Shuddering/Vibrations while braking! Need help!

asethi · 19th January 2010, 11:37

Mod Note : Please continue the discussion in Our Article on Car Vibration. Thanks

I faced a weird problem today morning while driving to office. The brakes suddenly started shuddering and I could feel the vibrations in the pedal, and they were quite strong to shake my leg. The brakes are functioning properly, with no loss in braking power, but just before the car comes to halt or is slowed down before crossing the hump, this shuddering/vibration starts. I don't doubt brake pads fading out, as they were changed just 4K kms back.
Any idea what it could be? Btw, the car is Swift diesel.

mukeshgoel · 19th January 2010, 11:47

Same thing happened to me in my Civic. And the service adviser told me with full confidence that discs need to be changed and the problem will be solved. He did not even need a test drive.

Did that and the problem solved.

bantejas · 19th January 2010, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by mukeshgoel

Same thing happened to me in my Civic. And the service adviser told me with full confidence that discs need to be changed and the problem will be solved. He did not even need a test drive.

Did that and the problem solved.

+1 to that! I don't know why. Can anyone tell us why? The *** showed us the discs and said that it had too many lines/scratches. But I still didn't understand why that causes shudders.

asethi · 19th January 2010, 11:57

But I just got my car serviced 3000kms back, and brakes were serviced/checked and no such problem reported! Don't know how this happened so quickly?!

muke31 · 19th January 2010, 12:07

1. It could be that ABS kicked in when u applied the brake and the road was slippery.
2. Wheel balancing and alignment issue.
3. worn out brake pads/disk.

-MUKE

asethi · 19th January 2010, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by muke31

1. It could be that ABS kicked in when u applied the brake and the road was slippery.
2. Wheel balancing and alignment issue.
3. worn out brake pads/disk.

-MUKE

1. My car is without ABS. And this is happening consistently when the car slows down.
2. Balancing/alignment done last week.
3. Brake pads changed just 4000kms back, and discs had no problem by then. Will have to get them checked now.

Epic · 19th January 2010, 12:10

Hi asethi,

Firstly, how old is your car and how many kilometers have you clocked on the odo? Did you by any chance have an emergency braking situation recently? This shuddering/vibrations usually happen when the brake discs are wraped. This is usually caused when we apply fully brakes in an emergency situation where the car comes to a screeching hault. It is in our human nature to keep the brake pedal pressed even after the car has come to a halt and due to the amount of heat caused between the brake discs & brake pads, there is an impression left on the discs which result in them being wraped. The brake pads were anyway worn out and due for a change. Had this done at 45k kilometers.

It happened to me in my Swift which led to me having the brake discs & pads changed. The problem is solved

G-BoleroBoy · 19th January 2010, 12:12

I had the same problem. Discs were warped (uneven wear of discs hence making pads to vibrate/shudder).. Disc replacement is the best solution. Some may suggest grinding of discs, but not recommended..

mandyrana · 19th January 2010, 12:14

Disc needs to be replaced.

asethi · 19th January 2010, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epic

Hi asethi,

Firstly, how old is your car and how many kilometers have you clocked on the odo? Did you by any chance have an emergency braking situation recently? This shuddering/vibrations usually happen when the brake discs are wraped. This is usually caused when we apply fully brakes in an emergency situation where the car comes to a screeching hault. It is in our human nature to keep the brake pedal pressed even after the car has come to a halt and due to the amount of heat caused between the brake discs & brake pads, there is an impression left on the discs which result in them being wraped. The brake pads were anyway worn out and due for a change. Had this done at 45k kilometers.

It happened to me in my Swift which led to me having the brake discs & pads changed. The problem is solved

My car is 2+ years old, and done 42K kms. The brake pads were changed at 38K kms. I had quite a number of emergency braking situations during my recent highway trip, but never felt any such thing then, and the braking was perfect.
Btw what's the cost of brake disks for Swift?

Epic · 19th January 2010, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by asethi

My car is 2+ years old, and done 42K kms. The brake pads were changed at 38K kms. I had quite a number of emergency braking situations during my recent highway trip, but never felt any such thing then, and the braking was perfect.
Btw what's the cost of brake disks for Swift?

