Who else has had warped rotors?

[Lsju]

My GT2 has now experienced the "warped" rotors. I took in today, it has 18K miles and is about 18 months old and KIA admitted that the rotors are not a good quality and so they resurfaced the rotor and pads and charged me of course. They stuck to the 12K miles 12 month clause. This is deceitful and dishonest as obviously KIA knew these rotors would not hold up. They also said I would be better upgrading the rotors as this problem will continue and what they did today is merely a band-aid. Nothing better to hear after paying $50K+ for a brand new car.

This is a buyer beware car, in some ways cheaply made, service departments are terrible lumping this car in with their basic transportation cars they manufacture and sell. I will never buy a KIA again and I'm working on a social media blitz to warn people to go beyond the looks of the Stinger, something I'm sorry I did not do.

 

[Manaz]

Kia admitted nothing - a dealership did. And they're probably wrong.

The rotors are from Brembo as well - their website lists their own part number as well as the Kia part number.

They don't list pads though. Which is interesting. We do know that the US and EU have a different pad specification, and the problem seems more prevalent in the US.

Get the dealership to put it in writing (that the rotors are not Brembo, that they are cheap and that is the cause of the problem), then take it to Kia corporate, and see what they say.

People have put good quality after-market rotors on the Stinger and had the same problem if they have persisted with the stock pads.

You'd want to be REALLY careful with that social media blitz, particularly if it's based on incorrect information.

 

[Manaz]

Pads and Discs for KIA STINGER (CK) 3.3 T-GDi

 

[MerlintheMad]

My GT2 has now experienced the "warped" rotors. I took in today, it has 18K miles and is about 18 months old and KIA admitted that the rotors are not a good quality and so they resurfaced the rotor and pads and charged me of course. They stuck to the 12K miles 12 month clause. This is deceitful and dishonest as obviously KIA knew these rotors would not hold up. They also said I would be better upgrading the rotors as this problem will continue and what they did today is merely a band-aid. Nothing better to hear after paying $50K+ for a brand new car.

This is a buyer beware car, in some ways cheaply made, service departments are terrible lumping this car in with their basic transportation cars they manufacture and sell. I will never buy a KIA again and I'm working on a social media blitz to warn people to go beyond the looks of the Stinger, something I'm sorry I did not do.

You've been signed up to the Stinger Forum almost from the beginning. But you obviously have not had a positive experience with your vehicle. And I am sorry.

There is nothing inferior about the quality of the pads or rotors. The car is not "cheaply made" (in some ways): it is economically made, which is not the same thing.

All cars are "buyer beware": they're extremely complex machines, mass produced and therefore imperfect. Some vehicles demonstrate a few issues. Some seem to be virtually trouble/issue free. Most behave just like any other well designed and made car: they go thousands of miles before something wears out.

Your assertion that Kia is "deceitful and dishonest" over their own clearly stated warranty on rotors and pads is completely wrong. At 12,200 miles Kia can legally claim "out of warranty". But a member still got service free as a "good will gesture". And it is, even without stating so. Other members have received the same treatment thousands of miles beyond the 12K miles warranty; so, even greater good will.

The car isn't just "looks": it is so much more than that. There were already plenty of good looking cars. The Stinger got me because of a total package: concept, development, production and practicality. If I only wanted to "pass fast" I would do fine with an already established muscle car. But even they cost more than a Stinger tricked out to the same level of features and tech.

 

[MisterMac]

My GT2 has now experienced the "warped" rotors. I took in today, it has 18K miles and is about 18 months old and KIA admitted that the rotors are not a good quality and so they resurfaced the rotor and pads and charged me of course. They stuck to the 12K miles 12 month clause. This is deceitful and dishonest as obviously KIA knew these rotors would not hold up. They also said I would be better upgrading the rotors as this problem will continue and what they did today is merely a band-aid. Nothing better to hear after paying $50K+ for a brand new car.

This is a buyer beware car, in some ways cheaply made, service departments are terrible lumping this car in with their basic transportation cars they manufacture and sell. I will never buy a KIA again and I'm working on a social media blitz to warn people to go beyond the looks of the Stinger, something I'm sorry I did not do.

Your thinking is absurd, irrational and borderline insane.

