Groove on the rotor?

[SUBBROS]

Does anyone else have a groove running alongside their brake rotor? I dont know if this was done on purpose or not. I have it only on my drivers side front rotor.

If this was done purposely, why only on rotor? Do I need to take it back to the dealership to get it checked out? The dealership was giving me some BS, so I dont think they know either.

[agctr]

SUBEBROS, let me first welcome you to the site. Thanks for coming onboard.
2ndly
Yup get it checked out ASAP. A lot of the guys in the forum have had to take their GT's back with the same Issue. SUBE555 had to take his back, he is in the States and John who resides in Oz had to take his back.

If they say to machine the brakes, SAY NO, U want new ones as this shouldnt happen especially on such a new and expensive vehicle. Looks like a World Wide Issue.

Seth, did u happen to put this in yr letter to Subaru as well?

SUBBROS, let us know how you get on at yr dealership. Best of luck with it

Adam.

[Wa-gone]

I have the same deep groove in my left front rotor. Glad to hear I'm not the only one. I also notice fairly heavy pulsing when I brake hard. Hopefully that's related to the groove and not warped rotors. Either way, I appreciate the advice to get the rotor replaced as it reinforces my thought.

[agctr]

Hmm, yes looks like its a common problem globally, not good but give yr dealership a hard time like the rest of the guys have in here and they should swap them over for you.

Best of luck with it
Adam.

[SUBE555]

Alright, I don't feel alone and it's others with the same left front rotor.

Not something that should be 'normal' as I'm told by 2 different dealerships, they can't do anything about it I'm told. Unfortunate for Subaru, this visual flaw doesn't look good for Subaru build quality as EVERYONE notices it. It might not be detremental, but it sure is visible. I know scoring is possible from stones and such, but I've been told by a number of people who are mechanics that I know and regularly work on cars that it is way too deep for normal scoring by stones.

Makes me wonder how much of the individial casting is flawed.

[kanoswrx]

Hmm I noticed one groove about 1cm from the outside edge of the rotor, but it was on the passanger side of the vehicle. I am not really to worried about it, if this is as bad as it gets I will be very happy. My wrx wasn't as lucky, it had tons of deep grooves. Worst of all subaru didn't cover it, because I got new pads, the grooving started before I put new pads on, and even my friend in another wrx never changed pads and his was just as bad.

[SUBE555]

Here is mine. This was taken after 370 miles.

http://homepage.mac.com/futureofx/.Pictures/NEWGT/ScoreZOut.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/futureofx/.Pictures/NEWGT/ScoreZIn.JPG

[agctr]

Seth, did u get that in yr letter by chance ?

Adam.

[SUBE555]

I forgot to mention about the letter. I am awaiting more results on the 'Higher Performance Legacy' survey before I complete it, but the rotor score will be in there.

[agctr]

Great, i think its important to talk about the future but also the current things too.

Thanks Mate
Adam.

Prodrive ?????

[SUBE555]

I'll see if I can get around to it when I get home. ;)

I'm jetting from the lab right after this post, home for the weekend.

I think it is extremely important to look down the road at things to come. If you don't look more than a few inches in front of you, you will always be stumbling along, look a full arms length and things are generally a bit more clear. I try to look 3-5 years down the road.

[kanoswrx]

My groove seems a bit futher out on the rotor, and not as wide as that one. That one looks like one I got on my WRX when I installed new DBA rotors. What was happening was, the rotor was scratching these metal brake brackets on the caliper. Do you ever hear any grinding noises when turning? Try this test, find a place you can do slow full locking turns (about 5-10 mph) just going in circles. Try both directions and vary your speed a little to see if you hear any grinding noises. Also look at it afterwards to see if you can see any difference. I hate to say it, but it could be a wheel bearing issue, atleast this is what was causing my rotors to lean into the caliper causing that type of groove. The only thing is, your car is so new, I don't see how you could have a bad wheel bearing already, unless it was a bad part from the factory.

If I were you I would atleast get this documented now by subaru, get them to sign something saying they atleast see the problem so they can't deny you coverage later, as they did with me (I only had 25k miles too, they called it abuse)

[agctr]

Yeah totally agree Seth.

Kanoswrx did u get the DBA's from Oz ?

Adam.

[cncgimenez]

Here is mine. This was taken after 370 miles.

http://homepage.mac.com/futureofx/.Pictures/NEWGT/ScoreZOut.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/futureofx/.Pictures/NEWGT/ScoreZIn.JPG

SUBE555,

What brand of wheel locks are you using? I have a set of stock ones and they look like....well..CRAP! If you could get me a part number and who makes them, I would be greatfull.

Regards,
Chris

[SUBE555]

Factory wheel locks.

I had the rotor looked at with 466 miles on the car (couldn't get it in until like a week after I had it- noticed it on second day.) The service slip reads as follows, word by word...

INSPECT. CUSTOMER NOTICED A MARK ON THE LF ROTOR
REMOVED THE BRAKE PADS AND INSPECTED THE ROTOR. THE ROTOR
LOOKS NORMAL.

