So I actually warped a rotor

triggz · 03-31-2007, 04:42 PM

Since around october I've been having a lot of trouble with my rear brakes.. My buddy accidentally drove it with the e-brake engaged, when it got stopped the rotors were GLOWING bright red/orange, nassssty..

I ended up having to replace the calipers on both sides because the slide pins had seized up completely, and of course the brake pads because they cracked straight down the middle from the extreme heat.

All was good until yesterday, a quick ~10mile trip down the interstate and when I got out my driver side pads were smoldering, almost on fire. Limped it back home and tried the only thing left to replace and put on a new rotor (got the hookup for $10!

). Placing the old one on top of the new one, there was no obvious warpage.. but since that replacement it's all been fine. I really didnt think it was possible to warp a solid rotor like that, especially the rear. There were 3 or 4 imprints on the rotor from the brake pads being overheated and then the e-brake engaged being parked, so it probably has to do with being engaged on different sides several times while extremely hot still. Had to replace the pads (warrantied) as well again because they cracked down the middle. Dont think I'll ever buy another set of Wagner Thermoquiets as I smoked all 4 corners of my stock pads on a dragon run and they didnt crack like that.

I also had a very strange breakage rear end shortly after the initial e-brake accident, which MAY have been due to constant strain on one of the brakes putting constant torsional force into the differential. The lower spider gear broke against the axle side gears and beat up my ring gear as well with broken bits.

So, basically, if your rotors are ever glowing red...replace everything.

QWKSNKE · 03-31-2007, 06:40 PM

That would definitely explain the spider gears breaking.

03-31-2007, 04:42 PM	#1
triggz Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 245	So I actually warped a rotor Since around october I've been having a lot of trouble with my rear brakes.. My buddy accidentally drove it with the e-brake engaged, when it got stopped the rotors were GLOWING bright red/orange, nassssty.. I ended up having to replace the calipers on both sides because the slide pins had seized up completely, and of course the brake pads because they cracked straight down the middle from the extreme heat. All was good until yesterday, a quick ~10mile trip down the interstate and when I got out my driver side pads were smoldering, almost on fire. Limped it back home and tried the only thing left to replace and put on a new rotor (got the hookup for $10! ). Placing the old one on top of the new one, there was no obvious warpage.. but since that replacement it's all been fine. I really didnt think it was possible to warp a solid rotor like that, especially the rear. There were 3 or 4 imprints on the rotor from the brake pads being overheated and then the e-brake engaged being parked, so it probably has to do with being engaged on different sides several times while extremely hot still. Had to replace the pads (warrantied) as well again because they cracked down the middle. Dont think I'll ever buy another set of Wagner Thermoquiets as I smoked all 4 corners of my stock pads on a dragon run and they didnt crack like that. I also had a very strange breakage rear end shortly after the initial e-brake accident, which MAY have been due to constant strain on one of the brakes putting constant torsional force into the differential. The lower spider gear broke against the axle side gears and beat up my ring gear as well with broken bits. So, basically, if your rotors are ever glowing red...replace everything. __________________ 2000 Black on Black on Black 4R70W N2O GT Convertible times Stock rebuild 11/12/04 ....... 100shot 10/15/06 1/4: 14.08@99.32 ............. 1/4: 12.8@108 Horsepower for Charity dyno: 357rwhp/398rwtq sae Last edited by triggz; 03-31-2007 at 04:44 PM.

03-31-2007, 06:40 PM	#2
QWKSNKE 3v's are slow Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Here and There Posts: 17,152	That would definitely explain the spider gears breaking.