 

[4WDlifeform]

I ordered a set of front rotors and pads from Khartunerz. Great service, and shipped out next day, Thank you! I went with slotted Cquence rotors and GiroDisk pads. Price was about equal to what Kia was going to charge me for just OEM replacement rotors. I understand deposit build up can happen to any rotor.. But the OEM ones maybe are more susceptible to it?? Maybe the trick is better pads. We'll see. IMO, the Stinger is a performance track ready car. There should very rarely be a scenario that my commute to work will push the brakes (or any part of the car) harder than "they" would on the track, which is why this really sucks, and I am steering away from the OEM replacements.

Good luck to everyone else facing this issue. I still think the Stinger is a great car, I will drive it proudly, and feel safe doing so. Sometimes, cars just need a little TLC, and to be honest, $300 for unplanned maintenance after 18 months, not bad at all (not that it is right though..!).

 

[tgurian]

My GT2 has now experienced the "warped" rotors. I took in today, it has 18K miles and is about 18 months old and KIA admitted that the rotors are not a good quality and so they resurfaced the rotor and pads and charged me of course. They stuck to the 12K miles 12 month clause. This is deceitful and dishonest as obviously KIA knew these rotors would not hold up. They also said I would be better upgrading the rotors as this problem will continue and what they did today is merely a band-aid. Nothing better to hear after paying $50K+ for a brand new car.

This is a buyer beware car, in some ways cheaply made, service departments are terrible lumping this car in with their basic transportation cars they manufacture and sell. I will never buy a KIA again and I'm working on a social media blitz to warn people to go beyond the looks of the Stinger, something I'm sorry I did not do.

You should find a new dealer. They are incorrect in their assertions. There is a really good sticky on brake pad deposits that I think you should read. This logic of the "rotors not holding up" does not hold any water. The problem lies in the brake pads.

Are you sure they resurfaced the PADS? This is not a process I have ever heard of. The brembo spec rotor will have been resurfaced to remove the pad deposits that were likely clinging to its surface and causing your brake vibration. Pads would have most likely been replaced (with the same subpar pads unfortunately, see the sticky in this forum).

 

[Rob M]

I think I may have figured out why so many are having brake judder issues. It lies in the translation from Korean to English and improper training of the US service technicians. The other day I took my Stinger in to have the brakes looked at. I watched as the technician put the Stinger on the lift, raised it just a couple feet off the ground and proceeded to remove all four wheels. I went and got a cup of coffee and when I came back I was aghast by what I saw. The technician was doing pelvic thrusts in the left front wheel well area. I rushed out into the service bay and demanded to know what he was doing. He stated that the manager had told him to "bed" my brakes, and that he had already finished the left rear, and that the right side might have to wait until tomorrow. I was so upset I told the guy to just mount my wheels so that I could get out of there. Exhausted, the tech told me he would have to find another employee to do that.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I think I may have figured out why so many are having brake judder issues. It lies in the translation from Korean to English and improper training of the US service technicians. The other day I took my Stinger in to have the brakes looked at. I watched as the technician put the Stinger on the lift, raised it just a couple feet off the ground and proceeded to remove all four wheels. I went and got a cup of coffee and when I came back I was aghast by what I saw. The technician was doing pelvic thrusts in the left front wheel well area. I rushed out into the service bay and demanded to know what he was doing. He stated that the manager had told him to "bed" my brakes, and that he had already finished the left rear, and that the right side might have to wait until tomorrow. I was so upset I told the guy to just mount my wheels so that I could get out of there. Exhausted, the tech told me he would have to find another employee to do that.

You should be a comedian because that was not only witty but I actually laughed out loud. I thought it was a serious reply at first which lined the joke up even better.

 

[eflyguy]

IMO, the Stinger is a performance track ready car.

Your opinion there is wrong. It is absolutely NOT a "track ready" car, nor is it designed to be.

It is designed to ".. deliver high performance and supreme comfort on the open road." It does that rather well.

 

[Manaz]

IMO, the Stinger is a performance track ready car.

The Stinger is a GT car, not a performance track-ready car.

It is too too big, too heavy, and doesn't have the right style of gearbox for serious track-work.

 

[turboAWD]

I accept that the Stinger is not a "track monster" like maybe SRT / CTS-V. However, what would it take to become "track compatible"? I.e. not experience a disastrous failure when going to an HPDE event? I want to try a bit of track driving for fun - I've never done it, so I would be quite cautious - but I would like to "open it up" a bit, etc?

