destruya Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 I'm a low-mileage driver. I've *just* put ~22,500 miles on my 2016 Legacy at the 30 month mark (bought in early Feb 2016). But I want to keep to the service schedule as best I can, so I brought the car in for its 'overdue' 24m/24k service, and plan on bringing it in for the 30m/30k service in the next two months or so (when the car should probably be at ~24-25k). My question is, that in the course of the inspection process, they found my front rotors were minorly warped - evidently no more than 1mm, but that that warping was causing quite a lot of heat to be generated. I asked the service rep if that presented a danger to the car, and he said that it didn't, but that prudence demanded they be *replaced*, and not to worry, that such a repair would be covered under warranty. Again, key word there, *replaced*. So I blocked out a period of time where I could leave the car at the dealership, and just picked it up today. Let this be a lesson to always *read* your invoice. 1. The brake rotors were not replaced, they were *resurfaced*. 2. They did not put new pads on the rotors. Pads aren't that expensive, and while I'm not a mechanic, I know enough about cars that generally when you're doing a warranty replacement, you usually just put new pads on as a matter of common courtesy and logic. The reason I know the pads weren't replaced was that the service rep was quite 'helpful' in telling me that my pads "only have ~10-15k left on them." 3. My Legacy is my first AWD car, so it would stand to reason that when you replace the brake rotors, you should replace *all* of them, because otherwise you're going to have uneven wear between them, which is a bad thing which would only ensure my car would spend *more* time in the service center. Only the *front* rotors were serviced. Am I being illogical here? Lastly, upon hearing my rotors had been warped, I hit up carcomplaints.com and noticed that while the complaints are few, that there *are* NHTSA records about brake issues with the 2016 Legacy. Anyone else 'chewing' through pads and rotors? I'm not a brake checker/rider, either - so I've no clue how they could've gotten screwed up so fast, so soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoTone Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 I'm a low-mileage driver. I've *just* put ~22,500 miles on my 2016 Legacy at the 30 month mark (bought in early Feb 2016). But I want to keep to the service schedule as best I can, so I brought the car in for its 'overdue' 24m/24k service, and plan on bringing it in for the 30m/30k service in the next two months or so (when the car should probably be at ~24-25k). My question is, that in the course of the inspection process, they found my front rotors were minorly warped - evidently no more than 1mm, but that that warping was causing quite a lot of heat to be generated. I asked the service rep if that presented a danger to the car, and he said that it didn't, but that prudence demanded they be *replaced*, and not to worry, that such a repair would be covered under warranty. Again, key word there, *replaced*. So I blocked out a period of time where I could leave the car at the dealership, and just picked it up today. Let this be a lesson to always *read* your invoice. 1. The brake rotors were not replaced, they were *resurfaced*. 2. They did not put new pads on the rotors. Pads aren't that expensive, and while I'm not a mechanic, I know enough about cars that generally when you're doing a warranty replacement, you usually just put new pads on as a matter of common courtesy and logic. The reason I know the pads weren't replaced was that the service rep was quite 'helpful' in telling me that my pads "only have ~10-15k left on them." 3. My Legacy is my first AWD car, so it would stand to reason that when you replace the brake rotors, you should replace *all* of them, because otherwise you're going to have uneven wear between them, which is a bad thing which would only ensure my car would spend *more* time in the service center. Only the *front* rotors were serviced. Am I being illogical here? YES Lastly, upon hearing my rotors had been warped, I hit up carcomplaints.com and noticed that while the complaints are few, that there *are* NHTSA records about brake issues with the 2016 Legacy. Anyone else 'chewing' through pads and rotors? I'm not a brake checker/rider, either - so I've no clue how they could've gotten screwed up so fast, so soon. Where would you get the idea that all four rotors need to be service because of AWD? It's true that all 4 tires need to be within a certain spec of each other, but no such thing when it comes to rotors. They resurfaced the rotors for free, why do you think you're entitled to new pads if nothing is wrong with them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
destruya Posted August 14, 2018 Author Share Posted August 14, 2018 It would stand to reason that the reason the pads only have 10-15k left on them is because of whatever caused the rotors to warp, and said warping might've accelerated the wear of the brakes. If, then, because of, basically. The service rep I talked to initially said the rotors needed to be flat out replaced, and instead they were resurfaced. As for replacement of all four rotors, if that's not the case, all the better, as I'd imagine that'd mean I'd spend more time without the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KartRacerBoy Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 Are you sure the rotors were warped rather than just having pad deposits on them? If you are a very light braker, you are likely to leave pads deposits on your pad. This can cause brake peddle pulsing like a real warped rotor. First thing to do next time this happens is to bring the car up to 60 or so and brake HARD down to 15 mph or so. Do this 3-4 times. If you do have deposits, this will rid you of them and there will be no pulsing through your peddle. If that doesn't work, the shop can test for runout on the rotor to see if it is really warped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08SpecB_DE Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 Did you have a shimmy on brake application? You speak of no issues but they are saying there is an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
destruya Posted August 14, 2018 Author Share Posted August 14, 2018 I noticed some 'feedback' when I applied brakes, but just assumed it was ABS. They were very vague in describing the problem - they told me there was a 1mm warp on one of the rotors - both were resurfaced - and that they were getting very hot (which no doubt caused the warping). But I never felt anything anomalous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upstater Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 front brakes do most of the braking, whether the car is front or rear or AWD, and explains why they usually place larger rotors in the front, or why cheaper cars have rotors in the front and drum brakes in the rear. I haven't been to my dealer since I bought the car, but if they offered to turn the rotors that is a reasonable thing for them to do, they might have offered to let you buy new pads at that time, but it sounds like you will get a year out of the old ones. FWIW if I was keeping the car, and the brakes needed servicing, I don't bother trying to turn the rotors, I just buy aftermarket rotors and pads and put them on in my garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08SpecB_DE Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 Rotors do not magically warp by themselves unless you routinely run the car through a car wash after driving for a prolonged period of time. A guide pin could be sticking or the pads could be stuck in the hardware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
