Hello everyone :yes:

I wonder if anyone can help with my problem?

I have a T reg Felicia 1.3 that has a bad shudder when breaking, it's been getting worse recently so I took off the wheels to examine the brakes. The front discs seem fine and there seems plenty of pad left, so I can't see it being them.

Could it be the rear drums that are the problem? They stick on sometimes if the handbrake has been on for a while.

I'm not much of a mechanic, as you can tell. But I'm slowly learning and even sorted out the problem of a broken voltage regulator, thanks to this lovely site.

TIA

Dean

i would check that the rear brake bias valve is working correctly before anything else.. has the car been lowered??

i would check that the rear brake bias valve is working correctly before anything else.. has the car been lowered??

Thanks for the reply.

It's not been lowered, and how would I check the rear brake bias? As I said "I'm not much of a mechanic"

Edited 3 May, 201016 yr by AceRimmer

the brake bias valve is a small proportioning valve mounted on the rear axle beam which regulates the amount of pressure applied to the rear wheels, with no load in the back of the car there is very little brake force applied the rear wheels, when the rear of the car is loaded it pushes a lever down on the bias valve which allows more brake force to get the rear wheels.

the reason i asked if it had been lowered is that often people forget to adjust the bias valve accordingly so it allows full force to the rear wheels, and as the rear wheel cylinders are smaller that the front calipers, they 'fill' quicker which often makes the front brakes shudder a little until you press the pedal a little harder... on my pickup i can occasionally lock up the rear wheels before the front brakes even start to bite when it's fully loaded (and it has been lowered)

the other obvious cause might be that the discs are slightly warped, but i guess there is no way to accurately check this without specialist tools (dial guage)

Does the steering wheel judder under braking too? This would point to front discs.

Also make sure sure the bushes, joints and wishbones are not flapping about.

The steering does shudder when breaking, very badly. It drives smoothly at all other times, no cornering problems etc.

I'm inclined to agree that it's the discs, the bloke i purchased it from said they are new, but looking at them, they can't be very new.

In my experience of cars/vans-a lot now- front whel shudder is down to warped discs. It has always gone when they are replaced. These are cheap and new pads are needed. You cannot take chances with brakes.

I assume that all wheel nuts are tight,ball joints have no play and suspension is not wobbling.

If the shudder is minor you can put up with it, but not when your steering wheel starts to dance in your hands.

How bad is it?

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

The front disks are warped for certain; either getting thin or too much enthusiastic driving:giggle:.

You can get them skimmed if the warp is not too bad, but Felly disks are so cheap it is not usually worth it.

You need a new pair, remember to brake gently for the first few hundred miles to break them in.

Agree with members new discs and pads your best way forward.

Most braking takes place with the front brakes, if rear valve was playing up, feeling the judder through the steering is unlikely??