Every time you turn a rotor you make it thinner, making it more and more susceptible to warping. Turn them once then toss them.
Also don't buy cheap crap from Advance Auto or other chain stores. Spend the money and buy a quality set. Remember, your life may depend on it, dont skimp.

 

personally i believe its the ceramic pads. Replaced with the semi metallic and new rotors and no pulsaton problems since.

 

I kinda hate to bring up this thread again...but here goes.

We have 93,000 miles on our '06 HHR, and the brakes have never been touched. The pads are getting really close to the squeaker, so it is time to replace them.

I am looking to buy AC Delco pads, and since the rotors look great, just doing a pad slap and call it done.

What do you think? Where do I find Delco pads?

 

1. clovis - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. If the rotors are not turned you should be able to get 200k+ miles from them. Invest in a good micrometer and measure the rotor thickness to ensure it is above the minimum thickness (which may be stamped on the outside). If the rotors are thick enough, I'd just do a pad slap and move on.

2. I don't buy the over-torque theory. Once the disk is seated against the hub, it's set. I suspect that the warping is caused by a combination of two things - cheap materials (lower quality steel) and driving habits (holding the brakes for long continuous periods while descending). When you have a long descent, you should pulse the brakes for only a few seconds and let them up for a second to cool. If you start to notice brake fade, then you are letting them get too hot and should change your driving habits (perhaps slow down) to allow more time for the brakes to dissipate the energy. Obviously, GM is using lower quality steel - so replace them when necessary with some good stuff. With lower quality rotors, you can delay the onset of problems with proper driving habits and exascerbate the problems with poor driving habits.

 

I would only add: Make sure your back brakes are adjusted properly.

Yes they are self adjusters. But sometimes you need to back up & hit the brake a couple times to adjust them up.

If not, the front discs are being overworked & more prone to overheating / possible warping etc...

 

Our '08 LT2 recently hit 50,000 on what i think is it's original set of pads and rotors.
It starting having the wheel shudder symtom and sort of a "whoop whoop whoop" noise at a certain speed. (2 thousand miles out of warrenty no less)
I figured it was just the tires needing rotating so I rotated that and the shudder is still there,but the "whoop whoop whoop" has turned into more of a louder growl at just about every speed.

So I assume the rotors are definitely one of the problems,but what could be making the other sound? A bad tire?

 

Well I'm here @ the stealership, They said $98. to turn the rotors in the front. I LOL at them I said bring my car back out of the shop. I can get them turned alot cheaper than that. For that price I can get aftermarket cross-drilled,slotted and vented rotors. They changed their mind after I said let me talk to a Mgr. Now they are turning them for FREE. And replacing the rear Chevy emblem it has a bubble in it....so all in all its a good day for me when you get things FREE from the stealership

 

Aside from my issues with my SS, how the heck does the QC guy allow all of these bow ties with water bubbles get out of the factory. A lot of issues with them. My rear one was replaced....looked like a 5yr old fingerpainted it.

 

Its from water getting between the plastic and the base,,it seperates...dealers probably won't replace them on a used car for sale...minor cosmetic, unless the customer complains...
They don't leave the factory that way...

 

This is the reply I got from Chevrolet:

Thank you for contacting the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center. We appreciate you taking the time to write us about brake and rotors concern on your 2008 Chevrolet HHR.

We want to sincerely apologize for the frustration you have experienced and we hope that we can resolve this matter to your complete satisfaction.

Based on the nature of your concern, it is apparent that contacting you by phone would allow us a better opportunity to assist you and ensure that we respond to your inquiry to your complete satisfaction. Since you included your phone number in your e-mail, we will be contacting you today, February 3, 2010, between the hours of 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM, Eastern Time with hopes that we can resolve this in a timely manner.

If this is not a good time to contact you or if you'd prefer to contact me sooner, please do not hesitate to call me at 1-866-790-5600, extension 12964. I am in the office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Eastern Time and would be happy to assist you. If my hours are inconvenient for you, please reply to is e-mail with a date and time that I may contact you. I look forward to the opportunity of speaking with you.

If you should need to contact us in the future, simply reply to this message or call our Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020. Customer Relationship Specialists are available Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Again, thank you for contacting Chevrolet.

Sincerely,
The Chevrolet Consumer Support Team