***
That's what they put on the service ticket. I'll take a look at it. I should get my car up and clean the inside of the wheels soon anyhow before they get too dirty. I'll inspec it closer when I do that then.

[BoxerGT2.5]

Factory wheel locks.

I had the rotor looked at with 466 miles on the car (couldn't get it in until like a week after I had it- noticed it on second day.) The service slip reads as follows, word by word...

INSPECT. CUSTOMER NOTICED A MARK ON THE LF ROTOR
REMOVED THE BRAKE PADS AND INSPECTED THE ROTOR. THE ROTOR
LOOKS NORMAL.

***
That's what they put on the service ticket. I'll take a look at it. I should get my car up and clean the inside of the wheels soon anyhow before they get too dirty. I'll inspec it closer when I do that then.

Normal?? lol. Maybe it's subaru's version of slotted rotors. Ask them to machine the others to match. What a joke!

[Tide]

moved to warranty issues and problems.

[SUBE555]

Sorry Tide.

[KayGT]

ok i have these on both front wheels though not as wide. Anyone get them replaced under warranty or the dealer just blew you off?

[chinchy]

I have a similar marking on my front left rotor, but I ran my fingers over it and it doesn't appear to be a groove, only a white colored ring as it were. So it appears to be some sort of a discoloration. Should I be concerned that it might develop into a groove?

[agctr]

chinchy, just take it to Subaru to check it out before it gets any worse. Get it sorted now before the problem gets out of hand.

Adam.

[omarco]

I too have these grooves on my front left rotor. Is it going to develop some kind of braking problem or any kind of issue with the car? Try to justify the seriousness of this.

Thanks!

[SUBBROS]

so i just got back from the dealer. they said they wouldnt replace the rotor cuz it was still under factory specs. meaning that they could machine it and there would still be enough rotor to not require a new replacement.

i tried to hassle with them, but to no avail. my tech guy said that sometimes things get caught in the brake pad and cause those grooves. so i just had them check out the pads and rotors. they found some particle in there that was affecting it, so they sanded the pads. didnt have them machine the rotors though. they said it wouldnt do anything and that over time the pad would wear the rotor down so itll eventually become even.

well, might as well have as much rotor as possible. replacing those are expensive.

[Wa-gone]

My dealership didn't hassle me on the rotor groove at all. They told me they would replace it under warranty as it would reduce the life of the rotor to turn it. They said the cause was definitely a pad defect or incorrect original assembly.

I was prepared for a fight and was happy to encounter common sense. I am getting the replacement rotor and pads this weekend.

[moriarty]

That's weird - I have the same exact groove, and the dealership told me not to worry about it as well. I'll have to go back and have them look at it again, and also check out my inconsistent brake pedal feel as well.

[SUBE555]

Glad you guys have gotten an easier time. I just had my GT in today at 10,600 miles, they've known about the issue since nearly day one. They wouldn't outright replace the rotor so I told them to turn it. Did. It's wearing in again. They're ordering new pads. I suspect in the end hopefully they'll just throw a new rotor on there because when the new pads go on, it'll have to be turned again taking it down even more.

They want to problem solve it when the solution is likely in the end to be a new rotor and pads anyhow. This should have been fixed in the first month, I've had it since July and still dinking around with it.

.....this is so frustrating!!!!

[fan42025]

It's very rare and wrong for rotors to be turned twice. I feel they shouldn't be done at all - instead replaced.

Glad you guys have gotten an easier time. I just had my GT in today at 10,600 miles, they've known about the issue since nearly day one. They wouldn't outright replace the rotor so I told them to turn it. Did. It's wearing in again. They're ordering new pads. I suspect in the end hopefully they'll just throw a new rotor on there because when the new pads go on, it'll have to be turned again taking it down even more.

They want to problem solve it when the solution is likely in the end to be a new rotor and pads anyhow. This should have been fixed in the first month, I've had it since July and still dinking around with it.

.....this is so frustrating!!!!

[SUBBROS]

funny thing, i was talking to my friend whos like my tech advisor and he has many friends in the sub dealership (works in sub aftermarkets) and he said that that groove is actually intentional! like SUB has it to check the wear on the rotor.

i know it sounds weird. and that people of SOA didnt know much about it at first. but it seems like theres no way to get rid of the groove unless you get some new brakes.

what do you all think? im still skeptical.

[jim1969]

I have the same groove on my front passenger's side. Had it since I noticed at about 2500 miles. My dealer said a rock must've gotten stuck in there and caused it and wouldn't replace the rotor.

[Subietonic]

Looks machine cut actually, as though the surface of the rotor delaminated completely on those scores.

SBT

[kanoswrx]

Yeah totally agree Seth.

Kanoswrx did u get the DBA's from Oz ?

Adam.

Yeah, they came from Oz. They were nice rotors.

[agctr]

Does this problem still exist for any BRAND NEW Scoobies ?
Adam.

[RoundBoy]

yep..

had it on my MY02 and my new MY05