Warped Brake Discs Focus?

Divorce Referendum

Hi Guys,

I am currently experiencing a bit of brake judder on my 2005 ford focus 1.6tdci. I feel it through the steering wheel and it happens when braking from about 120kph. I dont feel it at all when braking from lower speeds. I had the discs and pads replaced about 10,000 miles ago.

I bought genuine pads and discs from a ford dealer and had my local mechanic fit them as the dealer was very busy at the time. Do you guys think that it is warped discs and should it be happening to relatively new discs? Could it be an issue with the calipers?

oleras

It sounds like a worn ball joint on the suspension, if it is, you would need to get it sorted pretty soon, its metal against metal at the moment.

Moanin

Divorce Referendum wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I am currently experiencing a bit of brake judder on my 2005 ford focus 1.6tdci. I feel it through the steering wheel and it happens when braking from about 120kph. I dont feel it at all when braking from lower speeds. I had the discs and pads replaced about 10,000 miles ago.

I bought genuine pads and discs from a ford dealer and had my local mechanic fit them as the dealer was very busy at the time. Do you guys think that it is warped discs and should it be happening to relatively new discs? Could it be an issue with the calipers?

If your disks are warped you will notice it when you are breaking while driving slowly.
Do you have alloy wheels? There maybe a warp....

Hal1

Jack up the car and have a look whilst turning it by hand. If it's warped you'll see a high spot on the disk.

Divorce Referendum

oleras wrote: »

It sounds like a worn ball joint on the suspension, if it is, you would need to get it sorted pretty soon, its metal against metal at the moment.

Good call , I will have that checked out. But would it not be making a knocking sound? What checks would I be able to do myself?

Moanin wrote: »

If your disks are warped you will notice it when you are breaking while driving slowly.
Do you have alloy wheels? There maybe a warp....

I have steel wheels and had alignment and balancing done recently so I think they are fine.

Hal1 wrote: »

Jack up the car and have a look whilst turning it by hand. If it's warped you'll see a high spot on the disk.

The discs looked fine when i looked at them and there didnt seem to be any high spots.

I was in the local ford dealer and as usual they cant see my car for a week:rolleyes:. I explained about the discs and they said they would be covered under a warranty no matter who fitted them but they would need to inspect the discs next wednesday to see if they are warped.

oleras

Divorce Referendum wrote: »

Good call , I will have that checked out. But would it not be making a knocking sound? What checks would I be able to do myself?

Its the part of the suspension that covers the car moving from front to back as opposed to up and down, when you are braking the arm is hitting the metal rather than the rubber bushing, does it feel like you are going over a rumble strip ?

Only reason i know is i had the same sympthems last year on a c180, in that case the whole arm had to be replaced, but i think with a ford it is just the bushing.

If you can get it jacked up safely on an axel atand with the wheel off and check the joints with a pry bar it will give you a good indication, you really want it on a lift though.

Dont wait a week, get it checked by any mechanic.

Divorce Referendum

oleras wrote: »

Its the part of the suspension that covers the car moving from front to back as opposed to up and down, when you are braking the arm is hitting the metal rather than the rubber bushing, does it feel like you are going over a rumble strip ?

Only reason i know is i had the same sympthems last year on a c180, in that case the whole arm had to be replaced, but i think with a ford it is just the bushing.

If you can get it jacked up safely on an axel atand with the wheel off and check the joints with a pry bar it will give you a good indication, you really want it on a lift though.

Dont wait a week, get it checked by any mechanic.

Ya it does feel like you are going over a rumble strip. A very violent one at that. I had a search and it looks like it just a rubber bushing: http://www.micksgarage.ie/autoparts.aspx?dept=364&makeid=36&modelid=5210&carid=18934&assemblyid=100581&b=57&ga=2462

I might just go ahead and order them as they are not too expensive anyway. I will have a look tomorrow as you described and check for sure. Cheers oleras

charlieharper

I had the same problem with my car and I discovered that the tracking & balancing wasn't done correctly. I bet thats the problem.

Nissan doctor

You would feel a warped brake disk through the brake pedal, if your pedal isn't vibrating when you have the feeling in the steering wheel then its not the brakes.

Antiquo

oleras wrote: »

Its the part of the suspension that covers the car moving from front to back as opposed to up and down, when you are braking the arm is hitting the metal rather than the rubber bushing, does it feel like you are going over a rumble strip ?

Divorce Referendum wrote: »

Ya it does feel like you are going over a rumble strip. A very violent one at that. I had a search and it looks like it just a rubber bushing: http://www.micksgarage.ie/autoparts.aspx?dept=364&makeid=36&modelid=5210&carid=18934&assemblyid=100581&b=57&ga=2462

Oleras is on about Anti Roll Bar Bushes that are shot and give you that rumble strip feeling when you brake. DR the link you posted is for ball joints not anti roll bar bushes.

Divorce Referendum

oleras wrote: »

It sounds like a worn ball joint on the suspension, if it is, you would need to get it sorted pretty soon, its metal against metal at the moment.

Antiquo wrote: »

Oleras is on about Anti Roll Bar Bushes that are shot and give you that rumble strip feeling when you brake. DR the link you posted is for ball joints not anti roll bar bushes.

Im pretty sure that he is referencing to a ball joint. I have had drop links bushes on the anti-roll bar go on previous car with a clonking noise over bumps.

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Nissan doctor wrote: »

You would feel a warped brake disk through the brake pedal, if your pedal isn't vibrating when you have the feeling in the steering wheel then its not the brakes.

If the brake pads are pulsating from the warped discs while the wheel is turning would it not cause the wheel to vibrate and therefore the steering wheel?

Divorce Referendum

Well guys, Just an update. Had the ball joints replaced by my mechanic and it has made a bit of difference but unfortunately there is still a small bit of vibration. My mechanic checked the run out on the discs and said they are slightly warped so I will have to get them changed by ford on wednesday.

The service manager said he had never had anyone back with warped discs on a focus so I must be really unlucky. Thanks for all the help lads.

techman

I am having the same problem with my Focus tdci when braking from 100-120km/h, the sterring wheel virbates. No vibration in the brake pedal.

I thought it might be tracking and/or wheel balancing. I have alloy wheels.

@divorcereferendum: Were the discs expensive to buy?

Nissan doctor

Divorce Referendum wrote: »

If the brake pads are pulsating from the warped discs while the wheel is turning would it not cause the wheel to vibrate and therefore the steering wheel?

Yes, but its not possible for that to happen without the brake pedal pulsating as well as if the disks are warped enough to cause a steering vibration, the high/low spots on the disk will also be pushing the pads in and out and therefore the pedal up and down.

Divorce Referendum

techman wrote: »

I am having the same problem with my Focus tdci when braking from 100-120km/h, the sterring wheel virbates. No vibration in the brake pedal.

I thought it might be tracking and/or wheel balancing. I have alloy wheels.

@divorcereferendum: Were the discs expensive to buy?

I paid 130euro for the pair of discs and as I said these were ford genuine ones. I priced them in the autofactors and they were 100euro for the pair.

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Nissan doctor wrote: »

Yes, but its not possible for that to happen without the brake pedal pulsating as well as if the disks are warped enough to cause a steering vibration, the high/low spots on the disk will also be pushing the pads in and out and therefore the pedal up and down.

Fair enough but in my case the brake pedal wasnt vibrating and the steering wheel was. Ford confirmed the discs were warped and replaced under warranty and everything if fine with them now:)