BRAKE SHUDDER - WHAT TO DO?

[coutso]

As the subject states, when ever I break I feel a shudder coming through the steering wheel and car. This was only occurring when breaking at higher speeds, now I am feeling when breaking at lower speeds.
Should I be getting the pads machined? Buy new pads? Buy new breaks?
I have no idea.

Opinions and ideas will be greatly appreciated

[legacydan]

lower control arm bushings might need to be replaced?

[swingn]

If your running the standard pads & rotors + you like to, let's just say drive your car in a spirited manner, you've probably just warped the rotors.

Was a pretty common problem to be honest.

Depending on how much meat is left on your rotors & pads, I get them machined / shaved & they should live to fight another day. BUT, if you have the funds available, I think you'd be better off throwing them in the bin & picking up some after market gear (EG: Dixcel pads & rotors).

[Nottage969]

Just from past experience, it tends to be that if you can feel the vibrations more through the steering wheel as opposed to the whole car, that it's the front rotors that have been warped. If you feel it through the whole car, to the point where you can feel it through your hand if it's on the gearstick or the car just doesn't seem to sit straight, it tends to be your rears.

Replacing the rotors will almost certainly fix the shuddering...Just remember the golden rule though, if you replace your rotors, spend the extra and replace your pads! Almost regardless of how old they are. It's just not worth the risk of gouging some nice lines out of your new rotors.

[legacydan]

check your rotors and if they have a big lip on them replace them along with the pads, if discs seem fine maybe just try replacing the pads, a lot of the time its not discs warping but just uneven pad transfer onto the rotor that causes the shuddering under braking.

I would first look at the control arm bushings as they are a known weak point on the Legacy's, if they have chunks missing out of them and cracks, time to replace them

[coutso]

How much do you guys think im looking at for each option? Machining the Pads, new brakes etc.
Thanks for all the input though guys

[swingn]

^^^

Few hundred $$$ to machine & shave the rotors & pads.

Anywhere from $700.00 - $2000.00 for new gear... Depending on what you go for of course.

[Nottage969]

How much do you guys think im looking at for each option? Machining the Pads, new brakes etc.
Thanks for all the input though guys

It's very similar to asking how long a piece of string is. Depends whether you want to go with slotted rotors, cross-drilled (wouldn't recommend), or just your standard rotors. And then whether you want to go high performance pads or mediocre pads or what...

For the bare necessities and everything being new (new pads, as well as new rotors), you're probably looking at about $120 a corner (so $240) all up for the front...Depends on what brand's you want, and what you choose at the end of the day.

[coutso]

It's very similar to asking how long a piece of string is. Depends whether you want to go with slotted rotors, cross-drilled (wouldn't recommend), or just your standard rotors. And then whether you want to go high performance pads or mediocre pads or what...

For the bare necessities and everything being new (new pads, as well as new rotors), you're probably looking at about $120 a corner (so $240) all up for the front...Depends on what brand's you want, and what you choose at the end of the day.

Thanks for the rough idea at how much I'll have to outlay. I wouldnt want to go for the bare minimum in quaility, I want somthing half decent. I'll take it to my mechanic next week and get it done.

[DrivesLikeJehu]

The advice is good. The most common cause is warped disks. But armchair diagnosis aren't always accurate.
The last one of these I saw turned out to be a loose caliper bolt (after he'd bought front rotors off me), I had one that was wheel nuts, and my forrie, with one flogged out lower control arm bush also gives similar symptoms that could be misdiagnosed as the same ! (The arm moves back far enough to drastically alter front geometry, pro'lly toe-ing out, and you get a lot of feedback thru the wheel). A very good mechanic can tell the difference with a test drive, but most drivers won't.
So, tell the Mech' the symptoms, sound knowledgeable, and suggest 3-4 places to look first, don't just book it in for a brake job !
(Of course, if you've got basic tools, check wheelnuts, caliper bolts, and strut top nut yourself, first ).

[coutso]

The advice is good. The most common cause is warped disks. But armchair diagnosis aren't always accurate.
The last one of these I saw turned out to be a loose caliper bolt (after he'd bought front rotors off me), I had one that was wheel nuts, and my forrie, with one flogged out lower control arm bush also gives similar symptoms that could be misdiagnosed as the same ! (The arm moves back far enough to drastically alter front geometry, pro'lly toe-ing out, and you get a lot of feedback thru the wheel). A very good mechanic can tell the difference with a test drive, but most drivers won't.
So, tell the Mech' the symptoms, sound knowledgeable, and suggest 3-4 places to look first, don't just book it in for a brake job !
(Of course, if you've got basic tools, check wheelnuts, caliper bolts, and strut top nut yourself, first ).

Thanks mate... luckily my Uncle is my mechanic (pretty good one at that). I'll take it to him and see what he has to say. Once I know, I'll let you guys know.
Thanks for all the advice.

[jdm rsk]

just go dixcel rotors and type m pads all round