FAQ: Vibration under braking: warped rotors? NO!

[SpaceGhost]

Q. Well, if warped rotors aren’t the problem, why is everyone getting the problem fixed by getting their rotors turned or replaced?

A. Because that actually does fix the problem, at least temporarily. And dealers don’t care because Kia pays them for the work, and Kia wants to make the owners of their first big-selling premium car happy. But that’s like declaring your car a total loss because you got a scrape on the bumper. Replacing the bumper is a much easier, cheaper, and simpler option. And likewise, there is an easier fix for the brake vibration too.

Q. Okay, so if the problem isn’t warped rotors, what is it?

A. Pad deposits.

Q. Wait, what are pad deposits?

A. When you brake hard repeatedly due to spirited driving, or apply the brakes for a sustained period of time as you might if you’re coming down a really big hill, your brakes heat up. Not just the rotors -- also the fluid, which can cause total brake failure in some cases, but more importantly, the pads. As the pads heat up, they soften. Once they are hot enough, large amounts of semi-liquid pad material start coming off and sticking to the rotors. This material stays on the rotors even after the brakes cool.

Q. So why does this cause brake vibration?

A. Because brake vibration is caused by rotor runout (different thicknesses of the rotors at different points around their circumference). This can be due to warping (which we’ve already established is unlikely to happen), due to rust on the rotors that accumulates while the car is sitting and that is scraped off unevenly once the car is driven again, or due to pad material being deposited unevenly around the circumference (thicker in some places, thinner in others).

Q. Why is it unevenly deposited, though?

A. The most common cause is that you heat the pads up, and then come to a stop at a light and keep the brake pedal depressed. It can also be caused by dragging your brakes at low speeds (e.g. inching forward at a light or in traffic). Please note that this scenario (heating up the brakes and then applying them at low speeds and/or keeping them applied) is the most likely reason this problem occurs.

If this were actually true why wouldn't all Stingers have this issue? My car has it. I have only driven this car normally. I live near Boston there are no hills. I have not hit the brakes hard at all. if the way I'm driving this car is over heating the brakes then the brakes are badly designed

 

[MerlintheMad]

There is some worn pain under the bumper where I've parked too close to a high sidewalk/parking curb. Neither of those things would have been any sort of force/speed to have loosened/removed the clips that hold in the fender liner.

Either way, it is manufacturer or workshop warranty. Which one is their concern, not yours.

@mjcavalo, Not going to get any joy out of this one, imho. It doesn't take speed, only pressure, to pop those rivets holding the fender liners. You've got demonstrable damage underneath. When did this happen?

 

[Helo58]

If this were actually true why wouldn't all Stingers have this issue? My car has it. I have only driven this car normally. I live near Boston there are no hills. I have not hit the brakes hard at all. if the way I'm driving this car is over heating the brakes then the brakes are badly designed

It is possible that only a certain lot or group of brake pads were faulty. I have never had this issue on a number of different cars and I am at a loss as to anything I have done. My driving style has been consistent between about 7 different cars with "performance" braking systems and the Stinger is the first one I've had brake issues with. When I put that experience together with several automotive journalists/publications who have had similar problems, I can only conclude the pads are bad. Why everyone's pads aren't bad may never be determined (at least publicly).

 

[max2382]

If this were actually true why wouldn't all Stingers have this issue? My car has it. I have only driven this car normally. I live near Boston there are no hills. I have not hit the brakes hard at all. if the way I'm driving this car is over heating the brakes then the brakes are badly designed

Totally agree with u. I never used them hard and I had them resurfaced at 12k miles. Now the problem is gone, but the breaking power is pretty lame. It really feels like a very cheap car brakes. Don't really know what to do. I guess I will have to change them to some performance aftermarket later on

 

[Bonzai]

I agree its quite annoying but I consider brakes a problem area on most vehicles, it didn't take long before I started experiencing the gritty vibration and shaking through the steering wheel, about 6 months or so. I'm now at 15 months of ownership and it started to become even more irritating trying to modulate the brakes and not fully enjoying the car on spirited runs. Agree this is not acceptable performance and in my case the tech mentioned I had heat scoring on the rotors and the pads were ok.

New rotors will be installed next week hope they hold up. I was kind and believe I bedded in my original breaks during the brake-in 1000 kms. I also know not to stand on the breaks when they are hot..lots of big brake cars in the past and this is the first issue i've had really.

Here's to smooth OEM braking - one last go before I go aftermarket

 

[Capecod]

I notice a problem with my brakes the night I picked up my car with 79 miles on it, talked to the service Dept yesterday and they are aware of this issue and will look into it when I bring it in, I told them turning the rotors on a brand new car is not acceptable

 

[TwistedOrca]

1yr of ownership @ 17k miles and now I have developed this vibration...

