Brakes grabbing - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

CraigS288 · 01-19-2006, 10:58

Hi everyone, I have a 1995 EF Falcon and I've got this annoying problem where it feels like the brakes are grabbing.
I couldn't get them skimmed because they were at minimum thickness, so new discs were put on, but the problem hasn't gone away.
Unless one of the new discs is also slightly warped in the exact same way ( unlikely), I'm not sure what can cause it.
Any ideas or comments will be much appreciated

smally351 · 01-19-2006, 16:06

What do you mean by grabbing? Explain what happens exactly.

CraigS288 · 01-19-2006, 20:12

If I am doing 100kmh and stand on the brakes quite hard, the car still brakes rapidly, but there is a horrible shudder/vibration.

When I am going 50 - 60kmh and brake gently to a stop, it is a lot milder, but feels more like the pads are grabbing one of the discs hard at the same spot everytime. Much like if you have a slightly bent disc, as the bent part of the disc goes between the pads, it pushes the pads apart (or tries to) and feels like it is grabbing harder.

Hope this makes things more clear.

smally351 · 01-19-2006, 21:57

Did you change all the rotors, or just the front? The rears can cause shudder as well.

oze50 · 01-20-2006, 13:29

same answer as 351 ( brake shudder is caused by excessive run out ) & may be moor noticable when hot check the run out on ur rear disks

460BBXW · 01-21-2006, 23:17

Brake shudder can be caused by loose wheel bearings.........check pre-load on fronts and condition of rears.
Cheers.

CraigS288 · 01-22-2006, 11:07

Thanks guys.

I have new rotors all round, but I was wondering about the wheel bearings because I couldn't think of anything else that might cause it, other than the obvious one being the rotors.

CraigS288 · 02-01-2006, 11:04

I have found out what was making my brakes feel like they were grabbing / shuddering. Just had an LSD installed and it turns out that a previous owner has managed to kerb the car and the left rear axle is slightly bent. With the back end off the ground and the car in first, you can just notice the rim wobble.

Aussiblue · 02-01-2006, 16:37

Also see my post regarding wheel shimmy when hot and check your intermediate steering column universal joint for looseness.

CraigS288 · 02-01-2006, 19:08

Cheers Aussieblue. Will do that as well, so I can eliminate all (most?) squeaks, bumps and rattles / wobbles.