Returning brake vibration

[suprarx7nut]

My car had a bad brake vibration when I bought it almost two years ago. I replaced the front rotors and the vibration went away entirely. Shortly after, (maybe 6 months) replacing the fronts, the rears started to vibrate. I went to have them turned and found that the new cheap front rotors and old rear rotors were too thin to be turned.

I ordered new Brembo blanks and installed them last summer. I sanded down the pads to fresh material (OEM Toyota pads) and bed in the brakes per brembo's instructions. I did not check the run-out of the rotors upon delivery, but they drove perfectly vibration free for months. :dunno:

Fast forward about 6 months and the vibration started to return. It's now getting worse and worse. What could be causing this? I want to go have them lathed down "on car" so it's true to the axle, but will this be the best course of action?

What can cause rotors to "warp" or vibrate so soon? I dont want to have them turned, if something else needs replacing first.

Cliffs: brake vibration a year ago, replaced rotors, 6 months later vibration returns and has gotten worse and worse.

Thanks for any input, gents.

-Andy

 

[IJ.]

More than likely pad material buildup on the rotors actual warping is quite rare.

Also make sure to use a torque wrench when refitting the wheels as this can actually affect disc runout.

 

[suprarx7nut]

More than likely pad material buildup on the rotors actual warping is quite rare.

Also make sure to use a torque wrench when refitting the wheels as this can actually affect disc runout.

If it is infact pad material build up can I fix that by sanding the rotors down as they spin or is it something that must be lathed off? I'm guessing it would need to be lathed off it is enough build up to vibrate the car/steering wheel.

Any way to keep it from happening every ~10k miles?

I always use a torque wrench. No air gun or misguided regular ratchet tightens my lugs.

 

[IJ.]

If you have some way to spin them you could sandpaper it off as it's not too thick.

Good news on the "NO RATTLE GUN" policy
(Butcher tool from hell)

 

[Pernilongo]

The rattle gun is sooo amusing to my 2 year old. I'm pretty sure those guys that use it like it too, they even have simmilar lexicon.

 

[jmanbball]

You could try some different brake pads.

 

[jugodegolf]

If I remember correctly, if the rotors are hot when they use the rattle gun they can warp the rotors.

I usually tighten mine with a pull till the corner of the car comes off the ground.:evil2:

 

[suprarx7nut]

Just an update:

I sanded the rotors and the vibration is almost gone. I'm sure further sanding would do the trick and eliminate it fully. I'm thinking the old toyota pads may be the cause so I'm going to wait until I get new pads to sand down the rotors to perfection.

Thanks for the advice guys!

 

[Nick M]

They weren't bedded right, and melted.

After the rotors are cleaned, you can check for runout, parallelism, and warpage.

 

[rmjsupra]

100 grit sandpaper, circular motion on both sides of the rotor, sand the pads a bit too.

Go out and re-bed the pads. Should be good after that.