FAQ: Vibration under braking: warped rotors? NO!

[Kiksbut]

Without going back through 22 pages, is there a popular brand or 2 to replace with?

 

[D.J.]

I wish I had done it sooner. As soon as I changed the pads, the problem has stopped. Now have 60,000 miles and no vibration. And I changed the pads myself so easy

Which pads did you use?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Only 2000 miles on my Stinger and braking is still very good. After reading all 22 pages, I have a question please. Seems like the consensus is this braking problem is caused by the brake pads and rotors heating up. If I am a relatively conservative driver, very little or no "spirited driving", or driving that causes the brakes to heat up abnormally, will I have this braking problem with my rotors?

I believe that the distinguishing difference in who gets pad deposits and who does not is some variability in the pads themselves. Kia obviously obtains pads (from Brembo - pics have been posted showing "Brembo" on the pads) from differing sources: Brembo cannot supply everything (there are OE pads with no "Brembo" on them); so Kia orders and buys according to spec: but, the world being what it is, not every manufacturer is really good at what they do, so, "batches" of OE pads arrive at Kia, get put into Stingers and create problems for their owners. I am sure that Kia Corp. pulls their hair out trying to determine which "batch" of pads went on which production run of VINs. And they know that better pads will solve that part of the problem. But rotors that are already compromised will likely just ruin new pads; so Kia Corp. says, "Turn the rotors"; all under warranty. This fixes most of the issues brought in. But, what about the repeats? "As a goodwill gesture, Kia will replace your pads and rotors," says Kia, when the replacement pads and turned rotors are brought back in misbehaving, aaagain.

My suggestion is the same as I offer myself: "Drive the damn car, don't try and stand it on its bloody ear." And wait and see. I'm really not worried, at almost 30K miles, that my brakes are going to start misbehaving. I have good pads, evidently. Since quite a few complaints have occurred at or near or somewhat past 12K miles, you are obviously not in the same situation as myself. But I was reading all about shuddering brakes and pad deposits and "warped rotors" before I hit 12K miles. All I could do was wait and see. And, I do drive with "spirit" fairly often, for very brief spells (mostly passing, or taking off in "pole position" at a stop light), but I am gentle with my brakes. I do a lot of coasting and downshifting. My brakes cannot possible get hot, much less overheated. Any pad deposits from this set of OE pads (original with the car upon purchase) would have already gummed up my rotors if they were going to.

 

[Kiksbut]

I wonder if some of the issues with the cars are predetermined by where they are built?
I read a thread that they aren't all built in S. Korea, but also in Russia.

 

[KNSBrakes]

I’m surprised we still don’t have an aftermarket pad available yet. Hopefully they’re in development as I’ll be switching as soon as they are.

I’ve run Hawk and Akebono ceramic pads on my Audi’s and they were very good. Low dust and a decent bite.

The front is available in many flavors as long as you can go without the counterweights.

The rears have some options but same detail - no counterweights unless you wait for the Centric pads to re-stock.

Ken

 

[stingeradmr]

I used stop tech

 

[SafetyPilotCal]

I wonder if some of the issues with the cars are predetermined by where they are built?
I read a thread that they aren't all built in S. Korea, but also in Russia.

The Stingers built by Avtotor are effectively SKD kits that are built exclusively for the Russian market.

 

[Kiksbut]

Ok, I must have misunderstood.
I would have a tough time believing a Russian stinger would have the quality build of a S. Korean Stinger.
Thanks for setting that straight.

 

[D.J.]

I used stop tech

Do you recall if they were the 308. part number or the 309. part number.

Stoptech is just a brand with several different product lines that fit our cars.

Just trying to eliminate the mass confusion where some people will say they had great results with stoptech pads, and another person will say the exact opposite, but in reality, they are talking about completely different products.

Example
These
https://www.amazon.com/StopTech-308...10&qid=1576457686&s=automotive&sr=1-1-catcorr

are not the same as these
https://www.amazon.com/StopTech-309...refinements=p_89:StopTech&s=automotive&sr=1-1

But both are stoptech and both fit just fine

 

[stingeradmr]

stop tech performance street

 

[NS_Stinger]

stop tech performance street

Do you find those pads make a lot of noise or are they fairly quiet? Any other feedbac on them?

 

[white03]

Do you recall if they were the 308. part number or the 309. part number.

Stoptech is just a brand with several different product lines that fit our cars.

Just trying to eliminate the mass confusion where some people will say they had great results with stoptech pads, and another person will say the exact opposite, but in reality, they are talking about completely different products.

