2004 1.9 tdi classic.

I had discs and pads changed on the front about 3 weeks ago. I think they were genuine from TPS.

I used them normally to bed them in (like the mechanic told me). We had a discussion that there are two trains of thought about bedding brakes in, the normal "drive like normal for 500 miles, avoid stopping hard from 70mph and then sitting with your foot on the brakes", or the "take it from 70-0, 60-0, 50-0 etc and brake hard to get some heat in".

The brakes are wobbling, like the discs are warped. I have done approx 2500 miles in 3 weeks.

I looked yesterday and there is rust on the back of the outer edge of the inside of the discs, like I'm not using them hard enough.

So I don't think I've warped them though track day type use (I drive 100 miles a day gently to maximise mpg).

Shall I try a few hard stops, or just take back to garage?

Have a look at this http://www.mtecbrakes.co.uk/index.php?main_page=page&id=11 . I had similar issues on the car I recently bought. It was much improved by using them hard for a few minutes on a dual carriageway to shift some of the deposits. You could also try garnet paper(not sand or wet and dry) . Might be worth asking the garage if they cleaned the hub. Almost impossible to warp discs though others seem to disagree.

Sorted it.

15 stops from 60 to 10mph and then let them cool naturally.

Personally I don't go for the drive normally for 500 miles theory, I drive as gentle as a lamb on new brakes and pads, doing my level best to avoid using much brake whatsoever. 200 miles is usually sufficient. Stepping up to normal brake use (NOT HARD) by the end of that 200 miles. OR I get the wife to drive the car for 200 miles.

Sorted it.

15 stops from 60 to 10mph and then let them cool naturally.

I'm not trying to b smart, but if they were warped, a few hard stops wont unwarp them. Sounds like u had build up of brake dust from the new pads.

I am leaving my car into garage again tomorrow to have the discs changed for the second time in 20k miles. Both times my discs have warped after 7k miles and no amount of hard braking has made a difference.

Agreed, warped discs don't true up with hard braking.

I've used Pagid discs & pads on all my cars over the past 6 years, & never had a problem. I just take it easy for the first 200 miles or so.

Re the uneven wear its worth checking the pads are correctly seated as I put some in a while ago with new discs and in the end it killed the discs! Just make sure it doesn't come back

And it would appear to be VERY unusual to actually warp brake discs http://www.mossmotors.com/SiteGraphics/Pages/brake_discs.html

Yeah I've read that article before, but I'm sceptical. Can you imagine the amount of money it would cost manufacturers if it were proved to be their production at fault?

Not to hijack the post, but had my discs replaced (2nd time 20k miles) yesterday. When i spoke to the mechanic i asked if the discs actually were warped. I would be very surprised that my routine 50-70mph 70mile round trip to work in a 10 yr old TDI could damage discs.

He showed me the discs and a clear brake dust line on the back of one (makes sense that i hadn't noticed it). Although not conclusive that the brakes weren't warped, i would be 99% sure it was in fact the brake dust build up. I just don't know how this could happen twice in approx 15k miles on two sets of new discs when i got 90k miles out of the first pads and 115k miles out of the original discs with no issues?

I am assuming it is a PAD problem....

This is why I rate either groved or drilled discs as the de glaze the pads whilst being used!

but problem is grooved can chomp at the pad more and drilled can crack under extreme temps.

a good bedding in is whats usually required, and warped disc syndrome can often be fixed with a rebedding in of pads to the discs, as often it can be build up on the disc from the pad as already suggested.

but problem is grooved can chomp at the pad more and drilled can crack under extreme temps.

a good bedding in is whats usually required, and warped disc syndrome can often be fixed with a rebedding in of pads to the discs, as often it can be build up on the disc from the pad as already suggested.

It'd have to be pretty extreme heat! I accept it wears the pads more but mine have done quite a few miles with no significant extra wear, even with two track days currently running EBC setup

it def does wear the pads faster...learnt that on more than one occasion.

yes sadly drilled can crack too, i prefer good stock discs, and uprated pads like ds2500s

The drilled bit on mine is only 5nm deep not all the way through presumably to keep strength in the disc

I had grooved and drilled discs made by ecb on my sierra, I used genuine ford pads with them. After 6 months I had 3/4 of the pads left but just drilled discs, the pads wore the grooves away! Replaced the discs with genuine old stock ford ones and I can honestly say that there wasn't any performance benefit from drilled and grooved discs for normal fast road use.

Sent from my Galaxy S3, not a Crapple!

It's mad seeing all the different experiences with different stuff they've used, I've had no issues with drilled and grooved but all sorts of wear issues and bedding problems with standard ish stuff guess its horses for courses and different driving styles etc

It's mad seeing all the different experiences with different stuff they've used, I've had no issues with drilled and grooved but all sorts of wear issues and bedding problems with standard ish stuff guess its horses for courses and different driving styles etc

Yup too true same as tyres lol in the end it's driving style that decides which one is best for you

Sent from my Galaxy S3, not a Crapple!

Still got the wobble.

Garage said they will replace discs and pads under warranty no problem.

But.......

My wishbone bushes are shagged, and this may be causing the wobble in the brakes / steering wheel. There is also some play in steering rack and a wheel bearing on its way out.

Will mot it and see what bushes need changing.

Well, if a wheel bearing is on it's way out, then it's possible it may have contributed to warping a disc. Till you get everything done, you're not likely to find out though.

Edit: I should correct this, I don't mean warping at all, I actually mean contributed to some spurious run-out irregularities, which will pretty much cause the same issues.

Hopefully this isn't the case though.

I don't think the discs are warped, just a vibration shimmy in the suspension somewhere.

Edited 8 April, 201313 yr by pimpdriver

Just a quick question, as braking does tend to put the suspension under the microscope, but do you get even the faintest of shimmy in the steering when not braking at the speeds you are braking from?. If so, you may have a tiny buckle in a road wheel on the inside edge that is highlighted more under braking. With the state of the roads at present it just might be a possibility.

When accelerating the steering wheel shimmies slightly.

It's a high mileage shed of a car.

Will put summer tyres on soon, see what happens then.

The winter tyres wore funny as I had too much toe in, then I got the tracking sorted.

Might contribute to it??

Lost a balance weight?