Warped rotors all the time
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 147
2012 c63 AMG, 2011 GLK 350, 2019 GLS 450
Warped rotors all the time
starting to wonder if something else is wrong with my wife's front brakes. Changed out the front rotors twice now cause I was getting pulsation and vibration in braking from warped rotors. Each time it fixed it. Pads looked good happened each time after about 8 months. Doesn't seem right. I mean my wife can't possibly be driving that bad. Stock brakes lasted 4 years no pulsation. I went all mb genuine first time. Second set rotors went with brembo. Could my calipers be bad? What do you guys think?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 343
2013 glk 350
She can't be a bad driver? Have you seen her driving habits? The only time I warped rotors was when I used to take a highway they put up stoplights on. I'd get up to 60 then have to slam on the brakes. This went on for miles. Go, stop, go. I figure as I was stopped the area the pads hit cooled faster and warped the rotors. I changed how I brake and rotors are fine. Now I'll stop easier and creep so the pads are not sitting in one place. If all pads have similar wear , front are equal, rear are equal then it should not be mechanical. But I had a sticking caliper that was nearly locking up. If I didn't notice the excessive dust and that one wheel temp was much higher it would have done damage . I got it fixed under warranty. If fronts wear a lot faster than rear it could be a proportioning valve.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 147
2012 c63 AMG, 2011 GLK 350, 2019 GLS 450
She can't be a bad driver? Have you seen her driving habits? The only time I warped rotors was when I used to take a highway they put up stoplights on. I'd get up to 60 then have to slam on the brakes. This went on for miles. Go, stop, go. I figure as I was stopped the area the pads hit cooled faster and warped the rotors. I changed how I brake and rotors are fine. Now I'll stop easier and creep so the pads are not sitting in one place. If all pads have similar wear , front are equal, rear are equal then it should not be mechanical. But I had a sticking caliper that was nearly locking up. If I didn't notice the excessive dust and that one wheel temp was much higher it would have done damage . I got it fixed under warranty. If fronts wear a lot faster than rear it could be a proportioning valve.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 422
Likes: 61
From: South East US.
2015 GLK350
Does she like to use the hold function a lot?
"warped" rotors are most often uneven deposits of braking material on the rotors causing uneven friction and pulsing.
You might look into cryo treated rotors.
"warped" rotors are most often uneven deposits of braking material on the rotors causing uneven friction and pulsing.
You might look into cryo treated rotors.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 147
2012 c63 AMG, 2011 GLK 350, 2019 GLS 450
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 147
2012 c63 AMG, 2011 GLK 350, 2019 GLS 450
no she doesn't use the hold feature at all. Never heard of cryo treated rotors where can I get them from
Trending Topics
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
2003 C240, 2013 GLK 250, 70 'cuda
Why is that an issue?
What's the difference, say at a red light, between the HOLD function and just standing on the brakes? Isn't hold just a line lock?
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 271
Likes: 24
2014 GLK250
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 422
Likes: 61
From: South East US.
2015 GLK350
I don't *know* that using the hold is an issue. But I have been thinking that when stopped the pedal pressure is usually fairly light leading to lighter pad pressure on the rotor. But you have to press harder to activate the hold thereby creating increased pad pressure on the rotor. When combined with a very hot rotor I think this would also increase the amount of friction material transfer to the rotor exacerbating the pulsing.
The theory is that after a hard stop from highway speed then using the hold you could get thick spots of pad material on the rotors leading to "warped rotor" symptoms.
I don't know this as fact and I was looking for data that might support the theory.
The theory is that after a hard stop from highway speed then using the hold you could get thick spots of pad material on the rotors leading to "warped rotor" symptoms.
I don't know this as fact and I was looking for data that might support the theory.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 422
Likes: 61
From: South East US.
2015 GLK350
Centric, stop-tech and others make cryo-treated rotors. The evidence suggests that slowly cooling the rotors to cryogenic temperatures then slowly heating them and then allowing them to slowly cool to normal temps will stabilize the crystalline structures in the metal. Some studies in fleet vehicles show that this makes the rotors last much longer and makes them much less prone to uneven friction material transfer - "warpage".
Please google it for more info.
Please google it for more info.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 692
2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
starting to wonder if something else is wrong with my wife's front brakes. Changed out the front rotors twice now cause I was getting pulsation and vibration in braking from warped rotors. Each time it fixed it. Pads looked good happened each time after about 8 months. Doesn't seem right. I mean my wife can't possibly be driving that bad. Stock brakes lasted 4 years no pulsation. I went all mb genuine first time. Second set rotors went with brembo. Could my calipers be bad? What do you guys think?
If it is uneven brake deposits, a "re-bedding" procedure may correct it. To do that a long road with very light traffic, like a rural interstate feeder road is needed. Make about 20 semi-stops from 50 down to 20 MPH with medium pad pressure, firm but no panic stops. Between each stop back off the brakes completely for 30 seconds. Do not stop completely. If you must come to a stop, hold the vehicle with the parking brake as holding the brake pedal down will just recreate the original problem because the disks will be quite hot.
If you cannot do this, some higher end brake shops have a motorized drum on which they can do this in the bay.
Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 3
From: Denver, CO
2013 GLK 350 4Matic
My rotors started to go around 35,000 miles. I hung in there despite the pulsation when braking and finally got all new rotors/pads at just over 40,000 miles. Go for ceramic pads when you change them out - no brake dust and no difference in stopping power.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 271
Likes: 24
2014 GLK250
I recently changed my rotors and pads, and used OE pads. Didn't like them, switched to EBC RedStuff, and I now brake a lot harder, and have yet to warp rotors. I don't quite understand how your wife could do that, unless her name is Danica Patrick (in which case pics are welcome).
