Centric rotors junk???
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Centric rotors junk???
About a year ago I replaced my front brakes and used Centric Premium rotors. They seemed great, but would grind on every first stop after the rotors got wet due to rain, car wash, or even high humidity, but were quiet after that. Corrosion/surface rust was the cause and is annoying, but not a huge deal. Gradually over the past year and 15K of mostly highway miles they have start to pulsate a bit cold, and really bad at times when hot.
I pulled the front brakes apart to find random areas of heavy buildup of pad material. Pads themselves still looked like new, so I thought maybe they just never bedded in right and was getting worse. Used a wire wheel to remove the buildup and found that underneath the buildup the rotors had pits in them. My guess is the pad material was getting caught in these pits and causing sticky spots on the rotors. Rotor looked perfect when installed originally.
Has anyone else seen this before? I've ordered new front brakes with Meyle rotors from Blau this time. Thought about turning the old rotors but figured i would still have the annoying grinding problem, so decided to do all new.
I pulled the front brakes apart to find random areas of heavy buildup of pad material. Pads themselves still looked like new, so I thought maybe they just never bedded in right and was getting worse. Used a wire wheel to remove the buildup and found that underneath the buildup the rotors had pits in them. My guess is the pad material was getting caught in these pits and causing sticky spots on the rotors. Rotor looked perfect when installed originally.
Has anyone else seen this before? I've ordered new front brakes with Meyle rotors from Blau this time. Thought about turning the old rotors but figured i would still have the annoying grinding problem, so decided to do all new.
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AudiWorld Senior Member
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Could crappy pads make a rotor pit? The pitting is little round holes that almost look like air bubbles where trapped in the rotor casting. Also the grinding. In less then 3 hours of sitting after rotors got wet there would be a layer of lite rust. Rears didn't do that nor any other car I've ever had. Not that fast anyway.
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I would agree with the pads not being bedded correctly.
Personally I would get the rotors turned and some new pads (different brand obviously) and try bedding them correctly.
15k miles isn't too much wear on the rotors so you could easily take them down quite a bit.
We have a pretty nice selection of pads below.
Click HERE to order or for more information.
Shoot me a PM and I'd be happy to give you a quote or a recommendation.
Jason
Personally I would get the rotors turned and some new pads (different brand obviously) and try bedding them correctly.
15k miles isn't too much wear on the rotors so you could easily take them down quite a bit.
We have a pretty nice selection of pads below.
Click HERE to order or for more information.
Shoot me a PM and I'd be happy to give you a quote or a recommendation.
Jason
Last edited by ECS Tuning-Audi; May 19, 2011 at 08:00 AM.
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Club AutoUnion
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Fort Collins Colorado
I also wonder if there is not some issues with the caliper pins going on. Were the pins cleaned and lubed recently?
Most people ignore this process http://repairpal.com/brake-caliper-pins
And a link on service: https://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel61.shtml
Most people ignore this process http://repairpal.com/brake-caliper-pins
And a link on service: https://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel61.shtml
Last edited by Reggie; May 19, 2011 at 09:44 AM.
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On the subject of turning rotors, a friend who introduced me to Audis, and was the best mechanic I've met, never turned rotors on his own cars, but always did on customer cars, because that was expected with a brake pad replacement. His belief was that unless the rotor was warped or scored, turning wasn't necessary. So I just change pads (and lube caliper pins) then take it easy until the contact patches are complete. I just change the rotors when they are worn enough. My current fronts are Brembos ($57 at autohausaz), with Mintex pads.
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I don't know if it is crappy rotors, crappy pads, or both, but the rotors look like they have 40k miles on them and the pads look almost new. Maybe someone at the warehouse grabbed 'economy' grade rotors instead of the 'premium' ones I ordered. Maybe it was a bad production run and bad iron was used. Can't imagine this is normal Centric quality as they would not be in business long, so maybe it is the pads. Not sure. Pins are free and where lubed when I did the brakes.
New pads and turning rotors would have cost about $70 and having to run to machine shop and waiting or coming back later. Might have still ended up with same problem again in 15k miles or less if the rotors are the problem. New complete kit with Meyle rotors + pads from Blauparts was only $114 and in theory should fix everything.
New pads and turning rotors would have cost about $70 and having to run to machine shop and waiting or coming back later. Might have still ended up with same problem again in 15k miles or less if the rotors are the problem. New complete kit with Meyle rotors + pads from Blauparts was only $114 and in theory should fix everything.
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