I'm pretty sure at least new pads and probably brake fluid would be a minimum in my mind. Maybe even new rotors, if previously had deposits.
(since we're talking about brakes)

Oil color / transmission cooler? ECS Module would probably help get suspension stiff enough, or close. Maybe sways/springs? But those are maybe not absolutely required if you're attentive to your gauges, just "nice to have" - I think brake upgrade is a "must have".

 

[Manaz]

The Stinger is certainly track capable - it's just not track ready off the showroom floor, and it will never be a track monster, as you've said.

Sure, it'll get around - but you'd end up cooking stock fluid and pads at a minimum if you're on any sort of reasonable track, simply because going hard on a track is hard on brakes (more so in a torque converter automatic where you don't get the benefit of good engine braking like you do in a manual, dual clutch auto or even CVT to some degree), and the stock pads and fluid are chosen for road-use, not track use, where slowing down rapidly from high speeds occurs frequently.

Better fluid and pads would certainly be advised - you want a higher temperature rated fluid (650F fluid is good) so it boils at a much higher temperature (ideally at temperatures you're not going to reach, because once it boils, you get bubbles, and they're bad), and you'd want pads that can cope with higher temperatures as well. I'd advise fresh fluid as well, not fluid that's been in the car for any particular length of time, as brake fluid tends to be hydroscopic (it absorbs water, and water boils at 212F).

Add a fire extinguisher. Most track day operators here (certainly all do under CAMS or AASA) require them as part of supp regs.

You also want a tow hook at each end (an obvious one at that), so if you do bin the car into a gravel trap (or worse), they have an easy to recognise place that they can attach a tractor to pull you out.

And for the love of pete, wear a helmet. Again, most serious track day operators will require this - but I've seen evidence of stupidity on racetracks at organised meets where helmets have not been worn, and it's mind-blowing just how dumb people can be.

Things like oil/transmission coolers are optional - without them, you won't go slower per se, but probably can't drive hard for as long. Swaybars and suspension upgrades are probably "nice to have" if you're serious about setting your car's best times.

 

[4WDlifeform]

Ok, I agree, I overstated. "Track ready" does require a bit of modification (especially for regulated competition)... My point being, the car appears to be much better equipped than needed for DD purposes, and a buyer would expect that components wont wear/degrade faster than most cars. When Kia advertised this car, they were racing it on a track..... Maybe that is to get the hype up. I understand Kia will manufacture the car economically for their target market, and use lesser rated components as they see fit. I guess when you see the big red Brembo calipers, many of us buyers were surprised and disappointed to find out that the pads and rotors was where Kia decided to cheap out. Probably why this thread has now ran to 25 pages.

 

[Manaz]

I guess when you see the big red Brembo calipers, many of us buyers were surprised and disappointed to find out that the pads and rotors was where Kia decided to cheap out.

Pads yes. The rotors are a Brembo part.

 

[Helo58]

Pads yes. The rotors are a Brembo part.

The pads are Brembo (likely by Ferrado) as well. See post #298 of this thread.

 

[itguy61]

The pads are Brembo (likely by Ferrado) as well. See post #298 of this thread.


View attachment 30439

That looks like the hardware, what is actually stamped not he back of the pad I wonder? Could be that Brembo made the hardware and Kia made the pad but who knows.

 

[Helo58]

That looks like the hardware, what is actually stamped not he back of the pad I wonder? Could be that Brembo made the hardware and Kia made the pad but who knows.

It is my understanding that the backing plate is integrated with the pad material. In other words, the pad material and backing plate are "one." What we are seeing is what is stamped into the back of the pad.

Here are new ones for an SRT Dodge...

 

[itguy61]

It is my understanding that the backing plate is integrated with the pad material. In other words, the pad material and backing plate are "one." What we are seeing is what is stamped into the back of the pad.

I removed the backing hardware from mine, it was not affixed to the back, just snapped on. I just looked at the hardware and it it what is in your picture. I believe the actual metal back of the pad was stamped Kia, but I could be wrong. I discarded them.

 

[Helo58]

I removed the backing hardware from mine, it was not affixed to the back, just snapped on. I just looked at the hardware and it it what is in your picture. I believe the actual metal back of the pad was stamped Kia, but I could be wrong. I discarded them.

Kia could have made a shim kit?? However, it looks like the pads themselves are Brembo. I didn't see a part # listed for a shim kit yet, so who knows? They may be part of the stock pad assembly.