Brake judder - warped discs?
Discussion
My car has started juddering under braking. Seems to me like it could be warped discs. I've seen some comments on this before, but has anyone got any views?
Mine is an 05 VXR with around 12,000 miles on the clock. Should I expect this to be covered under warranty? (Never tracked, still on the OE tyres, etc. so it's not had a hard life).
Mine is an 05 VXR with around 12,000 miles on the clock. Should I expect this to be covered under warranty? (Never tracked, still on the OE tyres, etc. so it's not had a hard life).
Mine is now just over the 20k marker (Mar 06 first reg'd car) and only recently has started doing the very same, wasn't sure if this was anything that could be dealt with under warranty so haven't jumped up and down thus far, will be interesting to see replies on this...
It tends not to be too juddery until you've braked once from a decent speed (i.e. greater than 50mph or so), then the next time you brake after this - even from a much lower speed the steering wheel begins to wrestle with you for control...
It tends not to be too juddery until you've braked once from a decent speed (i.e. greater than 50mph or so), then the next time you brake after this - even from a much lower speed the steering wheel begins to wrestle with you for control...
I fitted new disks and pads and still had a similar issue. Roger also checked the hubs and did various things. It was better for a while then went off again. I just accepted it in the end. I dont stamp on the brakes either, preferring to use engine braking and looking further ahead than the bonnet when driving.. maybe that was the problem. Perhaps I needed to "bed" them in properly.
Bleed the brakes, the fliud may have boiled in the caipers and become spongy, the same thing happens to the clutch fluid reservior filled with black gunk.
Although I have to admit that I had my discs replaced under warrenty for this reason, while investigating the fault the brakes were bled and I noticed after the vibration went away, but I kept quiet because there were heat cracks in the discs
Although I have to admit that I had my discs replaced under warrenty for this reason, while investigating the fault the brakes were bled and I noticed after the vibration went away, but I kept quiet because there were heat cracks in the discs
Edited by Gelf VXR on Monday 26th November 15:07
[quote=Gelf VXR]Bleed the brakes, the fliud may have boiled in the caipers and become spongy, the same thing happens to the clutch fluid reservior filled with black gunk.
Although I have to admit that I had my discs replaced under warrenty for this reason, while investigating the fault the brakes were bled and I noticed after the vibration went away, but I kept quiet because there were heat cracks in the discs
Interesting point Andrew, I thought I had warped my AP discs but spoke to Mark at Rapid who said to his knowledge no one had to replace them yet, I now suspect boiled fluid in the callipers.
I took the car out from work late for a meeting and went straight onto the m/way (no brakes used), got a bit carried away with a car in my way till he checked his RV mirror & I then went past redlining in 5th, next thing a new AMG Merc pulled into the OS lane & I used the anchors in anger, they did their job but from then they vibrate & steering wheel wobble at all sensible speeds, funny thing used them in anger at high speed & no problems.
Obviously I made reference to the wrong gear, it must have been 3rd
Although I have to admit that I had my discs replaced under warrenty for this reason, while investigating the fault the brakes were bled and I noticed after the vibration went away, but I kept quiet because there were heat cracks in the discs
Interesting point Andrew, I thought I had warped my AP discs but spoke to Mark at Rapid who said to his knowledge no one had to replace them yet, I now suspect boiled fluid in the callipers.
I took the car out from work late for a meeting and went straight onto the m/way (no brakes used), got a bit carried away with a car in my way till he checked his RV mirror & I then went past redlining in 5th, next thing a new AMG Merc pulled into the OS lane & I used the anchors in anger, they did their job but from then they vibrate & steering wheel wobble at all sensible speeds, funny thing used them in anger at high speed & no problems.
Obviously I made reference to the wrong gear, it must have been 3rd
Edited by V8HSV on Monday 26th November 16:39
Warped discs are not a myth, but many people think brake judder = warped discs.
Some reading here:
http://www.powerbrake.co.za/pages/tech_01_judder.h...
Some reading here:
http://www.powerbrake.co.za/pages/tech_01_judder.h...
Oh dear, now look what you've done, and I was about to have a pleasant evening and all.... 
I'm sorry to tell you that you would appear to have zero chance of getting this done under warranty.
Mine required replacement at just 7,500 miles. I kicked and screamed and tried to get this done on warranty, but I'm afraid to say that Vauxhall were not remotely interested in settling even part of this under warranty, and I got VERY little support from the servicing dealership, a very well known PH-posting South Eastern Monaro Vauxhall specialist. I have two letters from Luton saying, politely, P.F.O.
When the dealership told me that they needed replacement, I asked them to retain the parts until I had followed this up with Vauxhall, which they said they would. However, when I later asked for the parts so that I could get them indepedently inspected, they made some big charade of looking for them and then said "sorry but yours have been mixed up with several sets of other Monar brakes and we don't know which are which"
I pointed out to Vauxhall that if the dealership has so many sets of knackered brakes, then surely there is a problem with them, but they still declined.
