I was driving today and I noticed a louder than normal squeaking noise coming from my brakes. Got back to my garage and inspected the rotors, and my front-left rotor had this going on:





Background: I live in Iowa and I drove this car during the winter. Never had any issues at all with winter driving, had winter tires fitted. Weather has just been getting warmer, mid 50s. The only thing that was a sign is that my brakes have been squeaking quite loud. Never heard any rocks hit the surface or anything like that.

Anyone have any insight as to what might have happened? Car only has 23,xxx miles on the clock.

 

Rock/debris is what happened. Rotor is toast.

 

Friend of mine who has a lot of experience with ceramics seems to think it has something to do with delamination. He said it would be exceedingly rare to have a rock enter at such an angle and hit the center of the rotor and connect two holes like this.

 

Good luck proving that. Maybe your dealer will throw you a bone and cover it under warranty. It's worth a try I guess?

 

I would hope so. I believe it’s $6000 per rotor, not the worst but i’d rather not pay to replace manufacturing defects lol.

 

Isn't this how carbon rotors fail? Steels lose material but carbon ceramics lose carbon-carbon crosslinks through repeat heat cycles that lead to delamination.

 

Couldn’t say. I don’t track my car because there are no nearby tracks, so I doubt there is much heat cycling. The only thing I can think of is the winter weather.

 

Ouch! Keep us posted on the outcome.

 

That's too bad....bottom line is you need a new rotor and who's paying for it....

 

If that was caused by a rock getting caught in the caliper, wouldn't there be some scoring all the way around the rotor? Seems odd that a rock would cause that kind of damage, i.e., flys in and immediately back out, leaving a gouge in the rotor but no other trace of damage or scraping.

 

That rotor is toast, good luck trying to get Porsche to cover PCCB rotors under warranty after 23K miles. I say give it a shot, you never know but I would think its a long shot. Best of luck! As far as the cause for the damage, it could be any number of things, not worth speculating. One thing is for sure, I doubt it's delamination...that would be a first

 

How long can you drive on that rotor like this, assuming not tracking and mostly speed limit? Just curious

 

Meh. I’m not risking it to be honest. Already on its way to the dealer on a flat bed. Probably risk making it bigger or damaging the pads.

 

Not long at all. The pads will start eating away at the rotor more and more the longer you go. Then the pads will develop a groove in them from pressing against this spot.

 

6000 for a rotor? Ouch.