Well that is alot of driving in 2 years. Eventhough you have had your brake pads changed, the warped discs could have made them uneven (just my guess). If I am not mistaken, a single brake disc for the Swift costs around 700-1000 bucks. Have your discs changed and your brake pads checked again at the time of repair.

tsk13 · 19th January 2010, 18:50

Sorry to add my query to the existing thread. 3 years and 29.5k kms old Xing is giving me braking problems. Whenever I start braking from speeds >45km/h the car de-accelerates while giving minor jerks. Can anyone please tell me what's the exact issue and if it's the same as asethi's.

vigsom · 19th January 2010, 21:11

turning/machining the discs could also help to restore the original smooth finish

Jaggu · 19th January 2010, 21:32

Are you sure its the brakes and not the clutch giving away? To rule this out, depress the clutch and pedal and check the brake for judder. If it ain't then its clutch.

Anyways get it checked since you shouldn't risk it with brakes!

vipul_singh · 19th January 2010, 22:09

Just to add my 2 cents: one of the reasons for brake disc warpage is uneven tightening torque on each of the lugs of the wheel. Ideally, they should be tightened using a torque wrench.

19th January 2010, 11:37	#1
asethi BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 449 Thanked: 221 Times View My Garage	Shuddering/Vibrations while braking! Need help! Mod Note : Please continue the discussion in Our Article on Car Vibration. Thanks I faced a weird problem today morning while driving to office. The brakes suddenly started shuddering and I could feel the vibrations in the pedal, and they were quite strong to shake my leg. The brakes are functioning properly, with no loss in braking power, but just before the car comes to halt or is slowed down before crossing the hump, this shuddering/vibration starts. I don't doubt brake pads fading out, as they were changed just 4K kms back. Any idea what it could be? Btw, the car is Swift diesel. Last edited by GTO : 21st February 2013 at 10:16. Reason: Adding link to article
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 11:47	#2
mukeshgoel Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 1,234 Thanked: 2,142 Times View My Garage	Same thing happened to me in my Civic. And the service adviser told me with full confidence that discs need to be changed and the problem will be solved. He did not even need a test drive. Did that and the problem solved.
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 11:57	#4
asethi BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 449 Thanked: 221 Times View My Garage	But I just got my car serviced 3000kms back, and brakes were serviced/checked and no such problem reported! Don't know how this happened so quickly?!
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 12:07	#5
muke31 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 191 Thanked: 21 Times	1. It could be that ABS kicked in when u applied the brake and the road was slippery. 2. Wheel balancing and alignment issue. 3. worn out brake pads/disk. -MUKE
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 12:10	#7
Epic Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,558 Thanked: 922 Times	Hi asethi, Firstly, how old is your car and how many kilometers have you clocked on the odo? Did you by any chance have an emergency braking situation recently? This shuddering/vibrations usually happen when the brake discs are wraped. This is usually caused when we apply fully brakes in an emergency situation where the car comes to a screeching hault. It is in our human nature to keep the brake pedal pressed even after the car has come to a halt and due to the amount of heat caused between the brake discs & brake pads, there is an impression left on the discs which result in them being wraped. The brake pads were anyway worn out and due for a change. Had this done at 45k kilometers. It happened to me in my Swift which led to me having the brake discs & pads changed. The problem is solved
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 12:12	#8
G-BoleroBoy BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 125 Thanked: 63 Times	I had the same problem. Discs were warped (uneven wear of discs hence making pads to vibrate/shudder).. Disc replacement is the best solution. Some may suggest grinding of discs, but not recommended..
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 12:14	#9
mandyrana BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Faridabad Posts: 180 Thanked: 18 Times	Disc needs to be replaced.
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 18:50	#12
tsk13 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,256 Thanked: 361 Times	Sorry to add my query to the existing thread. 3 years and 29.5k kms old Xing is giving me braking problems. Whenever I start braking from speeds >45km/h the car de-accelerates while giving minor jerks. Can anyone please tell me what's the exact issue and if it's the same as asethi's.
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 21:11	#13
vigsom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NSEW Posts: 3,768 Thanked: 25,496 Times	turning/machining the discs could also help to restore the original smooth finish
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 21:32	#14
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,907 Times	Are you sure its the brakes and not the clutch giving away? To rule this out, depress the clutch and pedal and check the brake for judder. If it ain't then its clutch. Anyways get it checked since you shouldn't risk it with brakes!
	() Thanks

19th January 2010, 22:09	#15
vipul_singh BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: BLR / Lucknow Posts: 595 Thanked: 833 Times View My Garage	Just to add my 2 cents: one of the reasons for brake disc warpage is uneven tightening torque on each of the lugs of the wheel. Ideally, they should be tightened using a torque wrench.
	() Thanks