 

[mjcavalo]

@mjcavalo, Not going to get any joy out of this one, imho. It doesn't take speed, only pressure, to pop those rivets holding the fender liners. You've got demonstrable damage underneath. When did this happen?

The damage was over 6 months ago. The day before the fender liner came off, they had the car, working in that area. At the least, I would have thought they would have noticed that it wasn’t attached properly. Looking at how it was damaged, it came off from the back, not the front. So, their theory that something I did on the front caused it is even more unlikely. Hubby will be talking with service manager on Monday.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The damage was over 6 months ago. The day before the fender liner came off, they had the car, working in that area. At the least, I would have thought they would have noticed that it wasn’t attached properly. Looking at how it was damaged, it came off from the back, not the front. So, their theory that something I did on the front caused it is even more unlikely. Hubby will be talking with service manager on Monday.

I hope you get satisfaction. What I was pointing out is the way the damaged area could be attributed to what happened later; it just took time. But if someone at Kia wants you to be happy they'll work with you on it. If not, then they have the excuse they need to reject a warranty claim. After reading on here for months, it's apparently a crap shoot when asking for the warranty to cover this or that.

 

[itguy61]

Are there any updates on somebody coming out with rear pads for these? I believe Nick at KHARTUNERZ stated these are proprietary to the Stinger so cross references are not available.

 

[Helo58]

Are there any updates on somebody coming out with rear pads for these? I believe Nick at KHARTUNERZ stated these are proprietary to the Stinger so cross references are not available.

I have yet to find a pad manufacturer on Khartunerz website that lists pads for the Stinger on their company website. If the common pad manufacturers make a pad that only fits the Stinger, you would think they would want to get word out so that they might sell some pads.

I am guessing that he was an industrious business owner and found out which pads would work. It would be great if he would share his findings, but I don't blame him one bit if he chooses not to. I am at a loss why no other parts seller lists pads for the Stinger yet.

 

[itguy61]

I don't believe that anyone other than Kia will have a pad that is "dedicated" to the Stinger. The front Brembos are not specific to the Stinger, they are used on several cars including Subaru STI's, EVo's, some Mustangs, Camer0s and an Audi TT. The rear is apparently proprietary to the Stinger.

The Centric brake pads are listed on tier site for the Stinger. I have a feeling you will be waiting forever if you are wanting a pad that is only for the
Stinger unless you buy Kia pads.

 

[Helo58]

I don't believe that anyone other than Kia will have a pad that is "dedicated" to the Stinger. The front Brembos are not specific to the Stinger, they are used on several cars including Subaru STI's, EVo's, some Mustangs, Camer0s and an Audi TT. The rear is apparently proprietary to the Stinger.

The Centric brake pads are listed on tier site for the Stinger. I have a feeling you will be waiting forever if you are wanting a pad that is only for the
Stinger unless you buy Kia pads.

I am not looking for a pad only for the Stinger. I am looking for Amazon, Auto Zone, Pep Boys, Advance, Rock Auto, Auto Anything, CARid, etc. to offer pads for the Stinger GT. No one does. If you want a choice of among multiple pad types and pad manufacturers for your Stinger pad replacements, you are limited to Khartunerz. If you want different choices than the ones he is offering, good luck.

 

[itguy61]

I am not looking for a pad only for the Stinger. I am looking for Amazon, Auto Zone, Pep Boys, Advance, Rock Auto, Auto Anything, CARid, etc. to offer pads for the Stinger GT. No one does. If you want a choice of among multiple pad types and pad manufacturers for your Stinger pad replacements, you are limited to Khartunerz. If you want different choices than the ones he is offering, good luck.

This car is low volume, and new to boot. I don't think the biggies are going to be falling over themselves, too low volume of a car. Gonna be specialty manufacturers. If it were an optima or Sportage maybe.

 

[MisterMac]

Here are the front pads for the Brembos.

 

[Helo58]

This car is low volume, and new to boot. I don't think the biggies are going to be falling over themselves, too low volume of a car. Gonna be specialty manufacturers. If it were an optima or Sportage maybe.

My Lexus ISF was low volume (total of 5118 cars), averaging about 730 per year for the time it was produced. I had multiple choices of brake pads from boutique pad makers, "value" brands, as well as the major brands for the Lexus. Apparently, it is not a volume issue.

Also, if the front pads are compatible with other currently produced calipers/rotors, as many have said, then why is no one other than Khartunerz saying they have pads for the car? You would think that the majors (Hawk, EBC for example) would cross-reference the part numbers for the parts that Khartunerz is selling for the Stinger on their own product listing web pages.

