'97 Sebring Conv. Brake Shudder

I own a '97 Sebring Convertible V6 2.5l. I changed my brake pads two days ago
(front), and installed two new rotors (front). Today I started feeling heavy
shudder when I stepped on the brake. I thought I might have bought bad pads,
so I bought brand new ones, and just got done putting them on, and the shudder
still exists! It only happens when I hit the brakes. Any ideas?

 

cheap Asian rotors??

 

I bought the rotors at Discount Auto Parts in Tampa. Here's a link to the
rotors
http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDetails.asp?SourceArea=&SourcePage=SEARCHR
ESULTS&MfrCode=WE1&MfrPartNumber=YH145041&PartType=221&PTSet=A

They said they were pretty good

 

At $23/rotor, more likely than not they're Brand X Asian junk. The shudder
could be caused by a number of things, chief among them rotor runout (i.e.
the disc 'wobbles'). If you are *sure* the hub was properly cleaned up (NO
rust, dirt, etc.) and the rotors fit onto the hub perfectly, and you
reinstalled the tire and wheel assemblies properly by using a torque wrench
to tighten the lug nuts to spec, then likely they heated up and warped when
you were first using them. Were you a little hard on them during the test
drive to make sure they seemed alright? If so, and if they weren't good
quality, you cooked 'em, especially if you could smell the brake linings
burning after the test drive, or if they already have a glazed appearance.

Another possibility is that you have rear disk brakes that are out of round.
Have you checked them?

You can check rotors for runout by using a magnetically mounted dial
indicator to measure the runout., or you might take the rotors off, take
them to an auto parts place that turns rotors, and have them perform a
scratch cut on their brake lathe to see if they're out of round. You'll
likely pay the full price to turn them ($10-$15 each) for this, and you
*may* have enough material on them to have them returned to true, but expect
greatly shortened brake rotor life if it takes more than just a few
thousandths total (like .008" or less) to clean them up.

Better yet, you could just give up on them, and buy good quality American or
Canadian made Raybestos or Wagner rotors, and be sure that you've got good
parts. Make sure they have the words 'Made in USA' or 'Made in Canada'
stamped right onto the inside of the hub of the rotor, or don't accept them.
They will cost more -- maybe as much as $50 or so each -- but believe me,
the time and frustration you will save will be worth every penny. Next time
make sure you get a can of brake parts cleaner and get everything, including
the new rotors, as clean as possible before reinstalling them. Oh, and if
you can prove to the shop they warped in just a few days after buying them,
I'd try to make the parts shop accept a return and exchange for a better
quality part.

Good luck,
--Geoff

 

It's not the pads, it's the rotors. I'd pull the rotors off again and
make sure there's not any rust/gunk behind where the rotor mounts to
the hub. If not, the rotors are warped out of the box and you should
return them.

nate

 

I cleaned the rotors and the entire brake area with an entire can of brake
cleaner. The only possible thing I can think of is that when I jacked the car
up, I might have miss-alligned the front end. Is that possible? Could the
brake shudder simply be a front end alignment problem caused by me? If not,
I'll probably take the rotors back, and have them exchanged for something
better and try again.

 

yep do that! cheap rotors don't fit the hubs correctly all the time and when you
put the wheel bac on the rotors don't seat and get out of round. i'm at the point
now were i grind on the hub area of the new rotors just to make sure they clear