Golf VR6 - Shuddering While Braking

[cliff123]

Hi, I have a nice but aging Golf VR6 ('99). I've had it from new, so know it's history and that it's been well maintained. However, in the past month it has developed a rather aggressive shuddering when braking, especially between 40-20mph. I have recently replaced the front wheel bearings, the brakes pads, checked that the discs themselves are okay, and put new rubber on each corner, and then finally had VW do a full wheel alignment setup.

Since all of the above was done the car does once again feel lovely to drive, with the exception of braking (which is a bit of an issue). Looking at the hubs and everything related to the wheels I can't see anything that is looking wrong, but clearly something is. Any advice would be welcomed.

The shaking makes the steering wheel and the whole of the front of the car feel like something is lose and moving about under the load. But as I say I have looked and can find nothing wrong. I'm about to book it back into the garage but if anyone has advice of where to start looking it would be much appreciated.

[Dr G]

When you say checked the discs were ok.... even a very, very slight warp can cause an awful wobble.

[cliff123]

Well, I'm not a trained car mechanic, but to my eye and touch they looked okay. Can you advise more on how slight defection would need to be considered slight and still have a significant effect on the car? thanks.

[Ladvr6]

I would change the discs as a matter of course, then look at changing the front wishbone bushes if that doesnt fix it. Does the vibration get worse if you do lots of hard braking?

[Dr G]

That's sound advice - how long have the pads been on there? Dead discs will damage pads too.

[cliff123]

Thanks. I'll try fitting new discs. Hope that cures it. Report back in a day or two. Thanks.

[Roan]

I had to change discs 3 times in 6 months on my old VR6. I wasn't bedding them in properly and was holding the brakes on after braking, heating a spot on the discs up and causing them to warp. Eventually bought a set of Black Diamond Combi discs and conciously stopped holding the brakes on at junctions etc. for a few months. No problems thereafter. In my experience, the OEM discs (ATE like ECP/GSF ones) are poor quality.

[cliff123]

Disc replaced and all seems to be back in order. Was a bit of a job getting the two bolts off which we're holding the caliper on, but after that easy job. Thanks for the advice, hopefully that should be it for a while.

Edited by cliff123 on Friday 4th December 19:41

[cliff123]

Bad news. The shaking problem seems to be making a come back. It's milder now than before, but I fear it's going to get worse again. To date, the discs at the front have been replaced and all the pads front and back have been replaced. VW have done a wheel alignment set up, and the bearings were replaced 5 months ago. I'm now starting to get a light buzzing in the steering wheel at 30mph+, and again more vibration when applying solid pressure on the brakes at speeds over 30mph. Any more ideas before I simply give in and ask VW to fix?

[Dr G]

Sticky caliper dragging? MOT man can measure this for you.

[NBirkitt]

Rather than fitting new discs, suggest you find a garage which has a brake disc lathe – this is a device which mounts onto the hub and skims the brake disc while it is still on the car. Usually costs about £50 to do the pair of front discs, without any dismantling, the advantage being that it skims the disc perfectly in alignment with relation to the hub and bearing etc. Can't guarantee it'll solve your problem long-term but got to be worth a try. Bear in mind that disc distortion problems can also be caused by slight buildup of pad material on the disc – usually caused by a small imperfecton in disc runout to start with, so skimming might not only cure this by removing any such deposit but may also help prevent it occurring in the first place..

[Ladvr6]

Wheel lost a balancing weight? I would look at bushes next...

[5harp3y]

would be looking at bushes too