Warped Discs?!

[gRoberts]

Hey all,

I have a feeling my discs are warped, but due to the fact the car has had an MOT only this month and I am not getting anything via the break pedal, I am not sure.

Basically the steering wheel shakes when breaking, the harder I break, the harder it shakes. Plus, the breaks don't seem very effective.

Is this normal?

Cheers

[steve_earwig]

Have you checked your wheel bolts lately?

I really don't think that's normal, maybe you should have a look at your disks - look for discolouration in areas round the disk. Look for cracks too! You should be able to feel if a disk is warped by turning it by hand.

As far as I remember, MOT testers don't look for warped disks (maybe they do now?), just whether they're effective enough or not.

[mjb]

Sounds like a warped front disc to me

[gRoberts]

This is what my dad and I are arguing about at this present moment.

He thinks they should of noticed it at the MOT, but they only test at low speeds, and most likely never even noticed.

Edit: OOOh I like this forum, very rare that you get notified when someone has replied whilst your posting.

[Welly]

As you bring the car to a hault if you feel the car braking in 'stages' whilst braking then the discs are warped. If you're doing 80MPH and stab the brakes if the front end shakes then the discs are warped.

The MOT tester only has to check the performance of the brakes, if it passes the test then the brakes are 'safe'. If he's nice he might tell you he noticed they are warped as he would have seen variations on his machine. My brake pads are *low* but passed the MOT in January and he kindly said they were low and could do with changing soon it's just how it goes really.

[gRoberts]

I will go out at lunch and see what I can find.

[Welly]

I will go out at lunch and see what I can find.

I'll give you a hint: a car with warped front discs

I'd just get some new discs and pads, they're only about 50p* each now anyway from eurocarparts.

*may be slightly more.

[zoomer]

Does sound like the discs are warped, i had same prob on my 2.0 8vt, changed to EBC standard discs and green stuff pads really transformed the braking- nice feel and a firm pedal, recommended!!

[neildavies]

Affected both 406's and the 306 we've owned, warped discs without a doubt. It's just cost me £40 for new discs and pads for the same reason.

[muffindell]

Yeah I agree as well, warped discs. Mine went the same way, poor braking with varying judder. When I took the wheels off they didn't look too bad, the offside calliper was slightly seized, disc looked a bit blue. New Brembo discs and pads sorted it all out a treat after I freed the calliper (well pushing the piston back in seemed to do the trick).