Intermittent brake judder nightmare!

[a123b]

Trying to track down the source of this brake judder nightmare! the car will sometimes brake smoothly and normally, then at other times it vibrates through the steering wheel and brake pedal, usually when im on the motorway. The car ocassionally makes a sort of clicking/clunking sound on very low speed braking, sounds a little like the pads are loose or something like that (they arent, its been checked) this normally happens in a carpark.

The car has been through about 4 sets of disks and pads under warranty. it recently had 2 new wishbones (which made no difference to the brake judder, but now handles better i guess). The mechanic has checked over the braking and suspension system of the car twice and said he couldnt find anything wrong other than the wishbones, he also checked the run out of the disks and didnt see that the disks are warped, which makes sense because its intermittent. Im kind of at a loss because nothing seems to be wrong with anything, but i keep getting this judder through the brakes, which doesnt really inspire confidence - even though it still seems to stop the same. any suggestions would be welcome!!

 

[Bigjohn84]

Sounds a bit like ur abs is on its way out, Prob the abs pump.

 

[a123b]

Sounds a bit like ur abs is on its way out, Prob the abs pump.

not a bad shout, didnt think of that. I would have thought this kind of problem would have brought up a code/light though?

 

[L16YDW]

Sounds a bit like ur abs is on its way out, Prob the abs pump.

????? Abs either functions or doesn't, it doesn't wear out etc. Faults can occur that would cause the abs to cut in at the wrong times, cv boot clips covering the picks ups on the driveshats etc.

Have you experienced the abs cutting in to know if it feels the same?

The previous owner of my lc suffered like you with judder even with new brakes x2 sets, including badger bills 2 piece setup that I'm still running without issues or judder and no changes! I believe it was his driving style which resulted in brake pad deposits on the discs. It's well documented over on the meganesport forum of people suffering with deposits with certain pads, people have no issues after a style change!

What brand discs and pads are you running? Oem or aftermarket?

 

[a123b]

????? Abs either functions or doesn't, it doesn't wear out etc. Faults can occur that would cause the abs to cut in at the wrong times, cv boot clips covering the picks ups on the driveshats etc.

Have you experienced the abs cutting in to know if it feels the same?

The previous owner of my lc suffered like you with judder even with new brakes x2 sets, including badger bills 2 piece setup that I'm still running without issues or judder and no changes! I believe it was his driving style which resulted in brake pad deposits on the discs. It's well documented over on the meganesport forum of people suffering with deposits with certain pads, people have no issues after a style change!

What brand discs and pads are you running? Oem or aftermarket?

None of the lights come on when the judder mysteriously appears, the judder also isn't as..severe..as when the ABS kicks in.

It has been suggested before that it could be the pads. Currently its running pagid pads on all corners at the moment with OEM disks. I was thinking of DS2500's (i've heard success with people using these) and a fluid with a higher boiling point. I do tend to stand on the brakes when i brake thinking about it..but ive noticed that when it appears, and i kind of feather the brakes out of fear for the wheels falling off or something, its still there until it mysteriously disappears the next morning. i just dont want to spend yet more money on it and find out it hasnt worked. Did you change your pads or is it because you have a different driving style? il go check out the megannesport forum too

 

[L16YDW]

Mines running ds2500 pads and 2 piece discs they're still the same as when my mate owned it and suffered with judder yet I don't!
I've read where one chap suffered judder on track with ds2500s, another driver jumps in and can have the judder gone within a couple of laps!
Funds depending as to whether I'll justify the extra to buy new rotors for the bells when the time comes but I'm planning on plain high carbon brembo discs and carbotech xp8 pads.

 

[Bigjohn84]

I can't remember what this is called but on the end of ur drive shaft there is really small teeth that the abs scans and picks up, one of they teeth could be cracked or broken off, someone on hear may know what I'm on about but I can't remember the actual name of it.

 

[traumapat]

The low speed clicking usually is the pad moving and its very common on leons. If it is you should only hear it before and after reversing.

Another idea for you is the brake servo pipe, I've no idea how much of a difference it could make but if the pipe is weak and starting to collapse it may create a judder affect and this could be intermittent, cold pipe stronger than a warm one etc.

 

[Bigjohn84]

To stop the brake pads moving noise I just slap the outside of the pads with grease that stops it

 

[a123b]

The low speed clicking usually is the pad moving and its very common on leons. If it is you should only hear it before and after reversing.

Another idea for you is the brake servo pipe, I've no idea how much of a difference it could make but if the pipe is weak and starting to collapse it may create a judder affect and this could be intermittent, cold pipe stronger than a warm one etc.

good to know the clicking noise is quite a common thing, it does only happen when im in a carpark/just reversed and gone forward again. i guess thats probably not causing the judder, so i can cross that off the list. Are you talking about the brake pipes or the pipes behind the engine near the firewall? i guess both are worth a check.