I have a mazda 3 i - touring 2010 with just over 20000 miles on it and the brakes have been progressively getting worse and worse with a pulsation when I press on the brake. It is most noticeable when I'm going like 40-60 MPH.

I want to take it back to the dealership I bought it at but even if they do replace the rotors for me (if that's the problem), I'm not sure I really want their manufacture brand rotors and brakes put back on my car. I'm thinking I should buy a better brand on my own...but where can I go to have them installed professionally?

Is this the right angle to take with this problem? I drive the car like a baby. We did have a terrible winter with lots of snow, freezing temps and salt from the roads, but I just don't believe that I should be dealing with this problem yet. I mean,, it's a 2010 car and it's still 2010. What the heck?!#$#$@

Any opinions are appreciated.

 

The rotors aren't great, but they aren't the problem. I've had to re-lube the calipers every 3-6 months to stop them from dragging. I have yet to find anything that doesn't dry out to use for caliper lube.
Something like that, over 20k miles would wear & overheat the rotors, causing warpage. Have the dealer replace the rotors, relube the calipers, and plan on preventative maintenance.

 

Thank you djs2571. I scheduled an appointment next week at the dealership to have the rotors replaced, and I'll tell them that they should expect to lube the calipers too. I just hope the warranty will help me out. If they put the rotors on for free, I'd be inclined to put a new set of pads on out of my pocket.

Again, thanks.

 

That's a good point, do have a look at the pads, as i'm sure they are unevenly worn, which could tell you what caliper was sticking. They should always put on new pads when there are new rotors in any case.
Good luck

 

I took it bright and early for my 8:30 appointment. The desk guy said that what they plan to do is clean them up and machine them. I told him that I think the calipers are dragging and the grease is drying up, causing the rotors to wapr. I said that I really would like them replaced. He said that's up to Mazda.??? They ARE Mazda.

So I waited till they had a look at them and he came to me and said "good news." We'll machine all 4 rotors under warranty but I had to reschedule because their rotor machine is down. So, I rescheduled.

Aren't the rotors just going to warp all over again in like 10 months, especially since they seem to be avoiding any maintenance on the calipers?

I am not sure what to do or say now. My appointment is next Tuesday.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

 

If the rotors are warped from dragging, they may be below the spec thickness as well - in which case they will replace them. As for machining, since they are only a year old, they will probably be just fine.

Though the root cause needs to be fixed - aka fix the dragging caliper. Do be sure to keep reciepts and such to build a case for new rotors and calipers if it happens again... you have 3 years to get it fixed in case there's a lingering issue. For the reciept, make sure that the problem / remedy description is accurate. Do write on the reciept that you think it's the calipers as the issue - not just 'bad rotors' or whatever they may tell you it is, just so you remember this post in the future.

Now as you phrased the response it sounds like you asked them to replace the calipers. If the problem repeats it's going to need new calipers, since that's basically the only other thing in the brakes that will cause warpage. Technically they could rebuild the calipers, which should fix any issues if there is something out of tolerance or not properly lubed from the factory, though that probably costs more to them than just buying new.

As I said, the calipers aren't a good design in some respect cause they do keep dragging on my car. SO plan on it recurring and go to complain.

Good luck, sounds like they are going to take care of you decently.

 

Well, I took the 2010 M3 in yesterday for them to machine the rotors. They did. He told me last week that they were going to cut all 4. When they were done, he walked me to my car and I had to ask him if they did the back too and he said they didn't need it and MAZDA won't let them do it if they don't need it.

He wasn't going to give me a receipt/invoice before I left but I had to ask him for one. He said, okay I'll close out the invoice and give you a copy.

I am fully expecting the brakes to start pulsating before my inspection next March. If they do, I will be calling them again.

Thanks.

 

Mazda has got a tradition of developing new exciting concept of cars and hence it is very popular brand of cars. According to me before replacing any of the parts of your car, it’s better to consult your dealership from where you purchased it or else you can go for any of the Mazda quality safety Auto parts corner to rectify the problem and solve it in a discounted rate or may be of free of cost because of the brand new car.