Brake rotors warped - anyone else?

[LWOOD]

Ok Dave, I'll try it tonight on the Parkway on my way home if all the Bennys aren't in my way.
P.S. to any Bennys, please, please don't take offense. Keep coming to Jersey and spending money. Thank you.

[DZeckhausen]

Originally Posted by BobCav

Dave, that's an excellent write up, thanks! I have just over 2000 on my 300C, would I still benefit from bedding my brakes at this stage?

Yes, you would. The brakes won't bed by themselves, regardless of how you drive or how many miles are on the car. I was testing a pre-production 350Z a couple years ago that had been used by the media. If anyone is hard on a car, it's Road & Track! Yet the brakes felt weak and were helped by a quick bedding session. You can see my write-up here: http://www.zeckhausen.com/Testing_Brakes.htm

How's Maplewood and good old Jersey? I was born and raised there, originally from Lyndhurst and that NAPA store on Ridge Road is my uncle's place. My family still lives there and I try to visit twice a year or so.

Maplewood is stunning right now, as all the flowers are blooming and the trees are filling out. It's the best time of the year - unless you have allergies.

[DZeckhausen]

Originally Posted by LWOOD

Ok Dave, I'll try it tonight on the Parkway on my way home if all the Bennys aren't in my way.
P.S. to any Bennys, please, please don't take offense. Keep coming to Jersey and spending money. Thank you.

I would suggest finding a secondary road where traffic can't come up on you suddenly with a high closing speed. Here's where I bed the brakes: http://tinyurl.com/9revn

[TwoHemis]

Originally Posted by TwoHemis

Dealer says front brake rotors are warped (which I believe based on vibration/noise when braking) at 16K miles but calls it a "comfort" issue rather than under-engineered brakes, and wants me to pay to have the rotors resurfaced. Is this reasonable, or a rip-off?
Just seems like I shouldn't be shelling out cash to repair a 10-month old car.

After meeting with dealer's service director and taking a technician for a test drive, they agreed brakes needed work. They resurfaced the front rotors and sanded the pads, for free (maybe because my C has been in the shop for about 3 weeks total in the last 11 months for a variety of problems?).....and it drives good as new!

DZeckhausen - thanks for the detailed brake bedding info.

[AVANTI4840]

Resurfacing may have corrected the problem, but that procedure reduces the thickness of the rotor, in which may cause them to heat quicker , resulting in warping the rotors again even quicker. Chrysler Dealer should have replaced the rotors.

[DZeckhausen]

Originally Posted by AVANTI4840

Resurfacing may have corrected the problem, but that procedure reduces the thickness of the rotor, in which may cause them to heat quicker , resulting in warping the rotors again even quicker. Chrysler Dealer should have replaced the rotors.

It's a common misconception, reinforced by the fact that the customer usually fails to bed in the brakes again after a rotor resurfacing job. Thus, the cycle of pad deposits is repeated and the customer returns with a judder complaint a week later.

See my earlier post: Brake rotors warped - anyone else?

The rotors were not warped before and they will not warp again. The problem is thickness variation due to pad deposits. The solution is the selection of proper friction material (pads) and bedding the brakes as described here: http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm

[LWOOD]

Dave,
I was able to do this and it did lessen the problem to a great degree. I think I needed to do a few more cycles though, as there is still a minor pulsation. But it is at least showing improvement. Thanks for the money saving tip! I would encourage anyone who is unhappy with the performance of their brakes and/or believes their rotors are warped to try this bedding process before you do anything else.
-Bill

[jhelmuth]

Originally Posted by Northern Rider

I have had lots of warped rotors on various cars over the years, especially sub-compacts. However, warping doesn't seem to be a problem on the 300, especially the C version (big rotors; ceramic pads; good heat dissipation).

Unless you drive with your left foot resting on the brake pedal, I think the dealer should take care of this problem at 10 months and 16k. It is not normal wear.

At 16K miles, he is outside of the limits for the standard Chrysler exclussion on rotors (1yr or 12K miles). I'd like to think (and believe) that the "C" does not have this problem - but it seems it aint so.

I've said before - and you can hear it here again... "it's a Chrysler - get used to it!"

[jhelmuth]

Originally Posted by obiwan

After a hard stop, if you sit still with your foot on the brake, it bakes the heat into the rotors which will induce the warpage. Kick it into neutral and take your foot off the pedel.

Excellent tip Obiwan!

[jhelmuth]

Originally Posted by DZeckhausen

The solution is the selection of proper friction material (pads) and bedding the brakes as described here: http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm

Dave,

On the selection of pads... do you recommend against the OEM? IE - has Chrysler been outfitting it's bake designs and assemblies with inferior pads?