warped rotors -- common cavy problem?

[dsieczka]

i was having some trouble braking (car jerking back and forth) so i took it in and the mechanic said the rotors were warped. he also said this is a very common problem with cavaliers and that i would replace them frequently over the life of the car.

my question: is he right? i've searched the forum and haven't heard of many others with the problem. is there some kind of rotor that would be more resistant or filter through the heat the mechanic says is causing the warping?

anyone with experience or knowledge of this?

[Snowleeper]

I was having simliar issues.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=170781

No one answered me either.

[C_Sephiroth]

Usually Warping is cause by heat. Which you already know. However it can also be cause by bad machineing. If a rotor is machined to much it will be thinner than the MIN SPEC for the rotor, which will cause worpage, and brake fade. You Can also get the jerking or pulsation in the pedal from to much runout (which is how much the rotor wabbles back and forth to put it bluntly) The min spec for that is very low. it is like .002 thousandths of an inch. You will probably Get 2-3 sets of pads per set of rotor. Maybe heh. depending on other brake hardware condition IE... calipers, and hoses. I dont think it is a common problem with just cavaliers in general, all car face this issue. Corvettes are horrible with this poblem

[rmp155]

Check your car manual under capacities and Specifications/Wheel Nut torque. It should be 100lb-ft. If you torque then every time you put the tire back on(rotate etc. I think it will solve your problem.
I have owned several cavaliers and had the same problem until I torqued the lug nuts.
Try it.

[C_Sephiroth]

That will not help him if his rotors are already warped. he will either have to have them machined or get new.

[rmp155]

Ah your right but try it with new rotors. I took it for granted if they where warped he would replace them

[rmp155]

I should not assume.

[lildog]

Originally Posted by dsieczka

i was having some trouble braking (car jerking back and forth) so i took it in and the mechanic said the rotors were warped. he also said this is a very common problem with cavaliers and that i would replace them frequently over the life of the car.

my question: is he right? i've searched the forum and haven't heard of many others with the problem. is there some kind of rotor that would be more resistant or filter through the heat the mechanic says is causing the warping?

anyone with experience or knowledge of this?

I had to do the rotors in my Cavalier 5 times in 60k.
The 2002 edition of consumer reports list this as a common problem.
I dont have the time right now, but you can find out lots about Cavaliers in my thread "Cavaliers are garbage'.
I reccomend you read it.