Are there any common R53 problems that feel like slightly warped rotors but aren't?

I get a bit of shudder during braking from highway speeds like on an off ramp. I don't get it city driving even when doing hard stops for an unexpected light change or when avoiding hitting stupid people. I only feel it slowing from higher speeds. I'd say it was warped rotors except for the following.

I thought my last pair of rotors were mildly warped like a 2 on a scale of 1-10, 1 being no problem 10 being un-drivable. I heard a lot of stories of new rotors from chain parts store brands (autozone, napa, advanced), being warped out of the box. I think mine were autozone. So I just replaced (DIY) with new stock replacement ebc rotors and ebc red pads. The problem either didn't go away or may be like a 2.5 now... I am afraid it's something else slowly getting worse.

I also think I've heard some break like squeaking parking after a drive but not leaving the parking lot minutes later.
06 r53

 

Wheel bearings,
The prevailing theory among my auto geek coworkers is my front wheel bearings.
So I jacked up my car and tried to shake the wheels. I didn't feel any movement but wasn't crazy about the sounds the wheels made when I spun them. A slight scraping and something kind of rattle-y when I grabbed the wheel to stop the spinning.

Any thoughts?

Also I did a quick search and was seeing bearing prices from $50 to $250

 

When time is money and it comes to wheel bearings, strut mounts and rotors I deviate not from OEM since not very fond of doing same repairs twice a year...

 

Just as an aside.
Source.
http://www.stoptech.com/technical-su...nd-other-myths

 

So based on what I've stated, does it sound like a wheel bearing issue?
I don't want to waste time and money just shotgunning part on until something fixes the issue. (Especially at mini prices) What else can I do to diagnose or eliminate wheel bearings?

It's also been suggested that it's tire or wheel based but the problem was about the same after I switched from the winter wheels to summer... I feel a bit more of everything through the 17" summers then the factory 16" w/ Snows...

 

A grumbling could easily be a wheel bearing, and you should be able to find the OEM since 5 years have passed since release. Which brand options do you have?

 

The first time I did the rotors on my 2003 I neglected to clean the hub with a wire brush and I had a very annoying braking shudder much like you have mentioned.

I took the rotors off and cleaned up the contact point well and problem was solved.

 

Another thought is it could be worn out lower control arm bushings.

 

Could also be uneven pad material transfer to rotor. Go do 5 hard stops from 50 mph to 5 mph about 1 minute apart. This will bed in your pads.

Could be a sticky brake caliper piston. If so one hub will be warmer than the others after a short drive.

Cleaning your hun as said above is very good idea

 

Jack the car and grab the top and bottom of wheel and try to wobble wheel- if it moves your hubs need replacing. My guess is it is the LCA bushings (lower control arm) you described the exact symptoms my car had when the bushings went.