View Single Post
Old Mar 9, 2005 | 12:19 PM
  #2  
davidjkozak's Avatar
davidjkozak
Noob '01 CL (non S-Type)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: SW Ohio
Default Warped Rotors and Warranty

The Acura warranty does not cover brake pads or linings, which means rotors in this case. The diagnosis of "warped" rotors can be somewhat of an enigma, as most times when you feel a vibration or pulsation while braking, it is not really because the rotors have actually warped - its almost always an uneven buildup of brake pad material that has occurred on the rotor.

This uneven buildup or transfer of pad material feels like a warped disc, but the discs actually distorting is extremely rare for any vehicle, not just Acuras/Hondas. If you have deep enough groves worn into the rotor, a tech will likely "turn" them which means cutting several thousandths or more of material off the surface of the rotor and rendering them perfectly flat again. If the surface defects are very slight, a mild sanding with GARNET sandpaper may be enough to eliminate this warped sensation. (Do not use aluminum oxide based sandpaper as the abrasive material will cause a chemical reaction with the cast iron rotor and create troublesome deposits on the surface and magnify the warped sensation!) Turning of the rotors is not desirable because brakes turn motion energy into heat, and the rotor absorbs this heat. The more mass a rotor has, the more heat it can absorb and the better the braking system works. Turning the rotors removes mass from the rotor and actually decreases the efficiency of the brakes on your car. This is why many manufacturers suggest new rotors only with a new set of pads.

There is a really good "whitepaper" article on the StopTech website that explains a lot about the myth of warped rotors and bedding-in brake pads. You should check it out. Bottom line is that no concern with the pads or the rotors is covered under warranty unless it is something like the entire pad crumbling and falling off or the rotor fracturing due to a casting defect. Comfort issues like "warped" rotors can usually be eliminated by doing a rebedding of the pads per the StopTech website instructions. You can find this info from other places as well by googling brake pad bedding procedure or the like.

Hope this helps!
Reply