brake vibration

[Stitch]

In January I had a minor accident in my car (E53 BMW X5) where I slid into a kerb, damaging the suspension/front passenger side wish bone.

The car was off the road for about four weeks (took the repairer an age to do the work).

When I got the car back I found the brakes very poor, I could feel judder through the brake pedal stopping from any speed from about 30 mph upwards and the general stopping power felt weak.

Inspecting the discs I saw a good deal of surface corrosion (even after the drive home) and thought that this was the problem. Since then I have tried to clean the disc up by undertaking some heavy breaking akin to the type of thing you might do to get a new set of pads and discs bedded in.

This has helped a bit but I am still getting the judder when slowing from motorway speeds (although the problem lessens with a couple of braking from 70 mph situations.

The suspension on the car has apparently been completely re-aligned as part of the repair and the steering tracks straight and true.

I tend to be very light on my brakes and have in the past done 40K plus on a single set of pads.

Any suggestions? Do I just need to give them a bit more hammer to clean them up? Or do a need to bite the bullet and replace? I am assuming that because I have no issues with the steering that the problem is not the result of a poorly balanced wheel etc.

TIA

The X5 is at 43K on the original pads and discs although the wear warning light is not coming on.

Do I just need

[Mr2Mike]

I'd say you need to take it back to whoever repaired it and tell them they haven't finished the job.

[Marty V8]

Is the wheel the same one or has it been replaced? If its the same one then its probably buckled - there was enough force to damage the wishbone and the wheel takes the punishment first.

Has the tyre been changed? It could also be damaged on the sidewall - any suspicious bulges on it?

As the previous post suggests, take it back to the repairers.

Good luck with it.

Cheers

Marty

[LaurenceFrost]

I'd check the wheel bearing for play. A wheel bearing on the way out would typically cause a long break pedal so if you have this then the bearing is quite likely.

[ELAN+2]

Stitch said:

Since then I have tried to clean the disc up by undertaking some heavy breaking akin to the type of thing you might do to get a new set of pads and discs bedded in.

never do any heavy braking in the first hundred miles or so with new discs and pads, you'll ruin them

suggest you fit decent quality replacement pads and if theres enough meat on the discs have them cleaned up with an on car brake lathe/grinder, else replace the discs.

use decent branded product as well or you will be in for more of the same heart ache

be gentle for the first hundred or so miles

[garagewidow]

^^^huh

[Mr2Mike]

ELAN+2 said:

never do any heavy braking in the first hundred miles or so with new discs and pads, you'll ruin them

I'd suggest following the pad manufacturers recommended break in procedure, which may well involve several hard stops from high(ish) speed in the case of some.