2003 Serious Brake issues

[jetmech727]

Hello,This is my first post on here so nice to meet you all.Anyway, just wondering if any of you are having trouble with your front brakes. I'm at 36'000 Kms and I'm on my 3rd set of rotors. After there changed, all it takes is one stop coming off the highway and there warped instantly. I'm not talking a hard stop either. Of course GM says I drive the car to hard. Any thoughts?Thanks

[scherry2]

I have 30,000 and don't seem to have any problems. I suggest instead of stock rotors to replace the ones that are warped you have try drilled rotors maybe being cooler will help.

[burkeyro]

Have 62,000 miles on mine and 1 accident where I locked them up bad and have no problems. - I would definately try some cross drilled/slotted and see if it persists. Could be defective Calipers and the pads are dragging on the Rotors constantly. I don't know for sure but you definately should not be going through Rotors this often - Sure the Tires just are not out of balance? Warped Rotors and Off balance tires produce basically the same symptoms in FWD cars.Just my 2 cents

[joatmon]

welcome to genvibe, sorry to hear about your troubles.I replaced my front pads at 150K kms, and the rotors were still fine. Does GM verify that the rotors are warped by actually measuring them? I can't see how one stop from highway speed would warp them. How long are you on the highway beforer the first warping stop? Is it both front rotors warping or just one? If just one is it the same one each time? Did they check the resst of the brake system for proper operation?How are they putting the wheels back on? overtightening them in one pass could warp the rotors. How often do you rotate the tires, and does it warp only when a specific wheel is up front?

[Mavrik]

I'm at 30,500KM on my Vibe and still original pads and rotors.Now only thing I can think of that would go through that many rotors are calipers causing the pads to stick. But are you replacing pads or just rotors?Are you applying the brakes and then after that is there a pulsation from the brakes? You'd have to be really hard on the brakes to warp the rotors so quickly...Now overtightening the wheels when putting them on can be hard to do on Vibes because I believe 110 foot pounds or more will break a stud.

[jetmech727]

Well maybe warped is the wrong word. I'm not getting the typical pulsing pedal or shaking steering wheel. Theres just a very loud pulsing growl thats comng from both fronts. It stops dead straight. But it occurs litterally after One to Two applications of the brakes. And I'm not jumping on them by any stretch.

[Mavrik]

pulsing growl? can you reproduce this noise with a service tech along for the ride? It would almost sound like the ABS activating prematurely since thats a vibrating rumble... but your condition has me scratching my head.

[jetmech727]

It's simple to reproduce. I just need to hit the brakes. If I'm slowing down very gradually from say highway speeds, just lightly depressing the pedal to maybe a 1/4 way down, theres no problem. If I push a little harder, so stopping with more power but by no means a panic stop, the rumble starts. It's not that fast hockey card in the spoke sound you get from the ABS. It's just a deep rumble.

[Mavrik]

Well I don't know were abouts in TO you live. I used to work at a GM dealership in Woodstock. There are some great mechanics there and great service advisors. But either way, take it to a dealership and have someone from GM drive it and then have them say if they feel its normal or the brakes are being applied to hard. I know I hammer down on my brakes a lot since I drive mostly in town. People like to pull out in front me or what not... no brake problems so far.I almost have to wonder if your calipers are loose...

[ColonelPanic]

Have they ever replaced your pads along with the rotors? If not, I would definitely consider that. I highly recommend going with some ceramic pads - those coupled with a quality set of rotors have worked great for me in the past when I've had brake issues.Do have them look at your calipers, the could be part of the problem... I know I still have one dragging on the driver's side that I've never bothered to do anything about...Like Joatmon said, make sure whoever puts your tires back on isn't overtightening the lugs. If they torque 'em down too much or unevenly, that can do some damage to the rotors.Good luck to you!

[DavidPIL]

Hiya...You know, I think I know what you're experiencing. For me, it seems to happen when there is some sort of moisture. It's a loud groaning sound, almost like a stuck wheel on a heavily loaded shopping cart. Ok, that might not be the best analogy... maybe a bit like the sound the tires make when going over a grated bridge, but while stopping. I noticed it more on my Vibe later last Summer into Fall (52,000 miles or so) but it does get quieter after a stop or 2 to where it's ok. Seriously, I only thought it was moisture on the pads, or a combination of moisture on the pads and a slight rust coating on the rotor. Let us know if you come up with something that is different than this because I'd like to know, especially since mine really just started doing that noticably in the last 10,000 miles or soDave

[jetmech727]

DavidPIL, thats kind of what they sound like, only it never goes away.

[03VibeGT6Spd]

Years back at GMI, An instructor named Gamble told us that braking in turns can cause this issue. (While Gamble was a GMI instructor, I believe I taught him more then he taught me)I'm still Not sure If I believe it, But maybe your doing it on your off ramps or while turning corners.Maybe something is loose as mentioned before.As mentioned by Scherry2 said drill and or slotted rotors might help.If you have an extra $1k laying around for each corner, you could try some real Carbon Fiber brake rotors. lol (but they to seem to wear out fast)I had my front rotors turned at about 33k miles.And had to replace both front and rear pads in the mid 50k mile range.One question I have for you, When your making a turn do you brake before the turn or during the turn?Rule of thumb is you brake before the turn and accerate thru the turn.

[mcgusto82]

next time you go to the dealer. ask them to look at the calipers. maybe they are sticking together. that will cause premature disc and pad wear. exsesive heat is where i'm going with this.

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by 03VibeGT6Spd »Years back at GMI, An instructor named Gamble told us that braking in turns can cause this issue.I don't believe that. I braked on turns for many years of driving in many differnet cars, and there's no way that one braking, should warp rotors. THe only timie I have warped a rotor was after towing a Chevy 3/4 ton van with a low end 1/2 ton Dodge pcikup, too much weight for the truck, but it was one of those things we sometimes find we have to do.Sticking calipers seems to fit the scenario best, overheating the rotors at highway speed then becoming apparent the first braking coming off the burn in highway run.

[03VibeGT6Spd]

I have had hot brakes a few times, Glowing red. That didnt warp the rotor's.I came off the cabbage patch in oregon, Filled the Entire highway with a smoke cloud that when for miles. way worst then any blown head gasket I had ever seen. and again I didn't warp the brakes. (I thought I was on fire)I do know that if you stop and hold the brakes on, while there glowing red that will warp the roters.