URGENT! Help Needed With Brakes

[AUII_Forte]

Hey Guys,

I need some urgent help with my brakes. I am going away tomorrow and have to fix them before I go!

Over 100km/h when the brake are applied hard, the whole car shudders extremely violently and I get a lot of feed back through the steering wheel. It's VERY hard to control the car when it happens, it'll start to pull one way then the wheel will start to lock and the ABS kicks in then it'll try and go the otherway, it's extremely dangerous!!

This only happens over about 100k's below that it's fine and brakes normally unless the brake started to shudder before I get down to that speed. I have checked the discs with a dial guage and they less than 0.1mm out of round, surely that can't be the problem. I have also checked the wheel bearings and there is no play in them what so ever. All the shims are on the spindle etc as a last attemp to fix it I am going to change the pads........what else could it possibly be???? I'm desperate, ANY help would be appreciated!!

Thanks
Daniel

[FordFan86]

first thing i would've said would be check the run out, but it seems you already have and .1 mm is fine. have no idea apart from that sorry. :(

[argonEL]

The discs could be warped a little

I had a similar problem that disappeared when i skimmed the discs

[old_mate]

tie rod ends or radius rod bushes if your certain the discs arent warped. Could also be a ABS problem to begin with?

[bindi]

I've got exactly the same issue, but mine's all the time, not just over 100kph, and it just gets worse and harder to stop once you hit higher speeds. The shudder is excellent fun, I just grip on and enjoy the ride :

I've just changed tyres and that has helped. There seems to be plenty of meat left on both pads and rotors. The next thing I am going to do is machine the discs as they apparently warp and it's not really visible to the naked eye. If it turns out that they are too thin/warped to be machined, I will finally get my finger out and buy some slotted rotors and good pads. I will also fix the last bits of bushes etc that need to be done.

So it could be 1) warped rotors 2) wheel alignment and tyres 3) as old mate said, radius rod bushes (I think mine need to be done) and tie rod ends etc.

If you can't get it all fixed by the time you go away, just take it easy, leave a big gap, don't go over 100kph and come home in one piece!

Sometimes these things take time and money before the culprit is finally tracked down, and that is the trip I just started last week and I get the feeling it's going to be a few more weeks yet before I find out exactly what's happening

Good luck. If I find out before you (or vice versa), I'll let you know!

[AUII_Forte]

I'm hoping it's the pads, I changed them a while back in an attempt to stop them squeaking. I'll throw the old ones back on and see what happens.

[NZ]

The max runout on the discs is .08mm change your rotors and your noise will go away.

[Trevor 57]

The rotors have run out of round, it is very common problem, go and get them either machined, or get a new set fitted.

[Biggoggs]

Disc warping seems to be a very common occurance with any model (my ol' man's EF2 Fairmont has it slightly).
My EA2 has exactly the same problem, although it starts around 80 or 90. I think my discs are warped at the front, which means using brakes at those speeds is a little violent (much like your experience, I assume). Is it less violent if more brake is applied?

It may be a little embarassing when you have a passenger and are trying to come down from speed: try telling them it's mechanical ABS set too high :P

[niko]

ford brakes get very very hot

[AUII_Forte]

The discs are nearly brand new, they were changed just before I bought it. But I might pull them off and get them machined. I changed the pads back to the originals and the shudder disappeared! They were Ferodo pads, I thought they were supposed to be a decent brand, but obviously not!

Thanks to all that helped.

[Psycho Chicken]

Yeah get em machine, couldn't hurt to get your front wheels balanced while you're at it.

[INJECTED_250]

Couldnt see the pads causeing shudder... and FERODO pads are the main pads at supercrud for a reason .. CRAPTACULAR

[Psycho Chicken]

mmmmmm Ferodo = brake dust, and lots of it.

[Walkinshaw]

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

mmmmmm Ferodo = brake dust, and lots of it.

hence why my ELGT's are ****ed.

[AUII_Forte]

I noticed the brake dust!! They were on the car for about a week and a half at the most and the wheels were absolutely covered!! That's only with stockies and hubcaps!

[T_Terror]

Sounds alot like your discs. I would say theyre warped, my mums BA does teh same thing, pretty violent too. Get em replaced/machined

[AUII_Forte]

The shudder totally disappeared when I put the old pads back on. I will get the discs machined if it comes back with these pads, but they seem to be fine at the moment.

Another thing I noticed with the Ferodo pads is the brakes were no where near as good! I mean the car pulled up, but it took a lot more effort to do it!

[460cixy]

definitly pads i have them in my car there shit and doing the same as yours. my step farter put a set in his ed and same problem ****in garbage= Ferodo