Persistent judder/vibration under braking

[Blackstar]

Had steering wheel and cabin judder under braking for a couple of months.

 

I have changed the discs twice and the issue goes completely away for a week or so and then gradually comes back.

 

I have:

• Replaced discs and pads (short term fix then comes back as above).
• Had the bearings/hubs tested for runout.
• Replaced a wheel bearing which showed some runout (no effect).
• Replaced both lower control arms/wishbones (no effect).

 

Other things to note:

• All discs and pads have been Pagid. Maybe a bad production run/batch?
• Vibrates less the harder you press, but you have to press really hard to not feel it.
• It's mainly the steering wheel and cabin that vibrates, not the brake pedal.
• There is a slight squeak on right lock you can hear when parking.
• Car pulls to the left a little more than it has recently.

 

Any ideas/help would be much appreciated as not wanting to throw endless amounts at the car as it is now on 100k miles. Would be a shame to let it go but thinking about cutting losses.

Edited Sunday at 23:18 by Blackstar

[Keith D]

The fact new discs and pads fixed it for a while, then it came back, suggests piston / slide pins might be the root cause.  One pad isn't retracting, creating heat, warping the disc.

 

I've never heard of pagid but copilot suggests they are not the best quality.  Buy cheap buy twice is the old saying.  When it comes to brakes and tyres I always buy the best I can afford, they're the things keeping you alive!

 

Do you have a DTI gauge to check disc runout again?

 

If that's okay then I'd lift the front, get a crowbar, and check every joint and every rubber on the front suspension for play.

Edited Monday at 21:20 by Keith D

[Blackstar]

Thanks a lot, pins and pistons have been replaced in calipers, forgot to mention.

 

Never had an issue with Pagid before but possibly a bad batch, although I agree that new discs getting rid of the issue temporarily is suspect.

 

I'll ask the mechanic about DTI gauge.

 

Going to go after upper arms and droplinks next but losing patience with the issue now!

 

Will keep you updated!

[ZMANALEX]

Surfaces relating to DTV have got to be 100% clean, or the brake shudder will always return.

 

ie:  Inner wheel face to hub and rotor to knuckle etc.

 

Always check DTV before and after rotor replacement.

[ZMANALEX]

[andy james]

Unfortunately Alex is spot on with this.

I have a big brake kit which only amplifiers this problem.

After changing discs/Pads twice and trying my best to clean the hub faces the problem still came back after a few hundred miles.

I ended up having the discs skimmed in situ on the car and have had no problems since.

The guy in Winchester who runs the company said he is very busy most weeks sorting out fairly new and very expensive sports cars with the same issue.

 

[Keith D]

DTI  gauge will show it, you can get them for £20

[GranTurismoEra]

I had my discs skimmed in Cambridge by a real Mechanical Engineer. The dealers call them to fix these issues. After a few hours went out for a spin and some hard braking and the vibration was gone. 

 

I dont see this issue ever going away for cars old and new.