Warped Again! :(

[Skeeter]

Looks like I've warped another set of front disks. Or at least done something to them that's created a massive droning vibration. It means I've never gone more than 2 track days on a set of front disks. I warped a set of Renault disks on my 2nd track day, then o. My 3rd had a pad fail which munched a disk, and now after my 5th day look to have warped another set .

I'm currently on Brembo HCs and Ferodo DS2500s and have got some fog light cooling ducts in, but it still seems like my front brakes are getting stupidly hot.

Oddly though they appeared to warp over lunch when the car cooled down?

Any ideas on what could be up? Or what I could do to increase cooling? Both sides get equally as hot, so its not like one side is seased.

 

[Bluebeard]

Are you sure you haven't got a sticking caliper??

In all the 172/182's ive tracked (most with brembo discs) I've never had a problem with warping. Ever.

 

[Dave..]

I'm running DS3000s and had smoke pouring out of them before now, but never warped a set of discs. You've got something up there.

 

[Ian_s]

It may be pad material deposited on the disc unevenly from getting too hot. I had it happen with 2500's even with cooling ducts.

 

[KielT]

Might sound a stupid question but do you use the car as a daily? If so if you do a lot of town driving and keep your football on at traffic lights, ques etc that can warp them. And I have known Brembos to do along with every other brand out there. Just a thought if the caliber is ok.

 

[Skeeter]

The car is hardly used between track days.

I'm thinking it might be a pad material build up, as it started as a noise with no real vibration through the pedal, whereas when I warped the first set the vibration started first and it never really got that loud, but was very noticeable through the pedal.

I've not heard any concerns over DS2500s causing issues before today, but now I've heard it from a few different sources . Shame as I was impressed by them. Should I bite the bullet and splurge out on some different pads? If so, any recommendations on which ones, and which disks to pair them with? I need a fluid change too. Anyone know of a decent Indy in Southampton?

 

[sbridgey]

Why don't you take the wheel off and check what is going on down there?

 

[Skeeter]

Will a pad material build up be visible on the disk?

 

[Jaff.]

Check the bearing. I know of someone who kept warping disks and changing them every 3k miles and in the end they found the bearing was out of tollerance causing issues.

New hub and bearing and it sorted it

 

[mark smith87]

Very much sounds like pads are sticking in the caliper causing overheating. I have the same set up on my car and never have any issues. You probably need to get the calipers checked and make sure the pads are able to retract when you take your foot off the brake

 

[Skeeter]

What's the easiest way to check for sticking calipers?

 

[mark smith87]

Jack the car up on which ever wheel you want to check and make sure it's turning free when you turn it. You should feel if it's binding at all and if you are driving it and it's getting hot without braking then that will indicate there's a problem. It's possible that the the slots that pads sit it are dirty and need scraping out with a sharp scraper blade or the pistons might not be retracting properly.
Have you taken out the anti rattle shims that go behind the pads? The DS2500 pads are slightly thicker than standard ones so if you still have the shims in they will force the pad against the disc and cause overheating.

 

[mark smith87]

Also ensure the edges and back of the pads have a smear of copper grease on them as well.

 

[sbridgey]

You don't put copper grease near DS2500's. Just make sure the shims are removed and the ends are ground down to allow for expansion when they get hot.

 

[mark smith87]

Ok fair enough.

 

[Tony Hunter]

We get ours glowing, never had a problem.

 

[Skeeter]

Shims are out, I attacked the carriers with a wire brush when I fitted the pads, and there is some coped grease on the back of them. I did.t need to grind anything down though, they seemed to fit in flat fine and had a little bit of movement around them so I couldnt see what would have needed grinding.

I don't think its a stuck caliper. They don't get hot when driving normally, and when they do get hot both sides are the same. I've had the front wheels off plenty lately and never had any issues with them sticking. When I warped the first set I was able to spin the wheels and hear the rhythmic grind to establish that it was a warped disk.

What pads and disks do you run Tony? If you warp a disk, would you notice it happening when it gets hot, or after it had cooled down?

I wish things would just brake and you can fix them, rather than this 'might be this, might be that' situation that could end up costing a shed load and not solving it . At least the Brembos are cheap if I decide to just do the short term fix.

 

[Tony Hunter]

What pads and disks do you run Tony? If you warp a disk, would you notice it happening when it gets hot, or after it had cooled down?

Brembo with ebc blues.

Never ever warped a disc, you would get a juddering from the front.

Hold a screwdriver or like, against the disc, then spin it, you should be able to see if it's warped then.

 

[Skeeter]

When I get back home ill take the wheels off and see what I can find. I just though it was odd that the juddering only happened after lunch when the car had cooled down.

 

[Tony Hunter]

This would indicate that a pad was touching the disc and caused a hot spot.

 

[Dan519]

warped disks are a myth, it doesnt happen. pad deposits on the surface are what most people think is warping. youre not using the handbrake when brakes are hot after track are you?

 

[Skeeter]

No not using the hand brake. I don't use the hand brake when parking at home either. If you leave it on for a few weeks the pads rust to the disk, lol.

I agree Tony, sounds like a pad touching when cooling causing a build up. I don't have any of the symptoms of a seased caliper though. How much would it be to get my calipers refurbished?

 

[Ade182]

Check the bearing. I know of someone who kept warping disks and changing them every 3k miles and in the end they found the bearing was out of tollerance causing issues.

New hub and bearing and it sorted it

This.

Had this problem on my Golf.

 

[Tony Hunter]

No not using the hand brake. I don't use the hand brake when parking at home either. If you leave it on for a few weeks the pads rust to the disk, lol.

I agree Tony, sounds like a pad touching when cooling causing a build up. I don't have any of the symptoms of a seased caliper though. How much would it be to get my calipers refurbished?

Can get referb kits, Jay did ours, think he got the stuff off ebay

 

[Skeeter]

Cheers Tony. I may look into that and a new set of disks first as a cheaper option and see if it solves the issue before splurging out on loads of new bits. Anyone want to refurb my calipers and change my brake fluid?

 

[Tony Hunter]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-C...CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4846a

 

[Skeeter]

Thanks Tony! Is there a caliper refurb guide or anything anywhere for a noob like me? I'm assuming it will mean disconnecting from the brake lines too so I should replace the fluid after.

I might get someone to do it all for me tbh.