Brake rotors are a critical component of a vehicle's braking system. Designed with smooth, low-friction outer surfaces, brake rotors are designed to promote smooth, easy vehicle stopping, as they are the parts of a vehicle that spin in relation to vehicle speed and are gripped by the vehicle brake pads to affect vehicle braking. Although durable in design and long-lasting, brake rotors can become damaged and/or warped. What follows is a brief list of the most common causes of warped brake rotors.
Brake pads that are defective and/or incorrectly installed can, over time, cause brake rotors to warp and become damaged. Brake pads are responsible for squeezing against the spinning brake rotor, an action that causes a vehicle to slow down or stop. If the brake pads are bent, misshapen in any way, or aligned and/or installed abnormally, they can exert abnormal pressure on the brake rotors, a condition that can cause brake rotor warpage over time.
An abnormal or malfunctioning brake caliper can result in brake rotor warpage if the degree of brake caliper dysfunction is severe enough. A brake caliper houses a set of vehicle brake pads and provides the squeezing force necessary to squeeze the brake pads against the spinning brake rotor. If a brake caliper applies too much pressure to the brake pads, or if it applies pressure inconsistently, it can cause a brake rotor to warp over time. Adequate brake caliper action is necessary for optimizing brake pad and brake rotor function.
A vehicle's braking system generates a tremendous amount of friction-related heat, heat that normally gets radiated away from the brake pads and brake rotor mechanisms. However, in cases where excessive heat is generated within a braking system and not dispersed adequately, serious brake malfunctions can occur, which can include brake rotor warpage. A stuck brake caliper, old, worn-down brake pads, or a defective brake rotor can cause excessive heat to develop in or around a brake rotor, which can cause brake rotor damage and warpage.
It's very common for brake rotors to become warped as the result of physical damage sustained during the changing of a flat vehicle tire. When a vehicle is raised to allow removal of its vehicle tire, a common mistake that many people make is to not use jack stands to keep the vehicle supported; instead, many people will simply use the vehicle jack to both raise and support the vehicle, a situation that can lead to severe brake rotor damage if the vehicle jack loses hydraulic pressure and allows the supported vehicle to crash to the ground. The exposed brake rotor is the first vehicle part to contact the ground, and it normally suffers severe physical damage, including warpage.
A brake rotor assembly is supported by and rides on a long, slender metal tube called a hub, or wheel hub assembly. The hub is what allows for the smooth, even circular motion of the spinning brake rotor. Designed with a smooth, low-friction exterior, the wheel hub assembly is critical to the proper spinning motion of the brake rotor. Any abnormalities or defects with the wheel hub assembly, including hub warpage, cracking or misalignment, can cause abnormal brake rotor rotation, which in turn can cause brake rotor warpage over time. Normally, a damaged wheel hub assembly is noticed and remedied prior to extensive brake rotor damage, as a severely damaged wheel hub assembly will cause a vehicle tire to wobble and shake, a condition that normally leads to a quick, thorough vehicle inspection.
