FAQ: Vibration under braking: warped rotors? NO!

[NS_Stinger]

Does anyone that had the vibrating have it happen when NOT braking? I know super warped rotors could cause it potentially.

Nope just when braking for me. As far as vibration without braking that could be a multitude of things, bent rim, bad alignment, bad wheel bearing, loose lug nuts etc. etc.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

That is the same place I ended up. Kia repurchased my car yesterday when they could have fixed it for less than $500 USD. By refusing to fix a legitimate and known issue with the car and forcing me to seek legal assistance to resolve the matter, they ensured that I will never buy a Kia, Hyundai, or Genesis ever again. It is a shame too. I loved the Stinger and I owned a Hyundai and a Genesis prior to the Stinger.

How did the "repurchase" work exactly? Did you get a full refund for everything you paid? Did that include interest on the loan or reimbursement for maintenance such as gasoline or oil changes or if you purchased aftermarket parts such as an exhaust or different tires?

You had the same problem three separate times, correct?

 

[Helo58]

How did the "repurchase" work exactly? Did you get a full refund for everything you paid? Did that include interest on the loan or reimbursement for maintenance such as gasoline or oil changes or if you purchased aftermarket parts such as an exhaust or different tires?

You had the same problem three separate times, correct?

It varies by deal and it is all a negotiation. If you have a good attorney, they can get you just about any reasonable reimbursement, at least in my state. NC state law allows for all money to be repaid outside of consumables and normal maintenance. There is also a mileage deduction, but it is small. I am pleased with what my attorney was able to recover. There are several websites that provide lemon law information by state and I found my attorney reading AVVO and Google reviews. In NC, the manufacturer pays attorney fees in successful lemon law cases and in some settlements.

In NC, there has to be at least 4 unsuccessful repair attempts or you have to be without your vehicle for more than 20 days in a calendar year. I easily met the time requirement.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Does anyone that had the vibrating have it happen when NOT braking? I know super warped rotors could cause it potentially.

No just the pulsation/cavitation feel under braking.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

It varies by deal and it is all a negotiation. If you have a good attorney, they can get you just about any reasonable reimbursement, at least in my state. NC state law allows for all money to be repaid outside of consumables and normal maintenance. There is also a mileage deduction, but it is small. I am pleased with what my attorney was able to recover. There are several websites that provide lemon law information by state and I found my attorney reading AVVO and Google reviews. In NC, the manufacturer pays attorney fees in successful lemon law cases and in some settlements.

In NC, there has to be at least 4 unsuccessful repair attempts or you have to be without your vehicle for more than 20 days in a calendar year. I easily met the time requirement.

Thank you for explaining this!

 

[5tinger]

Kia by now surely knows their low dust pads are cuasing major issues.
What is the rectification?

 

[Doel]

So let me get this right, Kia knows about the brake issue and are authorizing front rotor replacements, but are still putting on the shitty US spec brake pads that's causing the problem in the first place?

 

[HDTurbo]

And what exactly is the brand of the stock pads and the rotors under the Brembo calipers? No I didn't search this thread or the forum for this information.

 

[D.J.]

And what exactly is the brand of the stock pads and the rotors under the Brembo calipers? No I didn't search this thread or the forum for this information.

The OEM pads are brembo.
The OEM rotors are brembo
The OEM calipers are brembo.

This is an OEM front pad from my stinger.

 

[Helo58]

So let me get this right, Kia knows about the brake issue and are authorizing front rotor replacements, but are still putting on the shitty US spec brake pads that's causing the problem in the first place?

 

[HDTurbo]

The OEM pads are brembo.
The OEM rotors are brembo
The OEM calipers are brembo.

This is an OEM front pad from my stinger.

Well, how about that! Thank you very much. Maybe the problem is the driver(s)...

 

[NS_Stinger]

The problem is definitely the combination of pad and rotor, maybe the pads would be great paired with slotted brembo rotors or something but the combination of pad and rotor they selected it isn't working. Maybe it's also influenced by climate? Coming from someone who had the issue and fixed it with Girodisc pads I can tell you I don't ride the brakes, I don't brake late etc. I'm about as normal of a driver there is. I first noticed it when braking going down steep hills and it just continued to get worse from there. I tried re-bedding the pads but it would only help the issue for a short time before it would return.

 

[Helo58]

Well, how about that! Thank you very much. Maybe the problem is the driver(s)...

I've driven and owned several performance cars equipped with Brembos and never had the problem before. If it is a driver problem, it took a Kia to make me realize it. I think it is combination of the pads and the braking system itself. This explains why Kia hasn't presented a fix for this issue yet. Just a hunch that it is more complicated than pads but I also feel that it could be entirely pads. There is zero percent of me that thinks it is a driver issue. Just glad I don't have to worry about it at this point.

