Thought's please on juddering whilst braking
Discussion
The symptoms...
When braking from 80+mph I get a lot of judder, felt through the steering wheel and the entire car, the juddering occurs until the car is slowed down to 65ish then under that you don't feel it. You don't need to brake hard for it to occur. Braking under 70mph hard, lightly, however - no judder (or very little) is felt.
It's been going on for about a year, because on normal driving I hardly ever notice it but it's starting to piss me off now, especially if I want to do a bit of a hoon!
In the last year I have replaced front discs and pads, rear discs and pads and the rear trailing arm that snapped last week (I was hoping that this having been apparently bent for some time could have been the cause, but alas no).
I think my ARB bushes may need replacing and understand that these can cause brake vibration - but would they cause really serious judder only at the high speed mentioned?
Thoughts on what else it could be?
Garages seem to just want to change the discs.
When braking from 80+mph I get a lot of judder, felt through the steering wheel and the entire car, the juddering occurs until the car is slowed down to 65ish then under that you don't feel it. You don't need to brake hard for it to occur. Braking under 70mph hard, lightly, however - no judder (or very little) is felt.
It's been going on for about a year, because on normal driving I hardly ever notice it but it's starting to piss me off now, especially if I want to do a bit of a hoon!
In the last year I have replaced front discs and pads, rear discs and pads and the rear trailing arm that snapped last week (I was hoping that this having been apparently bent for some time could have been the cause, but alas no).
I think my ARB bushes may need replacing and understand that these can cause brake vibration - but would they cause really serious judder only at the high speed mentioned?
Thoughts on what else it could be?
Garages seem to just want to change the discs.
When the discs were replaced was the hubs completely cleaned? If not it can cause odd wear patterns to develop.
It may be the discs, I've had to replace them prematurely before. I'm not sure if it was due to poor fitting or crap components, but it sorted it.
It may be the discs, I've had to replace them prematurely before. I'm not sure if it was due to poor fitting or crap components, but it sorted it.
Edited by PositronicRay on Monday 11th January 09:48
PositronicRay said:
When the discs were replaced was the hubs completely cleaned? If not it can cause odd wear patterns to develop.
It may be the discs, I've had to replace them prematurely before. I'm not sure if it was due to poor fitting or crap components, but it sorted it.
The front disc replacement never cured the problem - I had them checked to make sure weren't warped out the box, and they were fine. I'm not saying it isn't the discs, but I'm 99% certain it's something else so don't want to throw £xxx at new discs, after just forking out £600odd for new trailing arms and bits at the back, if it isn't going to defintely fix it!It may be the discs, I've had to replace them prematurely before. I'm not sure if it was due to poor fitting or crap components, but it sorted it.
Edited by PositronicRay on Monday 11th January 09:48
E-bmw said:
But you did not answer the question from Ray.
What he says it at least as likely as the discs themselves.
I didn't becasue a) I don't know, it was done at a garage. And b) he said that odd wear patterns can occur, so I infered it would create the problem again given time. Immediatly after the discs were replaced there was still juddering, and 6 months later the discs were checked and not warped.What he says it at least as likely as the discs themselves.
Or have I missed the point?
PositronicRay said:
Unusual but a hub could have runout. Have you tried the simple things like swapping wheels front to back?
What car is it?
Pretty sure it's not a buckled wheel if that what you're getting at with swapping wheels? As I've done that in previous cars and it judders all the time at speed, not just under braking.What car is it?
What do you mean by hub runout?
It's a Mondeo ST220
It's unusual but a hub can be damaged and out of true.
It may or may not be the wheels but it's free and easy to swap them around to eliminate this.
I'd be inclined to fit new discs (carefully) to the front. Or take it to a garage explain the problem, if they recommend new discs and they don't fix it it's down to them.
It may or may not be the wheels but it's free and easy to swap them around to eliminate this.
I'd be inclined to fit new discs (carefully) to the front. Or take it to a garage explain the problem, if they recommend new discs and they don't fix it it's down to them.
PositronicRay said:
It's unusual but a hub can be damaged and out of true.
It may or may not be the wheels but it's free and easy to swap them around to eliminate this.
I'd be inclined to fit new discs (carefully) to the front. Or take it to a garage explain the problem, if they recommend new discs and they don't fix it it's down to them.
It's not though is it, they'll still charge for the work - unless I managed to explicitely agree before hand that I won't pay if it doesn't fix it but I can't imagine any garage will agree to that. I really don't think it's this seeing as I've already had them changed and it didnt make a jot of difference.It may or may not be the wheels but it's free and easy to swap them around to eliminate this.
I'd be inclined to fit new discs (carefully) to the front. Or take it to a garage explain the problem, if they recommend new discs and they don't fix it it's down to them.
I'll look into the hub thing.
I'm not good enough with spanners to trust myself - I've done oils and filters but that's about it.
In hindsight the last time the garage failed to fix it you should have taken it back.
A garage worth it's salt should be able to diagnose and repair it satisfactorily. The rear suspension clearly needed to be done, but wasn't going to cure a steering wheel vibration.
Things you can do.
Move wheels front to back, at the same time check both inside and outside faces of each disc. You're looking for an uneven swept area and brake pad imprints.
Check for even wear on inside and outside of each set of pads.
