Swank4

I got thinking about why, when I felt pulsation in the brakes, that the dealer said the rear rotors were warped but not the front ones. I always thought that that fronts would go first because they bear most of the stopping power. Of course, brake cooling/efficiency also comes into play. But I was wondering if using the parking brake would cause warpage. Why? I noticed that the discs are still quite hot when I come to a stop at work in the morning and I was thinking that if the parking brake is clamped on that hot disc for a while it might help the warpage factor. Thoughts?

Is it bad to use only the gearshift to keep the car in place (and not use the parking brake)?

ATH

You're not supposed to come to a full stop and keep the brakes clamped after using them aggresively - the pads will leave uneven deposits on the rotor (this also applies to using the parking brake). Of course sometimes you have to keep them clamped (like stopping at the bottom of a big hill), but try not to use the parking brake after heating the system up.

A few things to try:

1) Re-bed your brakes - do 4-5 "stops" from 60-10 (don't come to a stop), then drive home without using the brakes and let them cool overnight (obviously don't use the parking brake).

2) Can you just put it in gear instead of using the parking brake at work (i.e. is it flat)? Try that intead - if it's flat you don't even need the brake, but just put it in gear so no one can push your car around. If you have a turbo timer, just wait in the car and put it in gear after it stops.


Of course it IS possible it really is warped, but I highly doubt it.

VandyS4

Easier to warp rotors by leaving ebrake on during winter. Probably pad deposit like he said...

Swank4

but instead had pad deposits. My main point was to ask whether the use of the parking brake caused this process to accelerate...even after regular driving.

VandyS4

to have them exposed to air, rather than cooking on each other.

Swank4

a culture change!