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brake judder

Brake Judder

Brake judder is the vibration felt through the steering wheel and suspension when the brakes are applied at certain speeds and pressures. It can vary from a barely noticeable vibration to a violent judder – experienced either through the brake pedal or steering wheel.

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

CAUSE 1: HUB AND/OR DISC RUN-OUT

Brake judder can be caused by a badly fitted brake disc pulling out of alignment with the hub or caliper. To help you identify if this is the case, here are some symptoms and solutions:

Check for rust or dirt on the wheel hub surface.

WHY? Rust or dirt causes poor contact between the disc and hub.

THE SOLUTION: Dismantle the disc and clean both surfaces to remove rust and other pollutants.

Check whether the hub contact surface has been distorted by excessive tightening torque.

WHY? Using overly severe tightening torque on the positioning screw leads to vibrations throughout brake application.

THE SOLUTION: Replace the discs, avoiding excessive tightening torque.

Check for distortion of the hub itself.

WHY? Although rare, it’s possible for hubs to warp. Bolting a disc to a warped hub will always result in brake vibration. The same will happen if any rust from the hub surface is not removed before fitting the disc.

THE SOLUTION: After fitting a disc, always check for disc run-out using a dial gauge. If the run-out is out of tolerance, re-fit the disc in an alternative position until the run-out is within tolerance. If run-out still remains out of tolerance, hub maintenance is required.

Check whether the alloy wheels have been fitted correctly.

WHY? A common cause of disc run-out in recent years is the incorrect fitment of ‘one-size-fits-all’ alloy wheels. As the same wheel is used for multiple hub types and sizes, installers are using location spacers on the wheel spigots. If the spacer is lost or damaged, the wheel cannot be correctly centred.

THE SOLUTION: Place the run-out gauge on the back of the disc while fitting the wheel, and measure the run-out. The gauge will only show run-out once the wheel is fitted and tightened, and it may be necessary to change the wheel.

CAUSE 2: SEVERE DISC OVERHEATING & DISTORTION

Any severe temperature increase can cause the disc metal to distort in different areas of the disc. These ‘hot spots’ cause intermittent contact between the pad and disc. And that results in judder. To help you identify if this is the case, here are some symptoms and solutions:

Check for any signs of brake abuse.

WHY? Brake abuse is the most common reason for overheating. Discs are designed to cool rapidly between brake applications. But when the brakes are applied intensely in quick succession – e.g. during alpine driving – the discs don’t get enough time to dissipate the heat.

THE SOLUTION: Blue spots on the disc surface are a good indication of overheating. Discs that show blue spots and/or a darker colour in some areas cannot recover and should ALWAYS be replaced, together with the brake pads.

Check the quality of the brake pads.

WHY? Poor quality brake pads can overheat very easily, especially during heavy braking. The excessive heat from the pads can cause the discs to overheat, resulting in disc warping.

THE SOLUTION: Again, look for blue spots on the disc surface. When you can't find any, inform the driver of the risks of poor quality pads. ALWAYS replace the brake pads and discs when you do see blue spots on the disc.

CAUSE 3: DISC THICKNESS VARIATION (DTV)

DTV is the variation in thickness around the disc surface. For effective braking, the disc should have the same thickness throughout. If there is an uneven friction surface, the brake pad loses and regains contact with the disc(s) as it turns. And that’s what causes brake judder. To help you identify if this is the case, here are some symptoms and solutions:

Check with the driver to see if the brakes have been properly bedded in.

WHY? To get the best performance from your brakes, it’s essential to follow the bedding-in procedure. By applying only moderate pressure on the brake pedal during the first few applications, an even layer of friction material is transferred from the pads to the disc. Mating the surfaces this way improves safety and prevents DTV-related judder.

THE SOLUTION: Prevention is better than cure. Each time you fit new brake pads, inform drivers that they should avoid hard braking for the first 200 km. When poor bedding-in has resulted in slight DTV, it may be sufficient to bed in the brakes once again. If this does not re-align the disc surfaces, the only solution is to replace both the brake pads and discs. For your convenience, Ferodo has published a useful Driver Tips leaflet for you to hand to your customers. It includes a few tips and tricks to optimize their brake systems.

Ask your Ferodo representative for more information.

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