problem. If PP rotors are warping under 'adventure' driving, it stands that the braking system was inadequately designed and our brakes are no better than one found on a suburban station wagon. Thoughts?

'Adventure' driving sounds like creative advertising to me.

Nipper Dog said:

'Adventure' driving sounds like creative advertising to me.

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That's how the PP was positioned in the early promotional material.

Maybe it's just me but I don't see it that way.