1992-1999 Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's and Buick Lesabres Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

Why Rotors Warp

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-18-2005, 01:56 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
 
bill buttermore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Ames, Iowa
Posts: 3,066
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
bill buttermore is on a distinguished road
Default Why Rotors Warp

Took the SSEi to a local garage to have the tires balanced this morning. On a hunch, I took my torque wrench, a short extension, and a 3/4" deep socket along. When they were done, before I drove away, I torqued all the lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. They had used an impact wrench to tighten the nuts. On the left front front wheel, here are the torque settings I found as I tightened the nuts in a star pattern:

..................................40

.......................80..................70

.............................50.......60

With this kind of uneven tightening, is it any wonder that rotors warp? Of course, they do brakes, too. I'll bet they change a lot of rotors.
Old 10-18-2005, 02:05 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
 
Timothy's Buick's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Timothy's Buick is on a distinguished road
Default

Don't trust mechanics who use an impact and a regular socket to tighten lug nuts. They need to use a 100 ft lbs sticks to tighten lug nuts. as a Matter of fact, they should be tightened to 75, and the rest done with a torque wrench. Yes, its the #1 cause of warped rotors.
Old 10-18-2005, 02:15 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
 
vital49's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Purgatory
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
vital49 is on a distinguished road
Default

That'* crazy.

It'* tough enough to keep rotors from warping even when the wheels are torqued properly. They're definitely not helping the cause.
Old 10-18-2005, 02:35 PM
  #4  
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS

Expert Gearhead
 
BillBoost37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Enfield, CT
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
BillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of light
Default

I can't understand why you guys keep warping rotors. I'm brutal on them...
Old 10-18-2005, 03:23 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
 
J Wikoff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,433
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
J Wikoff is on a distinguished road
Default

Do "torque sticks" work? Last time I got new tires, I was in the shop while the guy was working. I said "I don't know what your usual practice is, but please don't use an impact wrench on the lugs." He said that he uses 80 lb torque sticks with his impact wrench and it seems to work well.

Opinions?
Old 10-18-2005, 03:33 PM
  #7  
Junior Member
 
vital49's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Purgatory
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
vital49 is on a distinguished road
Default

Never heard of a torque stick, but now you got me wondering what it is too!
Old 10-18-2005, 04:15 PM
  #8  
Junior Member
 
singscountry1967's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: North of Buffalo, NY *** NEBF '05, '06, '07 *** ***ONBF & NYBF 06; 07*** ***WCBF 06***
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
singscountry1967 is on a distinguished road
Default

....great. I just had new sneakers put on my Bonne today......makes me wonder if my lugs are torqued properly....I'd hate to go around with a "screw loose" <grin> so to speak.
Old 10-18-2005, 04:19 PM
  #9  
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS

Expert Gearhead
 
BillBoost37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Enfield, CT
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
BillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of light
Default

Originally Posted by singscountry1967
....great. I just had new sneakers put on my Bonne today......makes me wonder if my lugs are torqued properly....I'd hate to go around with a "screw loose" <grin> so to speak.
Guaranteed they prolly didn't torque to spec.

The sticks limit torque at a certain value. They are better than just squeezin the trigger on an impact and quick.

Costco actually uses the sticks then torques by hand.
Old 10-18-2005, 05:05 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
corvettecrazy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Rochester, NY (college)
Posts: 6,182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
corvettecrazy is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by singscountry1967
....great. I just had new sneakers put on my Bonne today......makes me wonder if my lugs are torqued properly....I'd hate to go around with a "screw loose" <grin> so to speak.
just don't go autocrossing between now and NEBF. If your brakes are still making noise I am sure we will have your tires off anyway.


Quick Reply: Why Rotors Warp



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:08 AM.