Severe brake judder....

[alefustec]

Okay, so I had about 18k miles on the car when I started to get noise and a little wobble on the brakes. Had quite a severe lip on the front discs so had them skimmed. Perfect for the week or so in Jersey before driving to Munich for work last week. On the way down no problem but on the way back, after around only 20 or so miles started to get a more severe judder when braking hard. By the time I was near Paris it was appalling when braking hard and even soft braking in traffic causes a wobble.

So, question is has the exuberant charge down the autobahn from Stuttgart to Munich done for my discs? As I said it was all good until I drove the car back? I'm assuming they are warped, but I've read posts saying could be brake deposits causing it?

In any event, it's not cool, so considering alternative options - OEM are not worth the bother so thinking to replace the discs (and then with what? AP, tarox? I have read mixed reviews on these) or do I swap entire system to a big brake kit?

Saw these and got excited....http://www.itectuning.com/brembo-gran-t ... wwod4P0LnQ

I'm a bit gutted after dropping over £2k on it only 2 weeks ago and then taking her for a nice jaunt to Germany.......I mean you think she would behave and not brake something just for a change. Car is def in the 'high maintenance' bracket.

[MikeFish]

That sounds to me like warped discs. If it was the pad deposits that you have read about then you won't feel it under hard or very light braking, it is only noticable with a very distinct amount of pressure; any more or less and it is unnoticable.

Brembo GT kit looks cool though. I thought they were a lot more than that though, has the price dropped recently?

[Surrey Sam]

What was the disc thickness after the first skim?

[marc1]

What does the inner side of the disc look like? We're they skimmed on the car? If so it will only have been the outer plate skimmed. The inner can suffer badly because they are usually unseen and not maintained. You can get judder from the holes being blocked too, so a good idea to run a drill through them from time to time.

[andyg72]

I've used theses in the past not on the RS tho but there quality
http://www.tarox.co.uk/product/front-ta ... 7-bespoke/


Worth a look ?

[pDkALO]

This reminds me that I never did get round to posting my successful fix for brake judder (which I twice had on my B7), and theory about why it happens - it will take me a day or 2 to find the right pictures to explain, and type it all out, but in the meantime a couple of quick points:

- Agree with marc1 that surface corrosion on the inside face can cause build up of material and judder (had it on mine)
- However, skimming can be done successfully on B7 rotors (if corrosion / material build up is the problem) - I had it done and inner and outer faces were skimmed at the same time
- I am however convinced it's not down to warped discs
- Crud in the vent holes can make it worse but I don't think it's that much of an issue
- I traced it down to an issue with the callipers that can be fixed with simple tools and a bit of patience[/list]

I will explain more shortly, but I strongly suggest to the OP not to whip off the discs and replace with new, at least not immediately anyway

[Surrey Sam]

Interested in your thoughts.

Corrosion under the pad retention plates?

[MikeFish]

I don't think this is what the OP is suffering from though. He sounds like he actually has warped discs. Warped discs are very different from this pad residue issue. With warped discs when braking hard from high speed it feels like the car is about to shake to pieces whereas with pad residue you wouldn't notice it with this type of braking (at least in my experience anyway).

[audi_do_dat_den]

Brake judder shouldnt happen on these performance discs.... and they are far more than ordinary discs.

Its a common cause for concern however.

I will agree that i have never suffered judder like i do on the RS4.... but they are very large lumps of metal and at 14" i diameter, anything can cause them to get slightly warm. Metal when heated will mis-shape.

Even my brand new OEM discs judder when ive stamped on the pedal.

Im sure its the size, the drillings and possibly even a little caliper misalignment thats the culprit.

Non drilled or plain discs probably wouldnt be as troublesome but thats the way of the design.

My money is on the drillings being choked.

[alefustec]

I don't think this is what the OP is suffering from though. He sounds like he actually has warped discs. Warped discs are very different from this pad residue issue. With warped discs when braking hard from high speed it feels like the car is about to shake to pieces whereas with pad residue you wouldn't notice it with this type of braking (at least in my experience anyway).

yes exactly this..........its REALLY bad.....

[alefustec]

In answer to the various questions - confirmed had them skimmed inner and outer. Don't know the thickness though, although I was assured there was still plenty of meat left (I could try and measure but academic really - if they are warped as a result of being too thin to withstand the walloping I gave them last week then knowing the thickness doesn't matter now).

Checked all holes and they are clear (at least no obviously showing signs of being blocked) also as stated in original post they still judder (or more accurately wobble) even when braking from 20-10mph.....I mean its there all the time and faster and harder I brake it just gets worse.....a lot worse. TBH its like the wheels are bolted on crooked if you know what I mean!

[alefustec]

This reminds me that I never did get round to posting my successful fix for brake judder (which I twice had on my B7), and theory about why it happens - it will take me a day or 2 to find the right pictures to explain, and type it all out, but in the meantime a couple of quick points:

- Agree with marc1 that surface corrosion on the inside face can cause build up of material and judder (had it on mine)
- However, skimming can be done successfully on B7 rotors (if corrosion / material build up is the problem) - I had it done and inner and outer faces were skimmed at the same time
- I am however convinced it's not down to warped discs
- Crud in the vent holes can make it worse but I don't think it's that much of an issue
- I traced it down to an issue with the callipers that can be fixed with simple tools and a bit of patience[/list]

I will explain more shortly, but I strongly suggest to the OP not to whip off the discs and replace with new, at least not immediately anyway

I'm def interested in seeing what you did and giving it a go so looking forward to more details.

Not going to rush into anything right now anyway, partly as the expense just before xmas isn't floating my boat and I'm not going anywhere off the island in the car for at least next 2 months so with a max 40mph speed limit I can 'live' with the wobble until I'm certain I know what the issue is and best way to fix it. However, the brembo kit as an xmas present to myself is hard to resist.....

[RichT128]

Have you had your alloys refurbed recently? I went through the whole brake judder nightmare a few years ago, my pet theory (which a few of the Audi master techs came up with originally but fit the profile of the issue I had perfectly) is that it's linked to the way some refurbs are done.

[The_Coat]

As said above, I had the same issue and had it sorted out by this guy

http://www.discskimmers.com/1.html

Never had any judder since, 200 mile round trip well made.

Also got a skim and new pads fitted all round.

Top guy and really knows his stuff.

[alefustec]

Have you had your alloys refurbed recently? I went through the whole brake judder nightmare a few years ago, my pet theory (which a few of the Audi master techs came up with originally but fit the profile of the issue I had perfectly) is that it's linked to the way some refurbs are done.

No - replaced wheels a couple of months ago with new set and had no problems until the blast down the autobahn.

Anyway, got fed up with it over last couple of weeks so just went and ordered 380mm JHM rotors. Came in at $921.50 USD with the shipping (ouch as that was $271) - which according to PayPal is £637.49. Which isn't bad considering cost of OEM set.