Recurrent "warped discs"

bm_sthlm

bm_sthlm

A2OC Donor
Hi guys,

so I have had recurrent "warped discs symptoms" the last 18 monthes. I hade them fixed 3 times during this period. The last time beeing at Audi them selfs. Around new year, couldnt have them fixed earlier becouse didnt have enough money, so I was driving around like that. But then santa brought me some cash. But now I can feel it coming back again :(. Its not as strong as before but Im sure it will be with in a week or so.

Every time I have them fixed they come back within 2-3 weeks. So I think its obivous it has to be something else then warped discs. But I have no idea what it can be, so I thought maybe you guys have any suggestions? The first time it appeared was after a wheel alignment, not sure if its related.

Fist time they just repaired the old dics, but the last 2 times I have had completely new ones. And I did change the pads every time.

Could the wheel bearing be the culprit? Is it a expensive job to change them?

Thnx for all anwers.
 
I had a similar experience with 320mm Focus ST discs. Luckily I bought them from a Ford main dealer (regarded as amongst the best for quality and performance) and fitted them myself with new Ford pads. Within 4 months they'd started to shake on braking. Ford were decent enough to replace them (and even fit them free) as parts are guaranteed for 12 months.
4 months after that they went again and they yet again Ford replaced them free of charge. That's when I found the reason.... The lower wishbone bushes on both sides were worn causing the bottom arm to shake slightly on hard braking (not when being inspected on a ramp) and so inducing the warp into the disc. Might be worth checking that.

Another cause is possibly sitting on the brake at junctions etc? A hot pad on a disc may warp it.
 
Hi,

Can you feel the warping through the steering wheel or through the brake pedal?

or even both?

Discs are very unlikely to warp so often and so quickly, so it is likely to be something else?

Steve B
 
I had this a couple of years back with pagid discs from ECP. Each time they just took them back and gave me new ones by set three it all went much better. Still on the car. Were they Audi discs and pads? Either way there will be a warranty so take it back. It could be a sticky caliper. Good luck mike
 
a2sumo said:
It could be a sticky caliper.
Click to expand...
Hi Mike,

Yes, if different sets of discs have all warped then it can't be a fault in the disc.
At first I couldn't think of anything that would warp a disc (especially several times)
But if (for example) one of the pistons on the calliper was seized, the other one would be pressing on one side of the disc with no equal pressure from the other side. This would certainly warp a disc.

My money would now certainly be on a seized piston in one of the callipers!!! I like your train of thought!

Steve B
 
An infra red thermometer is a good way of checking for this. If you buy a cheap one (£20 or so) then go for a drive using minimal braking over a few miles. If you have a binding pad then one disc will be much hotter that the other.
 
bm_sthlm said:
Hi guys,

so I have had recurrent "warped discs symptoms" the last 18 monthes. I hade them fixed 3 times during this period. The last time beeing at Audi them selfs. Around new year, couldnt have them fixed earlier becouse didnt have enough money, so I was driving around like that. But then santa brought me some cash. But now I can feel it coming back again :(. Its not as strong as before but Im sure it will be with in a week or so.

Every time I have them fixed they come back within 2-3 weeks. So I think its obivous it has to be something else then warped discs. But I have no idea what it can be, so I thought maybe you guys have any suggestions? The first time it appeared was after a wheel alignment, not sure if its related.

Fist time they just repaired the old dics, but the last 2 times I have had completely new ones. And I did change the pads every time.

Could the wheel bearing be the culprit? Is it a expensive job to change them?

Thnx for all anwers.
Click to expand...

Right, your experiences are EXACTLY the same as mine! TWO sets of true Audi discs and pads and then Brembo discs and Ferodo DS pads! The culprit? A faulty wheel-bearing! I have finally had no recurrence of the problem (yet) and it's 2 Month's and counting!

David
 
Dal said:
The lower wishbone bushes on both sides were worn causing the bottom arm to shake slightly on hard braking (not when being inspected on a ramp) and so inducing the warp into the disc. Might be worth checking that.

Another cause is possibly sitting on the brake at junctions etc? A hot pad on a disc may warp it.
Click to expand...


When I go back to Audi I will ask them to take a look at the bushes, thnx. I have been very carefull to not sit on the brakes since they first time they warped. I read a lot about warped discs then. :)




Birchall said:
Hi,

Can you feel the warping through the steering wheel or through the brake pedal?

or even both?

Discs are very unlikely to warp so often and so quickly, so it is likely to be something else?

Steve B
Click to expand...

It all starts very discreet through the brake pedal, but it keeps getting worse and in the end I can feel it through both the sterering wheel and the pedals. I think it must be something else, becouse 3 discs in 18 monthes? And they have all been brand discs, 2xAudi and 1x brembo.




a2sumo said:
I had this a couple of years back with pagid discs from ECP. Each time they just took them back and gave me new ones by set three it all went much better. Still on the car. Were they Audi discs and pads? Either way there will be a warranty so take it back. It could be a sticky caliper. Good luck mike
Click to expand...

Is there any fast way to check this? What if I lift the car and try to spin the wheel or something?

