Hi,

 

My regularly serviced 59 Fabia 1.2 has developed a wheel vibration when I put on the brakes when travelling at more than around 50 mph.

 

Anyone had this problem ? The car has done 21K miles only - it has been left standing on my drive for two six-month spells with a small solar battery charger and someone driving it a couple of feet every month or so so that it didn't stand on the same spot on the wheel bearings.

 

ABS problem ? Wheel balancing ? Stuck disk mechanism ?

 

It's fine when braking at sub 50 mph.

 

Any ideas appreciated.

 

Cheers - Joe

It could be a warped disc

When did it last have an Inspection Service,

not just an Oil/Filter/Fluids type service ?

 

Give the Discs a clean up while inspecting them, removing any rust.

check the pads, give everything a bit of care & maintenance.

 

Then the wheels will have been off, the Nuts tightness checked, and do the tyre pressures.

Before the wheels are off feel for play in the Wheel Bearings.

 

Have you inspected the walls of the tyres, both sides,

and if any balance weights have come off the rims?

I suspect a seized caliper. With the pads gently rubbing the disc they get hot, the symptoms you describe perfectly match the symptoms I endured with a seized caliper on a BMW I owned a few years back. It seemed fine at lower speeds as it wasn't as hot (heat generated by friction)

If you jack the car up in the air (start at the front) try spinning the front wheels, you may find one is harder to turn than the other. Can you feel the vibration through the steering wheel? If not maybe check the back first (remember to chock the front wheels and leave in gear when lifting the rear). Was it left for long periods with the handbrake applied? Can you as whoever was moving the car for you if they had to "free the rear brakes" when moving it?

It's a free check anyway on the bright side, but I could just as easily be well off the mark. Good luck finding out.

Edited 23 May, 201412 yr by MattGreen

Forget the previous guesses!!

You have warped front brake disks. Replace these as a pair.

Maybe an imperfection in the disc or damage, but I believe it's incredibly difficult to actually warp a disc. The amount of heat required would discolour the disc and boil the brake fluid before the metal physically warped.

Take it off and place it on a flat surface to check though, also look for discoloration of the metal.

Probably best to just check everything rather than relying on our guesses.

A couple of useful links on causes of brake judder:

http://www.ferodo.com/en-gb/TechnicalSupport/TechnicalTips/Pages/Vibration-Problem.aspx

http://www.powerbrake.co.za/downloads/tech_01_judder.pdf

Someone wrote - " but I believe it's incredibly difficult to actually warp a disc. The amount of heat required would discolour the disc and boil the brake fluid before the metal physically warped."

You are so wrong - warped disks are replaced daily by the motor trade. Admittedly disks are not so bad as earlier years when they were single non vented items. But warped disks are a fact of life.

 

In the original posters thread he says a 'wheel vibration' - but the title of his thread says it all Vibration through STEERING WHEEL.

Edited 23 May, 201412 yr by 2ndskoda

I'm not here to debate whether you are correct or not, just trying to help a chap out. He also said the cars been stood for long periods of time. Components tend to seize in those conditions as opposed to warping. There are many possibilities as highlighted helpfully by owl.

My extreme judder under breaking through the steering wheel at higher speeds was caused by a seized caliper, was trying to share my experience. I would have thought a warped disc would cause judder at all speeds as it's warped all the time. Open to being corrected.

All sorts of parts are replaced daily by the motor trade. A friend of mine was quoted to have a clutch and dual mass flywheel replaced due to a clutch issue...turned out the peddle was knackered. The garage just wanted to make some cash on that job.

I'm not wrong about the difficulty to warp a disc though. Over heating damage doesn't necessarily lead to a warped disc. I wouldn't rule it out however. There are many ways to overheat a disc too, one reason being driving style, another being a seized caliper.

My money would go on a seized, or partially seized caliper too, it happens most on the rear ones if it's been sat for six months with the and brake on, also it might be stating the obvious here too but check over the tyres and tyres pressures too.

the other thing to check is the balance weight on the drivers side driveshaft hasn't dropped off.

Thanks for all your comments and suggestion - very helpful and I'll pursue the problem.

 

Cheers - Joe

HI,

 

We took the wheels off and the problem was seized calipers on both sides at the front. Have been freed and greased etc. New pads ordered.

 

Many thanks for your suggestions.

 

Cheers - Joe

you will need to replace both disks as well,

 

or you will be replacing pads again when you replace the disks as few months down the road

Glad it's sorted out.

Now where's 2ndskoda...ahem.

...ahem - 2ndskoda here.

As I read the thread - the problem has yet to be confirmed as solved (or have I missed something?)

Be under no illusion - new disks will be needed. Judder indicates that the applied force side to side is not constant as the wheel/disk rotates regardless of supposed seizure which offers a fixed position situation...

 

I have also a concern that 'grease' has been used!  I sincerely hope that proper 'brake grease'.as originally used by the manufacturer was in fact used.

The discs can be skimmed if there is a bit of surface corrosion and no deep scoring,  then you know as you do them if they are warped. (or the person doing them does and tells you.)

or they are not expensive to replace.

 

But just coming away with 'they will be warped' and need replaced is very Techician/Fitter like.