destruya Posted August 14, 2018 Author Share Posted August 14, 2018 Rotors do not magically warp by themselves unless you routinely run the car through a car wash after driving for a prolonged period of time. A guide pin could be sticking or the pads could be stuck in the hardware. Yeah, and that's just the thing - I was given no information on *why* it was happening, even after they resurfaced the rotors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moral hazard Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 I'm impressed that the rotors were resurfaced under warranty, they are a consumable item... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
securityguy Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 Most manufacturers that I have dealt with will take care of the brakes during the warranty period. Had it done many times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urdrwho Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 These days with the price of rotors being less expensive I would never resurface the rotors. You will have warped rotors in much less time now that they are thinner. Plus you are paying for labor to run those rotors out when that money could be spent toward new rotors. Just my two cents but those lathes are used less and less these days. "minorly warped" I am guess that you felt the brakes pulsating? What kind of pads are you using semi-metallic, non-asbestos organic, low-metallic or ceramic? Something heated those puppies up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urdrwho Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 Yep --- pretty much agree on this one. Rotors do not magically warp by themselves unless you routinely run the car through a car wash after driving for a prolonged period of time. A guide pin could be sticking or the pads could be stuck in the hardware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoTone Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 These days with the price of rotors being less expensive I would never resurface the rotors. You will have warped rotors in much less time now that they are thinner. Plus you are paying for labor to run those rotors out when that money could be spent toward new rotors. Just my two cents but those lathes are used less and less these days. "minorly warped" I am guess that you felt the brakes pulsating? What kind of pads are you using semi-metallic, non-asbestos organic, low-metallic or ceramic? Something heated those puppies up. The poster didn't pay for anything, it was done under warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urdrwho Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 True. But IMHO the dealer should have just put new rotors on the darn car. The labor (dealer cost) to turn down the rotors is probably close to their (dealer) cost for new rotors. Of course I know people who feel that even new rotors should be put on the machine to make sure they are exact. All the dealer did for free was make a rotor with less meat on it and a thinner rotor and making it warp quicker. I know a guy that once upon a time he owned a car that used ceramic pads and wow did that chew through the pads / rotors. It was a new car, a company lease car so he didn't need to pay the invoices. The age of this car should not be having such brake issues. Is the owner heating up those rotors and then driving / sitting through deep water? I doubt it --- so there is something going on around the rotor, sticking pin, pistons that are not working well. Free is not necessarily free if you have to take your time to go through this again. The poster didn't pay for anything, it was done under warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chowser51 Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 I would’ve just replaced the rotors as well. My rears went about 55k and the fronts around 65k. Both times was rotor and pad replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ammcinnis Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 Am I being illogical here? Subaru's sole obligation under warranty is to repair or replace (at their option) parts that are defective or fail prematurely. They have no obligation to replace serviceable items that might fail during the warranty period. "If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there." ~ The Cheshire Cat (Alice in Wonderland) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urdrwho Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Ok, even if I had to pay out of pocket for them, I still would have popped for the new rotors. So now when these thinner rotors warp, next time labor, et al will quite possibly be on the owner. At least with the current warranty arrangement labor was on Subaru. In fact the dealer would have been happier because the rotors had to be removed, they wouldn't have had to spend labor time cutting the rotors and dealer would have come out better. Subaru's sole obligation under warranty is to repair or replace (at their option) parts that are defective or fail prematurely. They have no obligation to replace serviceable items that might fail during the warranty period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pudge Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 I'm sitting at 82k on the original rotors and pads, that's crazy you are already having problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoTone Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Ok, even if I had to pay out of pocket for them, I still would have popped for the new rotors. So now when these thinner rotors warp, next time labor, et al will quite possibly be on the owner. At least with the current warranty arrangement labor was on Subaru. In fact the dealer would have been happier because the rotors had to be removed, they wouldn't have had to spend labor time cutting the rotors and dealer would have come out better. That's not how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chowser51 Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 It takes a few minutes to swap rotors. Just save some time and money and do it yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urdrwho Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 So the dealer is really going to say - "hey I don't want that extra money that you are willing to give me for new rotors?" That is one strange business model. That's not how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urdrwho Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Yep. If you can replace pads, you can replace rotors. I remember the days of drum brakes and the springs, the tools needed, etc. and they could be a PITA. Unless something has been neglected, the pads are normally a piece of cake. QUOTE=chowser51;5823780]It takes a few minutes to swap rotors. Just save some time and money and do it yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
destruya Posted August 18, 2018 Author Share Posted August 18, 2018 I'm sitting at 82k on the original rotors and pads, that's crazy you are already having problems. I was told by another dealership just yesterday that "all it takes is one sudden stop." I'm not a brake-happy driver, so I'm honestly mystified that this happened as well. I know you sometimes roll low when it comes to MTBF, but the car only has ~22.8k miles on it. As for this happening again, I've got the 7y/70k Gold Plus Warranty. If/when this happens again, I'm going to dig my heels in and demand new rotors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehsnils Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 It might be that they resurfaced them because it was deposits on them and they were otherwise fine and not warped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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