i have changed the brakes on my skoda now 3 times because of warped discs? i used cheap ones 1st then a better grade and finally main dealer genuine parts but after about 1000-1500 miles the wheels start to judder when braking, this only judders when nearly coming to a halt. anyway this has been investigated by 3 garages now but nobody can explain why, my discs dont get hot and the callipar isnt sticking... and the bushes all look fine and ive changed a drive shaft and a c.v boot now but still this problem persists becoming very expensive for me now has anybody got any ideas as to what or who can help me?

skoda garage say that they can investigate for me at a rate of £70 per hour, now this seems to be my only option now? my disc are actaully warped as 2 garages have used a gauge to check the discs but both garage are baffled as to why this problems persist. could my wheel be buckled? or hub fauly? or could there be a suspention problem that can be affecting the discs?

Have a 2003 1.9TDI Octavia Elegance

Had the same problem, but car was out of warranty - Had new discs fitted which warped after 6 weeks or so - They were replaced under disc mfts warranty - Different brand used (so they told me)

This car was used for business so high mileage, retired and moved to France

13 months after last set fitted same thing - paid for another set -Was over in the UK on a trip so had to go on trust.

Recently had the same thing starting, but found that whenever stopped, press brake pedal as hard as it will go, then avoid heavy breaking. Did this over a week or so and (touch wood) no further problem.

Sorry if this is a Heath Robinson reply, but like you no one could offer a reason why. So was desparate try anything and could not afford to mess about paying more garage bills. BTW in the middle of all this, had to have a 'Controle Technique' [French MOT - which makes our look like a tea party] Asked him to check the discs (unofficially) He did and said he could see now warpage at that time. However it required the alignment to be reset by lazer - drove like a dream, but still it came back and was resolved as described.

Regards

britinfrance

This is quite an interesting post, and unfortunatley Im no expert on these matters. I did just wonder if drivers who have cars that develop this problem sit in traffic with the footbrake in use, in other words the pads are in contact with the disc and thus allow uneven heat dissipation, hence eventual warping.

Another possibility is in the metallurgy of the disc itelf although having replaced the discs and had the same problem I think this is highy unlikely. Hope you do sort it and maybe inform us as to the cure.

I suggest anyone who feels (or is told) they're suffering from warped discs reads this first:

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_warped_brakedisk.shtml

I was just thinking about that link. :D

Had exactly this problem - cured by replacing both wishbones and lower ball joints. I think the problem was actually the ball joints. Caused me to throw away one set of probably perfectly good discs

Musky, any signs of uneven tyre wear and/or excess wear on the inside edges before you replaced the ball joints? This is usually pretty diagnostic.

This is quite an interesting post, and unfortunatley Im no expert on these matters. I did just wonder if drivers who have cars that develop this problem sit in traffic with the footbrake in use, in other words the pads are in contact with the disc and thus allow uneven heat dissipation, hence eventual warping.

Another possibility is in the metallurgy of the disc itelf although having replaced the discs and had the same problem I think this is highy unlikely. Hope you do sort it and maybe inform us as to the cure.

going to try the hard breaking.but as for the question do i sit in traffic with footbrake on then yes i suppose i do, doesnt help i'm a taxi driver thou? lol

Cabbiestew,

Whilst I've not had this problem myself, the repair bills that I got from the previous owner show that my Octy has had a habit of "vibration under braking" as follows: (will type verbatim from repair invoice)

Nov 04 checked for vibration, found front brake discs warped. Replace front brake discs as required. (under warranty during 1st service)

Jan 06 Vibration on braking. Supply and fit new n/s/f hub, bearing & bearing hub for retaining caliper. Found threads in hub not retaining caliper correctly causing discs to warp. carried out road test now ok.

I've had the car a year and there isn't any problem with vibration under braking so i assume the Jan 06 repair solved the issue.

