What Are The Symptoms of Warped Brake Rotor?

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As with every other machine parts, the way you use brake rotors can determine if it will warp or not.

For instance, much time in stop-and-go traffic, continuously resting your legs on the brake pedal, when your caliper sticks, and so many others, can all contribute to a warped brake rotor.

However, many drivers today find it difficult to detect when their brake rotors are warped; hence, whenever, such issues occur, they get confused as to what actually is happening. But what are the symptoms of warped brake rotor?

The most common symptom of a warped rotor is the tendency of feeling the vibration from your steering wheel or brake pedal, especially when you apply brakes to slow down or stop.

As a matter of fact, there’re other signs of warped brake rotors, which we will be revealing to you in this article.

What Does It Mean For a Brake Rotor To Warp?

Basically, the brake rotors pass through lots of heat during the braking process. It must be able to need to dissolve this heat as quickly as possible to enable the brake pads to be pressed down again and again.

Sadly, the brake rotor’s surface can become uneven as time goes on due to this enormous amount of heat – this is often referred to as WARPING.

What Happens If My Rotors Are Warped?

When a brake rotor is warped, it can result in a temporary brake failure. 

The warped rotor will make the brake pads wobble back and forth, making the brake fluid foam up, and consequently preventing the braking system from getting the proper amount of hydraulic pressure needed to hold the car when the brake is applied.

This happens because the rotors will be contacting the brake pads unevenly.

So, how do you know when your brake rotor is warped? What are the symptoms of warped brake rotor? That is what we’ll be discussing in the next section!

What Are The Symptoms of Warped Brake Rotor?

What Are The Symptoms of Warped Brake Rotor

Below, we’ve been able to highlight the 6 common symptoms of warped brake rotor so you’ll be able to spot when your brake rotor is warped or damaged.

1. Vibrating Brake Pedal

An expired or warped brake rotor can result in a significant and, on a number of occasions, severe pulsating or vibration of the brake pedal.

This happens as a result of a malformed brake rotor that hits the brake pads heavily whenever you brake, hence, resulting in brake fluid pressure disturbances and unfolds as a pulsating brake pedal.

2. Steering Wheel Vibration

It’s very important to note that the brake rotors and brake calipers are attached to the same spindle to which the wheels are attached.

Therefore, in some cases, the vibrations that come from warped brake rotors can easily find their way through the brake calipers and into the wheels and the steering wheel.

It is one of the most common symptoms of a warped brake rotor.

3. Brake Noise

Warped brake rotors are capable of initiating a squeaking noise when you apply brakes. They can also make a scraping or grinding sound as a sign that they’re warped and worn down.

The squealing or scraping sound is mostly heard when the warped brake spins and strike against the brake pads in an uneven or strange manner.

Therefore, whenever you notice such noise, we advise you to service the car in order to diagnose the problem, then correct it to avoid further potential damages.

Both the brake pads and warped brake rotors can be repaired quickly to allow you to drive safely again.

4. Brake Pad Failure

Warped or abnormal brake rotor shape is capable of resulting in an early brake pad failure.

A warped or abnormal brake rotor engineers too much pressure and stress on the brake pads; thus leading to increased wear in the brake pad and its early failure.

Therefore, we advise you always be careful to notice this sign, as failure to find out on time, could lead to severe damages elsewhere, including brake failure.

Of course, you don’t need to be reminded the dangers brake failure can create.

5. Grooves on the Brake Rotor

Another important symptom of a warped brake rotor is visual grooves or marks on the face of the brake rotor.

After prolonged usage and extreme wear and tear, grooves and score marks can be developed on the brake rotor as a result of its incessant contact with the brake pads.

Meanwhile, the grooves on the warped brake rotor can reduce the brake pad’s ability to slow the car down and halt on time.

This symptom can probably be seen by merely looking through the car’s tires, although the tires may need to be removed so as to properly check for the grooves.

6. Worn Wheel Hub Assembly

A brake rotor sits and spins on a slender, elongated metal piece called the wheel hub, or hub.

A warped brake rotor, especially one extremely warped and out of shape, can cause abnormal wheel hub assembly wear by striking and spinning against the hub in an uneven, erratic manner.

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Conclusion

Whenever you notice any of the above symptoms of warped brake rotors, it’s very important you get them fixed as soon as you can.

If the rotors are warped or damaged, you should have them replaced, since any damage done to the rotors restricts the car’s stopping ability.

You can also contact an experienced repairer to diagnose the brake rotors for any symptom of warping or damaging, and will easily and quickly repair or replace them if need be.

At this point, the above symptoms should vanish, and you will find out that the braking quality has improved.

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