What Causes Brake Rotors to Warp?
Brake rotors are metal discs that you can see behind the wheels. They are made to spin along with the wheels so that they stop the movement when you clamp them with brake pads. Besides, they can withstand loads of heat from friction. However, the surface of the rotor needs to be even for it to be effective.
Warping happens when the surface of the rotor is uneven. This prevents the pads from holding on to the rotors when the pedal is pressed and may make it hard to stop the vehicle. Here are some of the issues that cause brake rotors to warp.
Grazing the Brake Rotor with Pad Material
The brake pad is made of a soft material that may get hot and sticky if you apply the brakes too hard and too often. If the material gets too hot, it tends to stick on the surface of the rotor as it rotates. This prevents the pad from holding on to the rotor surface when you press the brake pedals.
Uneven Wearing of the Rotor
The concept behind smooth braking is that the brake pads act on an even surface and wear down instead of the rotor. However, if the rotor is defective, the softer spots on the surface may become soft enough to be warped by heat. These warped points tend to stick out, making it hard to bring the vehicle to a stop.
How to Prevent Warping Rotors
You can prevent warping by purchasing high-quality brake rotors every time you change them. After installing new brake pads, stop the vehicle slowly until they get used to the heat. You can get the vehicle to attain the normal speed. Then, lower the speed ten miles slower. Do this until the vehicle comes to a stop. This exercise helps the new brake pads get different intensities of heat, making them effective at braking.
Finally, avoid high-speed braking if it is not necessary. Always slow down when approaching urban areas or sections close to bumps. This will prevent glazing of the rotors by brake pads. Instead, you can shift to a lower speed gear if driving downhill. For automatic vehicles, shifting the gear to 'three' does the trick.
If you experience problems braking or have damaged brake rotors, bring your vehicle to our auto repair shop for professional repair!