Hi,
I was driving in to work today... a good old regular blast.
When I needed to brake ( just at normal speeds I'd like to add) to make a right turn... then I noticed that the brakes felt rather 'lumpy'.
I could only describe it as if the brakes were going on/off/on/off/on the pads. It wasnt really harsh, but it felt very un-normal. Like it was pulsing the brakes and not giving an even distribution. Very distressing as I'd hate for my brakes to fail.

I mentioned it to a friend whom I took out for a drive to show him... he thought it might be a warped disc... how is this possible. ? Has anyone else had this.

Ive still got my OEM brake pads. Ive yet to put my SS lines and RS4 pads on.

 

Jonathan, you seem to be describing the action of ABS braking to a 'T' I note you say you were braking at normal speeds, so I assume this isn't sudden braking, so you wouldn't normally feel the ABS operating. Did you feel the pedal pulsating under your foot as you braked?

 

No it isnt as harsh as ABS... it doesnt pulse the pedal at all... I was only braking at very granny-shifting speeds. It just feels like the discs are warped which would make the pads hit them in uneven amounts.... I tried only applying the brakes very lightly too, and it still did it...very wierd.
Imaging a buckled wheel on a bicycle and the brakes on the rim coming away from the rim and then back on again... well it feels like this, but not harsh at all. Just a subtle amount, but I can feel it.
I think a call to Brindley is due..

 

That does sound like a disc problem then doesn't it?

 

It seems a few of the US guys have had problems with warped rotors. So Ive read some of their stories... and yep, it does sound like a warped rotor/disc. Ack ! More testing tomorrow to find out for sure.

 

This link was posted after another thought they had a warped disk.. You may find it helpful.

http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/warped...rotors_myth.htm

 

Sounds like warped discs (or 1 disc). I had this on an XR3.

 

if the discs are gone they are normally pretty noisy too - even the passengers notice - the biggest effect comes when braking from higher speed - a juddering sound - so you need to find bit of motorway if you want to demonstrate to your dealer.

by the way - how old are they?

 

The ABS when it triggers, is a fast, small pulsing - it doesn't hammer your foot like older systems. I deliberatly (and acccidentally!) triggered it at the day with Don. I don't think you'd be in any doubt if that was it.

Did it happen when braking for the turn, or were you braking while turning?

One issue I've had with my brakes, are deposits from the brake pads when the car's been stood a few days. (It's not garaged). I get similar symptoms to what you've described while this wears off.

-Brian.

 

That was a very good link cdelena.
Thats cleared up a few myths for me.
So, the best and most reliable method of fixing it would be to replace rotors and pads to eliminate the deposits and uneven wear ? With deposits on the rotors, it would affect the pads. Any advice would be welcomed.

Brian,
I first noticed it happen on a straight. I just noticed it because it felt rather lumpy as I was braking for a turn... so I tried it again and again and the lumpy feeling remained. It could very well be deposits on the rotors like the link suggests.
Ive not been out yet today, so I'll report back later with more testing.