Jerig-does your car have ABS?

Near my houme, there is a slight down hill section with some bumps and there is a traffic light at the end. If I am going about 40 and the light changes, I get a shudder as the car stops. I believe it to be simply the antilock brakes coming on.

 

Funny this came up. I too have noticed a slight shudder in the brakes when applying. I have been very careful with mine in order to prevent this, and it does it when the brakes and car are warm, or hot after driving a little distance on the interstate, 25 to 30 miles. I noticed this, and it is not brake rotor warpage, it's way too fast of a frequency for that. The idea of the ABS crossed my mind too. I'll see if it gets worse. I noticed it the other day too, but didn't pay much attention to it. I have the 2 LT with ABS, Auto, Blah, blah blah. May be normal with these brakes, don't see any brake dust.

 

I'm thinking possibly about changing out my pads for some that are rated at a higher temperature. Does anyone have any experience in this or am I just wasting time and money?

I've painted my calipers and drums, I can just hear the service tech now...

jerij

 

Yeah, they're gonna cancel your warranty now for sure!

I think replacing the pads is a waste of money at this point. I'm 99% sure the rotors are your problem. If "hot spots" have developed, the metal will harden at certain points causing this shuddering you are describing. I've even seen them stay that way even after turning in some cases.

Your best bet is to have the rotors replaced under warranty - as you bought a new car with new rotors. Don't opt for turning them; the problem could resurface later.

Hope you get it fixed soon,

 

I am on my 2nd set of rotors, 1 left hand caliper and 1 set of brake pads. Mine started at 5,000 miles with a lot of wheel shake while applying the brakes. The first time was a cracked rotor on the left side. Then at about 7800 miles they started doing it again and it turned out the caliper was hanging up on the left side. Once again they replaced BOTH rotors and the caliper with new pads. I am at around 23,000 miles and I have developed shake again. I was planning a brake upgrade so I am not too concerned but I thought I would help add to the thread.

 

As one other poster asked, do you have ABS? That system could be wigging out. In my Mazda I noticed sometimes with "heavier" braking (not enough IMHO to actually ever lock the brakes in a non-ABS vehicle) my ABS will make wonderful vibration and even sometimes sounds like it is grinding the crap out of the rotors (loud metalic crunching), all of which the dealer said was "normal" or at least not a problem they could fix.

 

I'm having some front brake issues also.....first I thought it was me, being female and paranoid.....lol but it just kept getting worse. Took it back into the garage and they took a look and done there normal break check and said it was all good. So I thought ok it was fixed and now its been a couple months later and its worse than ever....have an appt to take it back to the garage on the 3rd of July to have it looked at again. It worries me cause I'm in the mountain area of WV and afraid I will loose brakes or have a lock up. I first started noticing the problem about 5000 miles and now that i'm coming up to 10,000 miles its just seems to be getting worse.

 

Yes I have ABS. This is not what I would consider a typical ABS response.

I recently replaced my brake pads (anyway) and they really have MUCH better bite. I haven't been on any hills lately to experience the "shudder". I'll know in 2 weeks when I go hanggliding again in the moutains.

I think something is amiss with the front disc braking system on these cars. I'm reading too many reports.

jerij

 

My HHR w/ ABS has done this from day one with less than 100 miles on it as well, but only very slightly, at very slow speeds with minimal pressure applied to the pedal. It seems to happen maybe 2 in 10 times when I cross a sagging and broken-up part of a driveway or entrance, as if the traction control is trying to compensate for the loss of solid ground by overriding my braking, at least that was my first instinct as the brakes function perfectly otherwise, and it doesn't happen consistently like a damaged mechanical part would probably do. The T/C light never comes on though.

 

Sounds like a trip to your dealer is in order to have it checked out, especially since it only has 100 miles on it.