My brake rotors are warped at 10,000 miles

Jeep4wd · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:30 pm

I had my 2006 inspected today and I mentioned to them about the slight shimmy I get when braking, They came back with a $300 quote to replace my warped rotors. I was pissed! I don't even have 11,000 miles on the damned thing and my rotors are bad!

The stealership service manager agreed that they were probably defective but since we were past the twelve month "fix everything" period I was basically screwed. I asked him if this was a problem with Liberty rotors in general and he said no, I asked him will it do it again in 10,000 miles after I get new ones and he gave me a stupid look and shrugged.

Two Questions:

Is anyone else replacing rotors this early?

What aftermarket brand would be a reliable alternative?, (for $300 I could probably get titanium-enriched gourmet uber-tacticool slotted rotors hand-made in the mountains of Germany) I want to stay away from the local parts store Chinese specials.

Thanks for any input.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:37 pm

Depending on how you drive is how long your rotors will last,I have warped a set of Wilwood rotors in less then 500miles before.

Try the PowerSlot rotors,about $100 each and alot better then the OEM rotors,I'm very hard on my brakes(KJ is 1500lbs heavier then stock) and I have yet to warp my PowerSlots in the last 33,000miles.

Oh and also it may not be your rotors that are warped,your pads can warp(and the rotor be fine) also.

Strikeagle · **Posted:** Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:54 pm

mine warped at about 20000 miles, wife mostly drives car, i do the offroad driving. rotors are probably garbage as usually they warp if not broken in when new. not after so many miles. we are not hard on the breaks. i got new ones from local kagen and dimpled them myself with my cheapy harbor frieght drill press. dimpled the rears since i had the stensil already made. (liberty is a heavy vehicle+armour+nicknacks+larger rims and tires)

DryBones · **Posted:** Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:12 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Depending on how you drive is how long your rotors will last,I have warped a set of Wilwood rotors in less then 500miles before.

Try the PowerSlot rotors,about $100 each and alot better then the OEM rotors,I'm very hard on my brakes(KJ is 1500lbs heavier then stock) and I have yet to warp my PowerSlots in the last 33,000miles.

Oh and also it may not be your rotors that are warped,your pads can warp(and the rotor be fine) also.

what pads are you running with those Powerslot rotors? I need to change the cheapo pads Carmax put on mine, I am tired of all the dust on the wheels so I figure I might as well go new rotors at the same time.

iambob · **Posted:** Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:21 pm

I've found that not using the proper torque on the lugs has contributed to warped rotors. I once read an article in the paper (ya, before internet forums) that using proper torque on lugs will eliminate warped rotors. I was skeptical, but I tried it. Since reading that article, I've yet to replace rotors due to warping.

Not says this is your issue, just stating that I believe too much torque contributes to warped rotors.

Take it as a grain of salt if you like. Maybe some here can attest? But for me, it works. I use a torque wrench every time. Whereas before, I'd crank those babies down. I think cranking those lugs down with an impact wrench, or a 4 way, the metal couldn't expand when hot/cold.

All I can say is try it, if it works then great. If not, then you're not out anything.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:46 pm

DryBones wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Depending on how you drive is how long your rotors will last,I have warped a set of Wilwood rotors in less then 500miles before.

Try the PowerSlot rotors,about $100 each and alot better then the OEM rotors,I'm very hard on my brakes(KJ is 1500lbs heavier then stock) and I have yet to warp my PowerSlots in the last 33,000miles.

Oh and also it may not be your rotors that are warped,your pads can warp(and the rotor be fine) also.

what pads are you running with those Powerslot rotors? I need to change the cheapo pads Carmax put on mine, I am tired of all the dust on the wheels so I figure I might as well go new rotors at the same time.

I use the Napa ceramic pads and shoes(rear drums) with my powerslot front rotors.

pg2676 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:02 am

Not surprised. I had a warranty set of rotors @ 35,000km and a replacement set of aftermarket rotors as well. With 180,000km on my KJ, I'm on my 4th set and will probably be looking at my 5th later this year.
And by the way... my e-brake has never worked properly since day 1. Even after having it completely ripped apart and parts replaced by both the dealer and a brake shop.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:22 am

Did you install custom after market wheels and tires? chances are the lug nuts were driven down by an impact wrench and too tight. This will warp the rotors everytime. That is why the stealership said NOT Covered.

Use a torque wrench to tighteb the lug nuts. Watch the tire store guys like a hawk and make them use a torque wrench.

When fixing a flat on the road, DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN. Torque wrench as soon as paoosible.

The rotors MIGHT be able to be re-surfaced true, but maybe not.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:05 pm

over 100,000 miles on original brake pads/rotors now and have rotated my own tires over 20 times (using a 4 way) no problems with warped rotors at all. I never let tire jockeys put my tires on, even though I did that for a few years, :roll:

I know how some guys hammer away.
Heat will warp the rotors as fast as anything will, and the way I see some people drive racing up behind others and then hitting the brakes no wonder they warp!

iambob · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:50 pm

I had a shop in town perform a state inspection. The guys had my lugs so tight, I couldn't break them. I took it back, they removed my rims, and used the proper torque extension for an impact wrench per my request. You never see these extensions leave the tool box. Look one day if you can take a peak. They'd be the shiny slightly used extensions!

stick · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:01 pm

My wife's KJ needs a new set of pads and rotors at 55K miles. $500 installed at the dealership

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:34 pm

stick wrote:

My wife's KJ needs a new set of pads and rotors at 55K miles. $500 installed at the dealership

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:45 pm

Had them warp once around 11k. Re-surfaced them and theyve been fine for over 20k. I was a newb and probably rode the brakes to much. Ive towed a boat since then and driven up and down many mountains, still doing great.

Pad look like I just put them on.

If a kj has been through 5 sets of rotors then I think its something besides rotors. :wink:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:47 pm

Quote:

If a kj has been through 5 sets of rotors then I think its something besides rotors.

All driver error there :wink:

.

o4liberty · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:43 pm

I HAVE OVER 100,000 MILES ON MY 04 AND STILL HAVE THE SAME BRAKES,ROTORS,PLUGS,ETC AND IT RUNS LIKE IT WAS NEW. I AM STARTING THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THESE ITEMS THIS WEEK. I FIGURE I WILL INVEST WITH BRAKES,ROTORS,TIRES,RADITOR FLUCH,PCV VALVE,FLUID CHANGE ETC AROUND $1500.00. THIS IS MY 2ND JEEP AND MY FIRST WAS A 01 WRANGLER IT WENT TO 99000 MILES BEFORE IT NEEDED ANYTHING MAJOR. I ALWAY CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 3-5 THOUSAND MILES. SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED TO CALL JEEP AND COMPLAIN TOO FEW MILES FOR ROTORS TO WARP GOOD LUCK!!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:17 pm

Yea, it would be a good idea to change the oil in the diff, tcase and tranny along with what you stated 04liberty.

Take it easy on the caps lock too. :lol:

My brake rotors are warped at 10,000 miles

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