I pointed out to Vauxhall that although I realise brakes aren't generally covered under warranty, that surely a big heavy powerful car should have brakes that lasted more than 7500 miles. Nada.
I pointed out to Vauxhall that at the tme my brakes were replaced, the dealership reported, during the routine service, that my rear tyres had 7mm of tread left (after 7500 miles, remember). Hardly indicative of the car being driven hard or abused. Vauxhall (may as well have) said "go whistle".
The supplying dealer (Quickars - NOT the servicing dealer) very helpfully wrote to Vauxhall on my behalf and said that they thought this was not fair or reasonable. Guess what??
I could go on, but I'll only wind myself up more.
I'm seriously toying with the idea of writing to Trading Standards, or perhaps Honest John, but I doubt it’ll do any good.
The final insult? New pads and disks will cost you approximately £1150. Plus fitting. That's just the two disks on the front, not the entire contents of your garage. I believe Monkfish may be able to supply much cheaper, but to be honest, at those prices I'd be starting to think about spending the extra on a set of APs.
I'm sorry to tell you that you would appear to have zero chance of getting this done under warranty.
Mine required replacement at just 7,500 miles. I kicked and screamed and tried to get this done on warranty, but I'm afraid to say that Vauxhall were not remotely interested in settling even part of this under warranty, and I got VERY little support from the servicing dealership, a very well known PH-posting South Eastern Monaro Vauxhall specialist. I have two letters from Luton saying, politely, P.F.O.
When the dealership told me that they needed replacement, I asked them to retain the parts until I had followed this up with Vauxhall, which they said they would. However, when I later asked for the parts so that I could get them indepedently inspected, they made some big charade of looking for them and then said "sorry but yours have been mixed up with several sets of other Monar brakes and we don't know which are which"
I pointed out to Vauxhall that if the dealership has so many sets of knackered brakes, then surely there is a problem with them, but they still declined.
I pointed out to Vauxhall that although I realise brakes aren't generally covered under warranty, that surely a big heavy powerful car should have brakes that lasted more than 7500 miles. Nada.
I pointed out to Vauxhall that at the tme my brakes were replaced, the dealership reported, during the routine service, that my rear tyres had 7mm of tread left (after 7500 miles, remember). Hardly indicative of the car being driven hard or abused. Vauxhall (may as well have) said "go whistle".
The supplying dealer (Quickars - NOT the servicing dealer) very helpfully wrote to Vauxhall on my behalf and said that they thought this was not fair or reasonable. Guess what??
I could go on, but I'll only wind myself up more.
I'm seriously toying with the idea of writing to Trading Standards, or perhaps Honest John, but I doubt it’ll do any good.
The final insult? New pads and disks will cost you approximately £1150. Plus fitting. That's just the two disks on the front, not the entire contents of your garage. I believe Monkfish may be able to supply much cheaper, but to be honest, at those prices I'd be starting to think about spending the extra on a set of APs.
Mine were replaced under warranty by Network Q at 12k miles. At 13k the gear box was replaced, and shortly after that the climate control!
I was told the disks do get "high spots" which can be caused by keeping your foot on the brakes after you've decelerated from speed; apparently it's down to the pads being kept in contact with the disks. Since I learned this lesson mine have been fine.
If your dealer is being unhelpful, I'd try another dealer.
I was told the disks do get "high spots" which can be caused by keeping your foot on the brakes after you've decelerated from speed; apparently it's down to the pads being kept in contact with the disks. Since I learned this lesson mine have been fine.
If your dealer is being unhelpful, I'd try another dealer.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 26th November 19:49
wormus said:
Mine were replaced under warranty by Network Q at 12k miles. At 13k the gear box was replaced, and shortly after that the climate control!
I was told the disks do get "high spots" which can be caused by keeping your foot on the brakes after you've decelerated from speed; apparently it's down to the pads being kept in contact with the disks. Since I learned this lesson mine have been fine.
I was told the disks do get "high spots" which can be caused by keeping your foot on the brakes after you've decelerated from speed; apparently it's down to the pads being kept in contact with the disks. Since I learned this lesson mine have been fine.
That's a more postive response - I like yours best!!
I'm going to give my dealer a call and see what happens....
I'll let you all know how I get on - may be a while of course!
"The Dealer" just did their job but were entirely unsupportive of me raising it with Vauxhall direct at Luton.
Vauxhall at Luton were the ones who have twice refuted my claim, although their version of what the service manager at "The Dealer" (the one who "mixed up" my disks/pads) told them is somewhat different to what he told me to my face at the time.
Whilst I'll continue to use them for routine servicing, not least because they're very close to home, it doesn't endear me towards spending any significant amounts of money with them, or Vauxhall in general, in future.
Vauxhall at Luton were the ones who have twice refuted my claim, although their version of what the service manager at "The Dealer" (the one who "mixed up" my disks/pads) told them is somewhat different to what he told me to my face at the time.
Whilst I'll continue to use them for routine servicing, not least because they're very close to home, it doesn't endear me towards spending any significant amounts of money with them, or Vauxhall in general, in future.
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