Why do my brakes pulse again?

Several things can cause rotor warping or nonuniform thickness:

1. Overheating from severe use (long hills, towing, etc.)
2. Marginally designed rotors (most vehicles today unfortunately)
3. Overtorqued lug nuts
4. Rust from lack of use
5. Probably several more that I'm not aware of!

I think overtorqued lug nuts are one of the most preventable causes, at least next to avoiding severe use. Rotors are more likely to warp a second time after being turned. There is now less metal to absorb heat and less metal to resist the stresses induced by the heat. I think on most new cars and many trucks, it is a waste of time to turn the rotors. Better to just replace them, and the cost delta isn't all that great anyway.

Matt

Prior to any of the events, had anyone rotated or removed and replaced any tires? This can cause the rotors to warp. Once that happens, just replace them with an aftermarket set of your choice. Turning them takes away metal which make them more susceptible to warping in the future.

Yep, #3 is the one I'd bet on. Usually by over zealous use of the air wrench by the place that rotates your tires.

PC

What does rotating tires have to do with warping rotors?

I think it's over tightened lugs.

Hi, If someone used a impact gun while tighten your lug nuts.It has enough power to over tighten the rim to the rotor.Which can cause the rotor to warp. When you apply the brake-you will feel a pulsating pedal.Feels like something is pushing up from under the brake pedal. That is why a tork wrench or tork stick is used to reinstall a tire.This way it is not over tightened. I hope this info. helps you. Good luck.

Have sence,patience,and self-restrain,and no mischief will come.

Having warped disk rotors ground, or "turned" is a good short-term fix. The problem is, however, that the more they are turned, the thinner they become. The thinner they become, the more susceptible they become to warpage. So it is a vicious circle kind of thing.

You probably need to have the rotors replaced. But if they wore out at only

36K miles, something ain't right. Maybe they can be replaced under warranty.

-Cyberbilly

The simple answer is Chrysler rotors are JUNK. My '96 Stratus rotors were doing the same thing at 15,000 miles. Chrysler replaced them, but said that the warranty on "wear parts" was only 12,000 miles. I had the same problem with them at around 25,000 miles. I replaced those with the cheap NAPA ones in the green box and they were on the car until I traded it in at 186,000 miles. They were $16 each.

I bought a new Sebring convertible about three months ago. I have 9,000 miles on the car and the brakes are pulsating already. It has 4 wheel disks, so I'm bringing it in next week to see what they are going to do about it.

Oh.

Many have already suggested improperly torqued lug nuts. My previous

98 Z28, a model which was infamous for warped rotors, developed the dreaded pulsing brake pedal/warped rotor syndrome. But one time after having the tires rotated it completely went away. And tire rotation prior to that was done by a meticulous high performance shop who always said they torque properly by hand, so I can only assume even they made a mistake.

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