Bad rotors?

[qx4dude]

Hey

I have a 2002 qx4,

I just bought it used and the owner said the brakes were done not to long ago.

However i have a feeling they might be warped?

Braking is fine and smooth and high and low speeds, but when i am coming to a stop ( say the last 30 feet) it feels like the brakes are almost pulsing. Truck slowly rocks in a forward and back motion as I come to a stop. Hard to discribe I guess!

I have had warped rotors before and usually the steering wheel shakes when braking at higher speeds, how ever this is not doing that.

Also how do i know if the problem is the front or rear brakes?

Thanks for any help!

[Pwnin O'Brien]

It just sounds like your front rotors are slightly warped. Although the brakes may have just been done, the rotors are still prone to warping. This isn't dangerous or harmful to your vehicle, it's really just an annoyance. If you really want to get rid of the pulsations, you can take it to any shop and they will shave your rotors on a brake lathe, it's pretty cheap to get done since it can be done with the rotors on the vehicle.

[ascdesigns]

Depending on how long/bad they've been pulsing, you may want to just look at replacing the rotors. The myth is that they "warp" when in fact it's deposits of 'cementite' created by hard stopping and keeping the pedal pressed immediately afterwards. If the cementite has permeated the iron rotor deeply enough, cutting down the rotor will only temporarily alleviate the issue. If you'd like the full tech breakdown (no pun intended) on the "warping" of rotors, click here: http://www.stoptech.com/tech_i...shtml

If you're mechanically inclined, new rotors are only 23.97 each at AutoZone while cutting them may be 10-15 each. for a few bucks more you get a perfectly new rotor, plus your labor of course.

Your call, but I just recently did mine (with manual hubs to disassemble) and it was worth it. ... and not that hard to do and about 2-2.5 hours of labor working slowly and carefully.

Good luck!

Al

[W O T]

If you have the know how to remove the rotors, take them off and bring them to a general machine shop or a brake place and get them to throw them on the lathe for $20 a piece

Dont waste your money on new rotors for sure a little annoyance

Be good as new in an afternoon

[korbeano89]

im trying to take the rotors of on my 97 off and was wondering do i need to buy a puller to take the hub off?

[qx4dude]

Thanks guys!

How easy is it to remove the rotor? I have always done my own on my cars, but it was only a screw or 2, plus the caliper holding the rotor on.

I now also have a feeling the pulsing may be coming from the rear drums. I was going down a large long hill last night and as i was riding the breaks down it, i could feel the rear end brakes shaking

[ascdesigns]

qx4 - here's a great writeup with pics on how to pull your rotors and hubs:zerothread?id=445492 Please be sure to use the search button in the future

WOT - Since new rotors would be $10 more (tax incl) than cutting rotors, and would guarantee the "warp" wouldn't return if the iron on the original rotors was deeply compromised, I would think it's worth qx4's time to simply pick up new rotors on his way home and get it all done in one shot. Otherwise, he'd need to disassemble, drive to shop, wait while rotors are cut, drive home and reinstall. IMO, that 1-2 hours of time is worth more than $10 plus the wear/tear/availability of finding another mode of transportation to get to the shop.

Just trying to offer suggestions of time vs money. I apologize in advance if my logic offends anyone.

Good luck!

Al

[Natedogg1701]

that tread is a basic way to do it. but the front hub assemplies on these vehicles is very sesitive, the tool in the thread he speaks of and says is not necessary is called a 4wd socket.and its quite necessary. some people get lucky and have no problens doing it themselves without the right tools. but that tool is used to seat the berring in the hub, not doing this correctly can cause the berring to become somewhat loose in the hub, and wear out very quickly. i did mine with a close friend, who happens 2 b a 20 year mechanic and this can be a pain in the a**, theres a special way to seat the berring. so id reccomend getting good pads and roatrs so u wont have to do your brakes for a littlw while.

[W O T]

qx4 - here's a great writeup with pics on how to pull your rotors and hubs:zerothread?id=445492 Please be sure to use the search button in the future

WOT - Since new rotors would be $10 more (tax incl) than cutting rotors, and would guarantee the "warp" wouldn't return if the iron on the original rotors was deeply compromised, I would think it's worth qx4's time to simply pick up new rotors on his way home and get it all done in one shot. Otherwise, he'd need to disassemble, drive to shop, wait while rotors are cut, drive home and reinstall. IMO, that 1-2 hours of time is worth more than $10 plus the wear/tear/availability of finding another mode of transportation to get to the shop.

Just trying to offer suggestions of time vs money. I apologize in advance if my logic offends anyone.

Good luck!

