What happens if rotors are warped

Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site. Is your brake pedal or steering wheel wobbling when you brake, especially on the highway?

You might have warped rotors. Your rotors are those round discs you might be able to see through the spaces in your rim. When you hit the brake, the brake pads the rotor to bring your vehicle to a stop. A technician would need to run some tests to diagnose the cause, but it could be a few things:. Note: If your shocks are not performing as designed, they can also be the root cause of rotor warpage as excessive weight shifts to the front design braking.

Rotors are a cast metal and the heat generated by braking can release the stress of the casting. Rotors are normally flat and smooth, and as the brake pads clamp down on them, your wheels stop. You have two choices: replace them, or machine them. All of our brake services are warranty-approved and performed with premium parts. One of our certified mechanics can make a proper diagnosis and fix any other problems with your brakes that could be causing your rotors to warp.

It's important to narrow down your symptoms so you don't end up replacing the wrong components and wasting money. Brake Pedal Vibration Probably the most common sign of a warped brake rotor is the vibration through the brake pedals when pressure is applied on them. Sometimes you can feel it even when there is only a light amount of pedal pressure on the brakes. Other times, it can only be felt when slowing down drastically from higher speeds.

Steering Wheel Vibration The brake rotors and brake calipers are attached to the same spindle that the wheels are attached to, so in certain cases vibrations from warped brake rotors will transmit through the brake calipers and then to the wheels and steering wheel. Brake Noise There are certain cases where you will hear noises emitted from your brake rotors during braking.

This is due to the brake rotors contacting your brake pads at uneven intervals due to the rotor no longer having a flat surface. Damaged wheel bearing can cause your wheels to wobble even if there is no bent. If you suspect that you have a defective wheel bearing , have it checked immediately and have it repaired to avoid serious issues in the future. Knowing the causes of warped rotors can help you be cautious of your driving habit and help you address the issue before it gets worse.

If you think that you already have a bad rotor but are not quite sure yet, here are some of the common signs of faulty or warped rotors. Warped rotors can cause excessive noise every time you brake. You might hear it as a loud squeaking, grinding, or scraping sound.

But keep in mind that worn-out brake pads can cause excessive noise. It is recommended that the minute you hear strange noises coming from your vehicle, you should visit your service shop immediately to diagnose and correct the problem that causes it.

When you press the brakes and you feel your vehicle vibrate, it could be because of warped rotors. You may also feel your brake pedal and steering wheel vibrate. This should not happen. Pressing the brake pedal should be smooth even when you hit sudden brakes. A vibrating brake pedal every time it is being used means that there is a problem with your brake rotors. A vibrating steering wheel is not a common symptom of a warped rotor but it can happen.

This is because the brake rotors and the brake calipers are connected to the same spindle to where the wheels are attached to. So if ever you have a warped rotor, the vibrations from the rotors will be transmitted to the brake calipers then to the wheels and then the steering wheel.

For your safety, when these symptoms show up, you need to schedule your car for a service and rectify the problem. You can visually check your rotor for any visible cuts, deep marks or grooves on it. Brake rotors should be flat and smooth. If you see any visible marks, it could be an indication that you have warped rotors.

You can remove your tires so you can thoroughly inspect your brake rotors. When you visually inspect your brake rotor, look for cuts, marks, visible cracks, heat spots, and rust. When you encounter problems with your brake rotors and you suspect that you have warped rotors, you might ask how do you fix it? You have two choices. You can fix it by either resurfacing your brake rotor or by replacing it. When your brake rotors have worn unevenly or warped, you can opt to resurface them.

Resurfacing rotors mean that some of its metal will be removed to make the surface smooth and even again. But it is not always the perfect solution. A brake rotor has a minimum thickness that is made standard by the manufacturers. Brake rotors are usually being resurfaced when the brake pads are replaced.