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Diagnosing and Rectifying Disc Brake Rotor Issues – Advice
As a vital component of a vehicle’s braking system, discs or rotors, brake manufacturer Bendix says, are an item that should be regularly inspected for wear or damage to ensure on-going braking performance and safety.
While this task would normally be undertaken by the local me- chanic or brake specialist as part of a car’s regular servicing schedule, it pays for drivers to be mindful of the symptoms of brake rotor issues.
Given the extreme conditions that brake rotors work under, in- cluding extreme heat, high loading and exposure to water, dirt - sible for these components to become compromised over time and in between servicing.
An intuitive drier might pick up some of the early indicators of ro- tor issues, Bendix points out, allowing them to have the braking system checked by their workshop to ensure optimum perfor- mance is restored as soon as possible.
Here’s what to look out for and how to treat potential problems according to Bendix:
Disc brake rotor warping
Warping is where the rotor surface becomes uneven; normal- ly it’s caused by excessive heat in the brakes. Through regular high-load braking situations, the rotors could become glazed temperatures.
Extreme changes in temperatures could also cause warping, for example heavy braking followed by submersion in cold water,
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The symptoms of rotor warping could be as severe as brake pedal feedback during braking; jittery or inconsistent braking, vibration during braking, or more subtle indicators including excessive squealing when braking or a burning smell.
Depending on the source of the problem, the rotors could be or the rotor is too thin (in the case of previous machining), the rotor would need replacing.
Cracked rotor
In short, causes that could lead to rotor cracking are similar to those that cause rotor warping: excessive heat and extreme temperature changes – but also throw another element into the