Al

What Qx4 rotor costs $30?? To hell if Id be putting them on my car anyways, theyd probly warp first day

[slickroger]

that tread is a basic way to do it. but the front hub assemplies on these vehicles is very sesitive, the tool in the thread he speaks of and says is not necessary is called a 4wd socket.and its quite necessary. some people get lucky and have no problens doing it themselves without the right tools. but that tool is used to seat the berring in the hub, not doing this correctly can cause the berring to become somewhat loose in the hub, and wear out very quickly. i did mine with a close friend, who happens 2 b a 20 year mechanic and this can be a pain in the a**, theres a special way to seat the berring. so id reccomend getting good pads and roatrs so u wont have to do your brakes for a littlw while.

That part is annoying as hell

What Qx4 rotor costs $30?? To hell if Id be putting them on my car anyways, theyd probly warp first day

There in the states everything is cheaper, When I went to the states I got my roof fixed, 2 new bumpers and 2 new front fenders for the same price that someone in Mississauga wanted to fix my 2 f***ed fenders and roof. prices are whack in our country, I think i'm going to be crossing the border for and expensive repairs I have

[qx4dude]

Any one have a DIY on replacing the drums and shoes? I think it may be the rear causing the problem not the front. Thanks! I did a search but turned up nothing

[ascdesigns]

Ah, sorry for confusion. I didn't realize you were from Canada. It probably is a bit cheaper here in the states.

Regarding the quality of my inexpensive rotors, I've had the new rotors on my Pathy for a couple months now and have made about 7 trips to the ski towns west of the Eisenhower tunnel, which is at 11,000 ft on the Continental Divide. I've had zero problems with my $23.97 rotors from AutoZone.

So many of my friends 'warp' their rotors since they constantly stand on their brakes and then keep the pedal depressed. Do that to *any* rotor and you'll eventually start building the cementite.

If it is truly $20 to cut rotors and significantly more to purchase new ones (in Canada), then I stand corrected and the proper fiscal way to proceed is to get 'em cut. (with the caveat that if they're deeply permeated with that cementite crap, it won't stay pulse-free for long).

- Al

[slickroger]

You shouldn't need a DIY for the Drums.

In fact drums are built to last almost forever the only reason you would have to replace the drum or shoes is if you drive with your e'brake on. Replacing the shoes is as easy as taking them off there is a spring adjustment that should be dealt with after everything is replaced and put together. the spring adjustment is done with a socket and you just spin your drum as you tighten or loosen it then apply the e-brake to make sure its stopping your drum

Good luck

[Natedogg1701]

Ah, sorry for confusion. I didn't realize you were from Canada. It probably is a bit cheaper here in the states.

Regarding the quality of my inexpensive rotors, I've had the new rotors on my Pathy for a couple months now and have made about 7 trips to the ski towns west of the Eisenhower tunnel, which is at 11,000 ft on the Continental Divide. I've had zero problems with my $23.97 rotors from AutoZone.

So many of my friends 'warp' their rotors since they constantly stand on their brakes and then keep the pedal depressed. Do that to *any* rotor and you'll eventually start building the cementite.

If it is truly $20 to cut rotors and significantly more to purchase new ones (in Canada), then I stand corrected and the proper fiscal way to proceed is to get 'em cut. (with the caveat that if they're deeply permeated with that cementite crap, it won't stay pulse-free for long).

- Al

you got rotars for 23.97?! well id never goto autozone, monkeys work there in my opinion. lol.but i got wagner rotarsfor basically 100 buks a piece. 2 year warrantee so wen the 2 years is almost up u just bring em in and get new ones for free. hehehe. but im gettin drilled nd slotted rotard nd am going to custom fit some 4 piston front calipers, i also wanna do a rear disk conversion, but that may be a pain. i thought about gettin the rear axel out of a different vehicle, something like a late 90's s10 because it has rear disk brakes, and hate the 4.36 rear gears in pathfinder, ( thats y we get such rotten gas milleage!) the s10 has 3.73 gears with posi. nd of course i know id have 2 change out my front diff 2, thats a project for next spring.

[Speed2k]

Any updates to how these rotors are holding up? Although the price seems to have gone up on these, on Autozone's website the inexpensive Autozone Rotors are selling for $39.99.

[miamiheat3332]

your life depends on your brakes, for some reason, i cant let my life depend on spending like 50$ for rotors lol, i have EBC slotted ones for a little more than 2 years, and they are perfect. yeah they cost more, but mabye its just me not trusting 50$ rotors on a 4500lbs vehicle.

[fueler]

the qx4 loves to warp rotors for some reason. no matter how hard i try to baby the brakes, not to overheat them and not to hold the pads clamped down when standing still.... im on my third set of rotors (brembo) they were fine until i had my pads changed, well the parts changing monkey decided to remove the rotors and resurface them (without my permission) and they were immediately warped.

Good luck - ive been battling warped rotors for 5 years now in my qx4 and i think they are going to win the war

[Speed2k]

Did you bed the pad properly after installing it?

Have you read and tried the recommendations by stoptech (the link was previously posted)?

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_i...shtml