Just a thought, might give you a pointer.

ty all for your advices and feed back i have now just done 9 x 70mph to 5mph hard braking with the lovely smell of those brakes burning!! lol, drove the car for over 5mins without breaking got home using minimal use of the brakes so hopefully tommorrow when i use the car the shall be better? whilst doing these hard brakings the juddery felt less extreme each time!

fingers crossed and i'll keep you informed tomorrow as to whether it has worked? when i got home my brakes were cool so proves 1 thing that the caliper is not sticking?

smileonimpact will take your comments on board if this doesnt work!

thanks again for your help so far !

What pads are you running?

Musky, any signs of uneven tyre wear and/or excess wear on the inside edges before you replaced the ball joints? This is usually pretty diagnostic.

Sorry for the delay - no no sign of uneven wear at all. One balljoint was quite worn the other not too bad.

well the braking judder has been reduced alot but a very slight judder still there right at the end of braking? maybe i didnt do it quite long enough?

see if it gets any worse again over the weekend,

whilst im listing faults has anyone experianced the following??

When i start the car up in the morning and drive down the road every so often theres like a relay switch clicking (one click) and my lights flicker once when i rev the car or accelerate, this continues til the car is warm normall about 3or4 miles then everything is fine??? very strange?

ok guys the judder nearly went just a very slight judder, now its back already? after about 200miles! the steering wheel didnt shake for nearly 2 days but is now again beginning to judder?

Hiya Stew. With aid from Muskie, I'm pretty sure the judder's not ball joints on your car. In fact, it looks very much like it could be disc contamination. Would you be prepared to change pads, and make sure you get some from a different (but reputable) manufacturer?

On the relay point, I think this is a new one on us? It might be worth sending a PM to user name mbames, because I know he's had a clicky relay that just about no-one else has even been able to hear.

there was a thread about the clicking relay. My car has always done it when cold when the revs rise or fall past about 2250rpm, I think it is something to do with the glow plugs coming back on to keep the engine running smoothly until it gets up to temp.

It was one of those things I hadn't noticed until someone else pointed it out.

Edited 12 February, 201016 yr by trundlenut

I have a relay that clicks in and out in as the revs rise and fall until the engine warms up. It's done it for the 12 months I've owned the car and, as Trundlenut says, I think it's normal.

thanks exaudisi and trundlenut for relay responses that hopefully put my mind at rest for now, as it is only when cold.

as for kenoneil i have replaced disc and pads 3 times with different companies and i was adviced to put main dealer pads on which i have and these still do the same! the concerning thing is i did the 70mph-5 mph thing as advised and this actually worked but within 2 days they are back juddering,after i got the car cleaned ummmmmm

i got my car cleaned and they spray chemicals on the wheels and i am now wondering if these chemicals are affecting the brakes??? afterall now thinking about it in more depth i actually started using them back in october which is roughly when i started to get this problem????? a long shot?

You sound to have exactly the same problem I had, have you checked the balljoints? Also wishbones? I did all the things you've done with no joy except I only changed pads/discs once. Discs don't warp and I can't believe contamination will stay on the discs after repeated 70mph stops and if it comes back where did it come from and go to? The drivers side ball joint on mine was no good but the car drove ok so don't rely on that. Didn't cost much to change except I did both balljoints, wishbones and track rods complete in the end

I must get rid of this invisibility cloak.

I must get rid of this invisibility cloak.

Who said that???

Who said that???

What???

I had a simlar problem when I had mine but I knew it was a bent hub. My advice would be to check hub runout to rule this out.

I used to also feel a little vibration through steering wheel when accelerating too.

my money is with vrsmart..

have the discs been checked for runout when replaced? if they are not running completely true it may well be the hub(s) that are not running true, and no matter how many times you replace the discs they will revert back to the juddering problem

my money is with vrsmart..

have the discs been checked for runout when replaced? if they are not running completely true it may well be the hub(s) that are not running true, and no matter how many times you replace the discs they will revert back to the juddering problem

Wouldn't they judder straight away if the hubs out?