The back plate makes it awkward to see the inside face, but have a peer anyway with a mirror and torch. Try to put the car on full lock without it falling off the jack to give you a better view. It may be fruitless but it hasn't cost you anything and at least you've tried to do something.
A garage can check the following
Discs
Wheels/tyres
Worn suspension/steering components.
Other things.
If the hubs we're dirty and not cleaned properly when the discs were fitted, it could have caused both sets to fail.
If the callipers have seized it can knacker the discs.
If your not confident doing the work yourself you'll have to find an independent garage or mechanic you can trust. Ideally you'll want to demonstrate the vibration to them. Try to get some recommendations, maybe ask here on the regional forum.
A garage worth it's salt should be able to diagnose and repair it satisfactorily. The rear suspension clearly needed to be done, but wasn't going to cure a steering wheel vibration.
Things you can do.
Move wheels front to back, at the same time check both inside and outside faces of each disc. You're looking for an uneven swept area and brake pad imprints.
Check for even wear on inside and outside of each set of pads.
The back plate makes it awkward to see the inside face, but have a peer anyway with a mirror and torch. Try to put the car on full lock without it falling off the jack to give you a better view. It may be fruitless but it hasn't cost you anything and at least you've tried to do something.
A garage can check the following
Discs
Wheels/tyres
Worn suspension/steering components.
Other things.
If the hubs we're dirty and not cleaned properly when the discs were fitted, it could have caused both sets to fail.
If the callipers have seized it can knacker the discs.
If your not confident doing the work yourself you'll have to find an independent garage or mechanic you can trust. Ideally you'll want to demonstrate the vibration to them. Try to get some recommendations, maybe ask here on the regional forum.
PositronicRay said:
Other things.
If the hubs we're dirty and not cleaned properly when the discs were fitted, it could have caused both sets to fail.
If the callipers have seized it can knacker the discs.
Surely if something was causing the discs to fail, there would have been at least a grace period of a few 100 miles before new ones instantly caused the same issue. From the OP i am assuming he got the pads and discs changed, and immedietly found that there was no difference whatsoever.If the hubs we're dirty and not cleaned properly when the discs were fitted, it could have caused both sets to fail.
If the callipers have seized it can knacker the discs.
jimmy156 said:
PositronicRay said:
Other things.
If the hubs we're dirty and not cleaned properly when the discs were fitted, it could have caused both sets to fail.
If the callipers have seized it can knacker the discs.
Surely if something was causing the discs to fail, there would have been at least a grace period of a few 100 miles before new ones instantly caused the same issue. From the OP i am assuming he got the pads and discs changed, and immedietly found that there was no difference whatsoever.If the hubs we're dirty and not cleaned properly when the discs were fitted, it could have caused both sets to fail.
If the callipers have seized it can knacker the discs.
Not sure what Corneer it's coming from, the whole car shakes!
The brakes/pads are Mintex - the car is a Mondeo ST220
The brake judder never went away straight after having both sets changes.
Defo not dirty discs that a good braking/driving session will sort.
I will look into possinle causes of uneven disc wear, as well as the possibility of wheels being the issue.
The brakes/pads are Mintex - the car is a Mondeo ST220
The brake judder never went away straight after having both sets changes.
Defo not dirty discs that a good braking/driving session will sort.
I will look into possinle causes of uneven disc wear, as well as the possibility of wheels being the issue.
TheBALDpuma said:
Not sure what Corneer it's coming from, the whole car shakes!
The brakes/pads are Mintex - the car is a Mondeo ST220
The brake judder never went away straight after having both sets changes.
Defo not dirty discs that a good braking/driving session will sort.
I will look into possinle causes of uneven disc wear, as well as the possibility of wheels being the issue.
Until you can isolate where it's coming from, you're pissing in the wind.The brakes/pads are Mintex - the car is a Mondeo ST220
The brake judder never went away straight after having both sets changes.
Defo not dirty discs that a good braking/driving session will sort.
I will look into possinle causes of uneven disc wear, as well as the possibility of wheels being the issue.
Whilst it isnt an ideal scenario, get some proper brake hose clamps, and clamp either 1 flexi hose at a time or one axle at a time.
Clearly this needs done with extreme caution given it will impair braking performance when driving. But it will help identify where the problem actually is. Do not even think about doing it near a busy road.
stevieturbo said:
TheBALDpuma said:
Not sure what Corneer it's coming from, the whole car shakes!
The brakes/pads are Mintex - the car is a Mondeo ST220
The brake judder never went away straight after having both sets changes.
Defo not dirty discs that a good braking/driving session will sort.
I will look into possinle causes of uneven disc wear, as well as the possibility of wheels being the issue.
Until you can isolate where it's coming from, you're pissing in the wind.The brakes/pads are Mintex - the car is a Mondeo ST220
The brake judder never went away straight after having both sets changes.
Defo not dirty discs that a good braking/driving session will sort.
I will look into possinle causes of uneven disc wear, as well as the possibility of wheels being the issue.
Whilst it isnt an ideal scenario, get some proper brake hose clamps, and clamp either 1 flexi hose at a time or one axle at a time.
Clearly this needs done with extreme caution given it will impair braking performance when driving. But it will help identify where the problem actually is. Do not even think about doing it near a busy road.
The steering wheel shakes so fronts are the favourite culprit.
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