I posted this in 'Brakes' and no replies there!!

Any clues on what would cause this please?

I thought it was due to my front shocks being shot to bits. Changed those, and the problem is greatly reduced but nevertheless the brakes still make the car judder. The judder is not noticeable below 35-40mph, 40-60mph is pretty awful, and above that not all that noticeable.

Now then.

On a Jack: There is slight side-to-side play in both front wheels, but no more than should be there. There is no vertical play on either wheel.

On the ground: When the car is rocked from side to side there are no noises. When the car is rocked vertically there are no noises.

HELP!

 

Discs warped?
Uneven wear on the pads?

 

Warped disc, worn pads or both. Had the exact same problem on my old sti 4. The brakes I had were ebc discs and red stuff pads, both of which were completely shot in within only 6000miles of normal road use.

 

I had steering wheel wobble under braking at certain speeds. I had the wheels re-balanced and it was cured! Strangely, there seemed to be no perceptable steering wobble when not braking!
You should also check out the condition of the front anti-rollbar bushes.
JohnD

 

Mmmm. Come to think of it the judder may have started when I fitted 4 Pots and discs. Pads were new, Mintex. Discs look to be in good condition but were used, only a very small lip on them. Caliper seems to be fine, all 4 pistons moved freely.

 

Thing is if you put on the 4 pots when your shocks were shot so when you were braking this may have started a wear problem.

 

Point taken.

 

I'm just double checking now that the discs or pads are at fault.

If I brake quicker/harder than average there is no judder at all.

Still Discs and/or Pads???

 

Check your track rod ends, common cause of steering wheel shake under brakeing from speed.

 

With the track rod ends going as well i had uneven tyre wear as well

 

Have new track rod ends already.

 

sounds like discs and pads to me, especially as they were replaced with worn shocks at the time

 

Sounds like you have slight disc warp...if the steering wheel doesn't shake at all at any speed without the brakes being applied then that confirms the wheel balance is okay. If you've changed the discs and pads, might be worth just checking again to make you you have no rust or crap between the disc and the hub as that can throw things out just a little.

 

If this started about then then likely it is the disks, maybe warped, but also check that they are mounted properly, no cr@p got in between the bellhousing and hub for example or that the retian screws (if any) are tight and the disk is centrered.

Chances are it is the disks thou.

 

Actually sounds like disc thick/thinned, often mistaken for warping, its where the discs warps slightly hot (they all ahve to unless radial mounted due to the contsraint of the mounting bell) and then after you stop breaking the pads knock the high spots off so some parts of the disc are thicker than others.

Some pads are worse for this than others and I have to say I've found Mintex the worst, most manufacturers who hae this problem (Ford and Rover used to) fix it by using a more abrasive pad that machines the disc back flat under heavier braking.

Simon

 

Okay.. This is beginning to sound like I may have multiple problems. The latest is this. I have again jacked the car to have a more detailed look. I'll do my best to explain.

With the front end jacked:

1. When the wheels are moved by hand side-to-side both have play that can be felt with the palm of your hand. Play is behind the disc. Wheel Bearings a bit sloppy? Change them?

2. Also when the wheels are moved from side-to-side (ignore the wheel bearings for now) both sides turn together but with an audible knock at each end of the movement. When this is done there is noticable play between each knock. Could this be the (dare I say it) steering rack fubared?

What do you all think now, could these faults be the cause of the vibration?? How much to repair (I can do the work myself)?

Oh and did I say Bo#locks yet?

Bo#locks!!!

 

Anyone?

 

Anyone know, or give me some advice?