Khartunerz IS selling pads for the Brembo Stinger rotors. He is selling multiple brands in multiple types from very well known manufacturers. Where the question lies, is that the part numbers are not available for cross-reference on any other website. I am hesitant to use a pad on my car when the pad manufacturer themselves doesn't even list a part number for the Stinger on their own website. The guaranteed fit not only offers peace of mind, but insures maintaining the brake warranty. Putting a part on my car that isn't stated to work on my car by either the caliper maker or the pad maker just doesn't seem prudent.

Centric lists the Stinger as an application and I am sure the Centric parts are quality parts, but I would like to choose a pad that matches my driving style rather than pick the only "official" choice currently available other than the factory pad.

 

[itguy61]

Not a valid comparison. The ISF is an IS coupe, it used the same pads as any F sport IS. Those have been on the market at least five years and probably sold ten times as many cars as the Stinger. This car is new so a bit of patience on the aftermarket is probably necessary. The aftermarket will respond if demand is there.

And your assertion nobody else is listing them for the Stinger is incorrect. Centric lists them on their site, I checked last night. Again, have some patience dude. They are coming from others.

You seem to be stubborn about this. You can use many different compound pads on these, race to normal driving. You are stuck on the fact they are not listed for our car yet. Hawk doesn't even list anything for cars newer than 2017 models. Not just the stinger but no cars after that year. 1 and 2 year old cars don't usually have high demand for brake pads yet. Just wait a bit and they will pop up.

 

[MisterMac]

any pad that fits the Cadillac ATS V6 with Brembo front brakes 2016 and newer will also fit the Stinger front Brembo brakes

 

[MisterMac]

Also looks like the Cadillac CTS Brembo fronts have the same pads. Someone else please verify

 

[Helo58]

Not a valid comparison. The ISF is an IS coupe, it used the same pads as any F sport IS. Those have been on the market at least five years and probably sold ten times as many cars as the Stinger. This car is new so a bit of patience on the aftermarket is probably necessary. The aftermarket will respond if demand is there.

And your assertion nobody else is listing them for the Stinger is incorrect. Centric lists them on their site, I checked last night. Again, have some patience dude. They are coming from others.

You seem to be stubborn about this. You can use many different compound pads on these, race to normal driving. You are stuck on the fact they are not listed for our car yet. Hawk doesn't even list anything for cars newer than 2017 models. Not just the stinger but no cars after that year. 1 and 2 year old cars don't usually have high demand for brake pads yet. Just wait a bit and they will pop up.

Several things....

1) The Lexus IS was a sedan, not a coupe (with the exception of the IS C convertible)
2) The $65,000 ISF was a 400+hp direct competitor to the BMW M3, not a run of the mill IS. The F-sport package was an appearance package only. Only the "F" got the engine, brakes, suspension, etc. upgrades.
3) The "F" brakes and F-sport brakes are VASTLY different. If they were the same, they were the same in the same way that the base 2.0L Stinger brakes and the 3.3 Stinger GT brakes are the same. They aren't.
4) I listed the number of ISFs produced. It was 5118 total over 7 years. Stinger sales in the first 6 months surpassed ISF sales for all 7 years. The ISF is quite rare in the context of modern production cars.
5) When I owned the car, it had been on the market for 2 years. The Stinger has been on the market for about 1.5 years now. It seems like a great comparison to say that the Lexus ISF Brembos had multiple "official" pad choices at the 2 year mark.
6) I mentioned the "official" Centric part and praised it's likely quality. I am aware of this choice.
7) Picky yes, stubborn not so much. I will likely chose some Hawk Street 5.0 pads. I am not happy about it not being a listed for the Stinger, but once I have the pad in hand, I will verify its fitment on my own. They have high dust and the brake dust is corrosive due to the metallic particles, but they are awesome pads when you want to stop often and hard. I will just have to wash the wheels more frequently. The temperature range and progressive feel suits my driving style.
8) The "official" Centric Posi-Quiets are a great pad if you are looking for low dust. The are not a performance pad however. There are more suitable ceramics and way more suitable semi-metallics for the 4000+lb Brembo equipped Stinger.

9) My overall point is that if so many pads are compatible, then why doesn't ANYONE else list them as compatible. It is a simple question. The pads already exist, the rotors already exist, and the calipers already exist. There is no "waiting for the aftermarket." There should be no need to wait for them to "pop up." They are apparently already here and being used by Stinger owners and sold by Khartunerz. What exactly are we waiting on so that other vendors and manufacturers make it official and list them as optional pads for the Stinger?