Brake shudder in a Zetec?

Eddie Van Halen · 21-08-2007, 11:13 AM

Hi all,

Anyone have any issues with brake shudder in their Zetec?

Apologies if there's threads on this, I've done a search but couldn't come up with anything relevant.

I'm just noticing a slightly jumpier/bumpier ride when I'm coming to a slow stop in the car.

Cheers,

al

melbzetec · 21-08-2007, 12:08 PM

Not an issue I have struck before Eddie. Maybe discs need re-machining? How long since the brakes were serviced?

Eddie Van Halen · 21-08-2007, 12:18 PM

I picked it up in Feb 06 and it's done about 22,000 ks'....

It's only had its first service, the 15K one... so yeah, might have to take it back for them to take a look at it and then spin me whatever crap they will!

21-08-2007, 02:42 PM

Probably a rear wheel unbalanced. If only the steering shudders the fronts are unbalanced, if the whole car does its the rear. What I'm thinking is when you brake the rear has less weight on it, and the rear tyre wobbles the car around.

More revs · 21-08-2007, 02:51 PM

An ABS transducer cable might have come off. Get Ford to check out the ABS.. Otherwise yes a badly warped rotor can do this but I havent heard of this being a problem on the Focus. Ive abused my brakes plenty - glowing and smoking but they havent warped or anything - a bit grooved is all..

whippet_zetec · 21-08-2007, 05:40 PM

LR Focus or LS??

I have an LR and no brake issues ever in 3 years...mind you only done 35,000kms in it

Eddie Van Halen · 21-08-2007, 07:10 PM

Thanks all...

It's an LS. I'll get it checked out on the weekend.

Other than this, trouble-free motoring for the past year and a half (bang wood). Awesome little car.

FOCUSonTHIS · 21-08-2007, 10:21 PM

I had brake shudder on my LR Focus....warped disc....thats what happens when you spray it at the car wash when the brakes are still hot

Eddie Van Halen · 30-10-2007, 04:16 PM

All,

Just thought I'd update you with my brake shudder issue on my Zetec.

Took it into Ford on Saturday and they machined the discs under warranty - they said that it's quite a normal occurance on these cars as well as BA's.

Car's back to driving beautifully!

plee · 01-11-2007, 02:42 PM

My CL LS has brake shudder when braking from high speed, booked in for next week, I'm also getting squealing from the wheels when taking tight bends at anything other than crawling around the corner, tyres aren't bald at all though... any ideas?

Thanks

mattyW · 25-11-2007, 09:35 PM

I've had a problem with this on my 2004 LR a couple of times, once in Oct 2006 (35k I think) and again in oct 2007 (47k), just had the discs remachined and my mechanic told me that definately the discs will have to be replaced next time. I love my Focus but a $500 annual brake service, in addition to the standard service, seems to be the norm for me (I was warned by a friend who had the same thing happen with his but again he liked his focus).

Have not been happy with service by the Ford dealer though. I continued to take it there for the 10 months of warranty left when I bought it but their service was awful. They offered to "rotate" the tyres without checking balancing leading to 2 wasted return trips and $140 in rebalancing that was only finally sorted out when a different ford dealer put the tyres back the way they originally were (I've always been a little concerned by that?!)

Matt

BlackLS · 25-11-2007, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plee

My CL LS has brake shudder when braking from high speed, booked in for next week, I'm also getting squealing from the wheels when taking tight bends at anything other than crawling around the corner, tyres aren't bald at all though... any ideas?

Thanks

Is it tyre noise or more metallic squeal? I'd check your tyre pressures.

DBA's seem good at helping cars prone with brake shudder to brake normally.. Also they are more than likely cheaper than OEM and offer way better braking.

Eddie Van Halen · 28-11-2007, 05:49 PM

My braking is fine after they machines the discs.... but Im still getting a grinding noise when im reversing slowly out of the driveway.....

plee · 04-12-2007, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackLS

Is it tyre noise or more metallic squeal? I'd check your tyre pressures.

DBA's seem good at helping cars prone with brake shudder to brake normally.. Also they are more than likely cheaper than OEM and offer way better braking.

Had it checked, pressures were down a bit, they also rotated and rebalanced the tyres, together with machining disks, is all fine again now