DJ 190 said:
Right, your experiences are EXACTLY the same as mine! TWO sets of true Audi discs and pads and then Brembo discs and Ferodo DS pads! The culprit? A faulty wheel-bearing! I have finally had no recurrence of the problem (yet) and it's 2 Month's and counting!

David
Click to expand...

I dont know why, but I have a feeling it might be the wheel bearings. Are they expensive to change? And did you have to change the discs again after getting new bearings?
 
bm_sthlm said:
I dont know why, but I have a feeling it might be the wheel bearings. Are they expensive to change? And did you have to change the discs again after getting new bearings?
Click to expand...

Just one wheel bearing needed to be replaced. The Brembo discs were skimmed to true them up (£40 + VAT) Incidentally, they hadn't cost that much, new! I am not sure what I was charged for just the wheel-bearing replacement, but it was not more than £100. It is so good to be able to brake without any judder! I am really hoping that it stays that way!

David
 
DJ 190 said:
Right, your experiences are EXACTLY the same as mine! TWO sets of true Audi discs and pads and then Brembo discs and Ferodo DS pads! The culprit? A faulty wheel-bearing! I have finally had no recurrence of the problem (yet) and it's 2 Month's and counting!

David
Click to expand...


David's vibration under braking was caused not only by a defective bearing but also front discs that were warped. Interestingly, although the discs were relatively new, when they were measured, they showed a variance from true on both the inner and outer faces. A similar measurement was taken on the bearings and one of them was found to be out of true as well. A new bearing - fitted using the correct tooling, and machined discs solved the problem. Apart from the cost of the bearing and re-engineering, all bolts, nuts and a damaged speed sensor were replaced.

I'm glad you're enjoying braking David.

blue skies
tony
 
A2 Cars said:
David's vibration under braking was caused not only by a defective bearing but also front discs that were warped. Interestingly, although the discs were relatively new, when they were measured, they showed a variance from true on both the inner and outer faces. A similar measurement was taken on the bearings and one of them was found to be out of true as well. A new bearing - fitted using the correct tooling, and machined discs solved the problem. Apart from the cost of the bearing and re-engineering, all bolts, nuts and a damaged speed sensor were replaced.

I'm glad you're enjoying braking David.

blue skies
tony
Click to expand...

You may have to do this for me next week Tony. My new disks are wobbling too.
 
Thnx for your input guys. I will take the car to Audi at the end of next week, have to many exams right now. And I will let you guys know what they said if any one is intrested to know.

Seems like I have to sell my BOSE set so I can finance this.
 
I do have special tool needed for changing the wheel bearing. But it's in Göteborg, pm me if you are interested.
 
GuruX said:
I do have special tool needed for changing the wheel bearing. But it's in Göteborg, pm me if you are interested.
Click to expand...

I would have come if I could, but I live in Hungary at the moment. A bit far to drive :)

I wish I was close thought, would be nice if you could have a look at the car.
 
I still havent had the garage to take a look at the bearings and the wishbone bushes. But the last few days I noticed a noise coming from the top mounts and they need to get changed. Could this in anyway be related to the warped disc?
 
bm_sthlm said:
I still havent had the garage to take a look at the bearings and the wishbone bushes. But the last few days I noticed a noise coming from the top mounts and they need to get changed. Could this in anyway be related to the warped disc?
Click to expand...

Hi,

The top mounts do not affect the brakes in that way and could not cause warping.
BUT, if they were seriously broken and allowing the strut to move around at the top, then that might possibly give you the symptoms of a warped disc because the wheel would be able to wobble around due to the play in the top mount.

But the most important question is, when you feel the "warping" is it just in the steering wheel or do you actually feel the brake pedal vibrating.

Warped discs can be felt through the brake pedal (if they are warped enough to cause vibrations at all)
Top mount play and suspension play would be felt through the steering wheel and NOT the pedal at all.
Wheel bearings are slightly different, if they have serious play then you might feel this through BOTH. As the wheel bearing wobbles it pushes the disc pads around (and worse still away from the discs and so can seriously increase pedal travel) and you would feel the wobbling through the steering wheel as well.

But as has been suggested, get the garage to check for warping AND for suspension / bearing play (especially the top mounts if you suspect these).

Then let then sort it.

But if they have warped again get the callipers checked for a seized piston.

Steve B
 
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Hi
I had just the same problem which was caused by an incorrectly fitted wheel bearing fitted by another VAG specialist. I had a new bearings, disks, and pads fitted. After about 1500 miles a slight judder started which progressively worsened. Tony at A2cars cured the problem by correctly fitting the wheel bearing. Wish I had gone to Tony first!
Cheers Peter
 
So today I recived a email about what they thought (?!) would fix the problem. They want to change the front shaft. They said it would cost me £ 240.

Where is the wheel bearing situated exactly? Would they also be changed if I have the shaft changed?
 
bm_sthlm said:
So today I recived a email about what they thought (?!) would fix the problem. They want to change the front shaft. They said it would cost me £ 240.

Where is the wheel bearing situated exactly? Would they also be changed if I have the shaft changed?
Click to expand...

Hi,

The wheel bearing is in the wheel hub and the driveshaft goes through this and so replacing the shaft does not mean that the wheel bearing would be replaced (unless you requested it, or unless they found it to be faulty)

Steve B
 
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