 

[Doel]

The problem is definitely the combination of pad and rotor, maybe the pads would be great paired with slotted brembo rotors or something but the combination of pad and rotor they selected it isn't working. Maybe it's also influenced by climate? Coming from someone who had the issue and fixed it with Girodisc pads I can tell you I don't ride the brakes, I don't brake late etc. I'm about as normal of a driver there is. I first noticed it when braking going down steep hills and it just continued to get worse from there. I tried re-bedding the pads but it would only help the issue for a short time before it would return.

for me, it gets worse the hotter it is. Usually in the morning it's fine, but the drive home after work is horrible in the summer when we're in the 90s. Definitely worse when braking downhill.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The OEM pads are brembo.
The OEM rotors are brembo
The OEM calipers are brembo.

This is an OEM front pad from my stinger.

This has come up before. Not all OE parts are marked "Brembo". So, this is more complicated than simple assertions for either-or.

Yes, the problem is drivers; and pads; even rotors; and climate; and time/wear on parts, etc. As I've said many times, my brakes have functioned perfectly the entire time. Most members steer clear of this issue entirely (don't comment). But enough have said "I don't have brake issues" to point to a majority of Stingers being just fine. Kia didn't "F" this up. Sorry for each one of you who has to deal with pulsating brakes. But at least there are solutions that work; if your problem is not the way you drive.

 

[Brandondrums]

Hey guys, somewhat new to the community - I got a CPO 2019 GT2 AWD about a month and a half ago. I love the car and I've been a long-time driver of Subarus including having (and still owning) a 2005 WRX. It's funny reading this thread coming from the Subaru community where guys just roll up their sleeves and replace/modify whatever it is on their own even under warranty to 'fix' nits about the car. Here I see guys forcing KIA to buy back stingers because of some brake deposits?? Maybe in 2018 when there were no other pad options I can understand but now there's plenty of decent options in the aftermarket...

I'd recommend getting some stoptech performance pads which are amazingly CHEAP considering the size of these brakes. Kia Stinger GT - Stoptech Performance - Front & Rear Street Ceramic Brake Pads

I'd also not bother even taking the car to the dealer just to change pads. We've got really nice Brembo brakes which are designed really well for quick pad changes. Heck in the Subaru community, new guys often get pad deposits early on and learn how to prevent them - many chose to get a 2nd set of pads for performance driving and then swap the low dust ones on for the street and just take care to bed properly and avoid sitting full stop after a hard brake event.

If you wonder why KIA chose these pads, perhaps it has something to do with the many class action lawsuits other manufacturers have had regarding brake dust and squeaking (like Porsche) where they've had to put disclaimers on their owners manuals telling people that dust and squeaking is normal and not subject to warranty claims...

Unless KIA has some bug up their bum where you can't roll up your sleeves to do a few things without nullifying the warranty I say take an hour and install yourself and learn a few things about the car in the process. Be thankful you're just changing out pads for about $110 bucks vs. taking an equivalent performance BMW for an oil change and shelling out $200 on top of having to take care of some oil leak.

And know you'll have more dust and probably some annoying squeaks instead but that's okay.

my .02

 

[HDTurbo]

I suppose almost anything is possible. Almost 2 k mi on mine and have definitely done hard downhill braking in this summer heat. No issues yet...but I always ensure I leave time/room to let the system have time to cool before final stoppage! I had and then mitigated the issue on my stage 3 spec b with upgraded slotted rotors and StopTech street performance pads....

 

[NS_Stinger]

Hey guys, somewhat new to the community - I got a CPO 2019 GT2 AWD about a month and a half ago. I love the car and I've been a long-time driver of Subarus including having (and still owning) a 2005 WRX. It's funny reading this thread coming from the Subaru community where guys just roll up their sleeves and replace/modify whatever it is on their own even under warranty to 'fix' nits about the car. Here I see guys forcing KIA to buy back stingers because of some brake deposits?? Maybe in 2018 when there were no other pad options I can understand but now there's plenty of decent options in the aftermarket...

I'd recommend getting some stoptech performance pads which are amazingly CHEAP considering the size of these brakes. Kia Stinger GT - Stoptech Performance - Front & Rear Street Ceramic Brake Pads

I'd also not bother even taking the car to the dealer just to change pads. We've got really nice Brembo brakes which are designed really well for quick pad changes (they are literally racing brakes - like show up to a track and be able to swap track pads on quickly so you can race).

Unless KIA has some bug up their bum where you can't roll up your sleeves to do a few things without nullifying the warranty I say take an hour and install yourself and learn a few things about the car in the process. Be thankful you're just changing out pads for about $110 bucks vs. taking an equivalent performance BMW for an oil change and shelling out $200 on top of having to take care of some oil leak.

my .02

A big part of the problem is that a lot of Stinger owners aren't traditional car enthusiasts like other brands. The Stinger is really the first performance car KIA has produced. Owners are primarily people that had another KIA or something that isn't even a performance car and never have or planned on working on a their own cars. That's something I've noticed at least. I'm in total agreement with you, I replaced my pads, it was super quick and only a couple hundred bucks to basically take care of one of the only issues this car really has. KIA also isn't the only company to run Brembos and have brake issues, I remember Nissan/Infiniti went through a lot of this too with the G and Z cars.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The Stinger is really the first performance car KIA has produced.

And the only Kia produced by Hot Wheels.

 

[HDTurbo]

Hot Brakes/heart breaks! Apologies to FZappa...