Example
These
https://www.amazon.com/StopTech-308...10&qid=1576457686&s=automotive&sr=1-1-catcorr

are not the same as these
https://www.amazon.com/StopTech-309-10010-Street-Performance-Front/dp/B003K2ERJU/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1576457664&refinements=p_89:StopTech&s=automotive&sr=1-1

But both are stoptech and both fit just fine

I went to both the links you listed, and both said they would not fit my 2019 GT1. You say both will work, what gives??

 

[KNSBrakes]

I went to both the links you listed, and both said they would not fit my 2019 GT1. You say both will work, what gives??

Your OEM pads are the same shape but have 'counterweights' for noise reduction.

 

[white03]

ok, thank you for explanation

 

[D.J.]

stop tech performance street

Thank you

Those are the 309 Part number.
Hopefully they provide many tens of thousands of km (or miles) of smooth braking.

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

You don't need new rotors, nor do you need to turn them on a lathe. See how I address this problem if I'm forced to hold the brakes after a hard stop (which leaves deposits and cementite formation) in response to another related thread:

Dreaded Warped Rotors

 

[KNSBrakes]

Thank you

Those are the 309 Part number.
Hopefully they provide many tens of thousands of km (or miles) of smooth braking.

Well....sorry to bring this up but it happened.

From the time the Stoptech 309 pads came out to about 2015 I sold probably a hundred per month. My phone never stopped ringing with brake judder issues.

Caller :Hi I just got brakes and the rotors are 'warped' already.
Me: Did you order Centric Premium rotors and Stoptech Sport pads?
Caller: Yes - how did you know that.
Me: mgnotagain:

The 308's were not out then - they are reboxed 104 or 105 Centric Posi-Quiet's. They may not judder as bad as the US OEM Kia pads but I don't sell them as an upgrade. They are a reliable street pad.

 

[D.J.]

@KNSBrakes
Which pads do you currently recommend?

The whole community would value your experience and recommendation

 

[white03]

@KNSBrakes
Which pads do you currently recommend?

The whole community would value your experience and recommendation

second that!

 

[KNSBrakes]

Well I don't have a Stinger - and you'll have to forgive me for the wall of text. But there is not a simple answer to the typical "What's the best brakes?" question which I get often.

First - about the car.
It's a high HP heavy car. And no manual trans correct? That's a tough combo since there is no engine braking ever.

Typical aggressive street driving leads to hot brakes at a stop and all of a sudden the rotors are 'warped' Now what? The dealer turns the 'warped' rotors - car leaves and we do it again and get the same results. Now you and the 'tech' at the dealer wonder what to do. Throw parts at the car, demand warranty, Karen calls in the manager. We've all been there.

Add to that the semi-odd pad shapes with the damn counterweights and no good alternatives and here we are.

So:
Usually 'Brembo' pads (Corvette's, STi's and so on - often a Ferodo HP1000 compound) are quite good but are dusty/$$/sometimes loud and yes they get after the rotors a bit. But they work. In some cases however the owner base finds this dust/noise quite unacceptable. Brembo does not care - they make it stop.

Obviously Kia did not quite spend as much - - they use good sized discs but the smaller 4-piston 1001 pad shape front setup and the newer rear 2-piston rear setup. Worse yet - is the lack of choices in the rear shape but it is starting to loosen.

Anyway it depends on what you want/need. Like tires there is no one best answer. Different ones do different things. Pads work best in a range of categories.

So for many Brembo car owners who cars&coffee only go with a low dust ceramic.. It works to clean up - but stopping power is not improved. For those users the Centric/Stoptech ceramic street pads are fine -- and those owners likely even wonder what the fuss is about.
It remains to be seen if they will have the same issues as the OEM pads as they are pretty new in the Kia rear shape but it's the same class of pad so its logical to expect similar results.

If you drive quite a bit harder though you may want more stopping power and less incidence of judder - i.e. a stronger pad that can heat up with less issue. Generally that requires a metallic compound. Hawk HPS/HPS 5.0 are often maligned but after selling a jillion of them and others - I get almost no 'warranty' or other issues. They may require some pedal effort but they stop well, they almost never judder, and they get even a bit better with some heat. Problem is no rears yet and they may not come soon.

Drive it like a Camry - get the Stopech's front and rear. They are dwindling in again for the rears. The fronts won't have weights and the rears are coming in both but it's only a few.

Drive it harder - decide on the rears first. GLoc makes a ceramic pad that is better than most but it's still primarily a low dust solution. Might be a few users here who can comment.

I'd probably say the Porterfield R4-S is a good street solution if you need front and rear. They are similar to Hawk HPS and front and rear with out weights are available.

Or..find the Euro spec pads - if they are Ferodo's ....they will be good.

Happy Holidays