disc shuttering problems - help

[tuan.dao]

Hi all,

I have had disc shuttering problems since 200kms on my 04' GT auto. The dealer replaced the first set of rotors and pads after the machining caused a lot of noise when used (at 13000kms). The second set of rotors were again machined at 15000kms (more shuttering and Yes, it took a while). did not replaced pads. I have been nursing the brakes ever since and they have today started shuttering again at 18000kms.

This is my wife's car and she is not hard on the brakes. She has not ever warped any other brakes from any other manufacture....We have not changed our driving style!

Anyway, I would like to hear from anyone who have had problems with their brakes. I am expecting to have a long debate with Subaru and would like to be able to demonstrate that this is not an isolated case. And if it is an isolated case, I would argue that there has to be something else wrong such as sticky callipers etc... It just isn't right that I have to nurse ( I even manually down shift when stopping) a car like this. If anything, I would understand if I were racing this thing frequently. Although I would expect the GT to be designed to cope.

Tuan :mad:

[Komeng]

I think I have this too, but very irreguular in terms of RPM and situations. That makes it hard to demonstrate to my mechanic. Its not too bad, but can be irritating at times. I think nothing is warped, perhaps the wheel is not balanced? My top suspect now is the locking nut, which is bigger than the others.

[tuan.dao]

I also had some problems initally repeating the shuttering, before it got really bad. I found that a test drive with the service guy was always within the city centre, thus at slow speeds. If you ddrive at 90-100km/h then lightly brake. it should do it.

Your lock nut must be very big for it to put your wheel out as it is in the center. I hope you're right though as it will mean you can fix it.

Tuan

[fatmawyer]

ive been having that problem with my 01....i also have tire pressure issues that will hopefully be solved when i switch to the new wheels

[LMO]

It is not an isolated case, with our old lib. (o4 auto now ahve 05 man.) had the same brake warping problem, they said its comin to a lot of the turbo lib's and they have a 20,000km warranty on brakes wheras non turbos only have about 2000k's i think, they machined ours to and they worked fine until we traded it, but really machining is not acceptable, they should replace the rotors.

[jmcgliss]

We have a 2000 LGT wagon with no rotor warping at 45,000 miles despite hauling aXX with a load of band gear and fast motoring. I even upgraded to a more aggressive street/AX Hawk pad and am content. Is it both sides or just one side?
Try not jamming on the brakes when parking it with heatsoaked brakes...deposits can form on the rotors under the hot pads and cause a 'skipping' feel. You can sometimes see pad-shaped imprints on the rotors if this is happening. Lubing the guidepins is useful also.

[agctr]

G'Day Tuan.dao,

This seems to be a global problem on the brakes and with you being in Canberra and there only being one Subaru Dealership, it makes it very hard to go else where to get yr car serviced or to even get a 2nd opionion unless you drive to Sydney. (Ex Canberra Boy myself). I would suggest not talking to the dealership any more and ringing Subaru Australia directly. I would say that you have been more or less getting the run around now for X months now and you are so over it. I suggest not to be aggressive on the phone but certainly assertive.

Give them the list of problems, when the car was serviced, who you spoke to at the Canberra Dealership and just talk it thru with them. Brakes on the GT are a MAJOR issue and Im more than sure if you talk to Subaru directly, they will assist in getting them right, you back on the road and having you and your wife as a happy Subaru Customer once again.

Please let us know how you go and I do wish you all the best.
Adam.

[fan42025]

Can't believe this is so common on such a modern car. Have the same issue I think. Sometimes there's no vibration at all on the steering wheel then other times it's very apparent. Lately it's been getting better :confused: but still annoying when it happens. Done over 20k so does that mean I can't have the problem fixed under warranty anymore?

[LMO]

under light braking theres usually no vibration, but when you brake harder from a higher speed thats when my steering wheel use to shake violently. If it happens with my new car then i'll probably change rotors to DBA or something, because machining a disc is just a bandaid solution, once your brakes have had that much heat in them that they'll warp, they will do it again eventually i think.

[LMO]

if your just over 20k they might help you out fan421025, im sure they told me 20k but ring subaru and check, if your brake's have being warped for a while (before 20k) then i think they would still fix it for you.

[fan42025]

Does anyone notice that when it does shudder, the brake pedal doesn't pulsate? I would have thought if the rotors were warped then the pedal would pulsate in sympathy. Reason I ask is I’m wondering if the (occasional) shudder could be caused by something else.

[turboman]

My '02 WRX wagon started pulsating the brake pedal on harder than easy stops. Car had 34,000 miles on it. Without any argument dealer replaced the warped front rotors under warranty. Didn't replace the pads though because they weren't worn enough.

If they had been worn enough (SOA specs?) I bet they would have warranteed the new pads also. Apparently up to 36,000 even "wearout" parts (exc. tires, which is a separate warranty) are covered.

My clutch and flywheel were upgraded under warranty also because I mentioned a cold weather pulsating clutch pedal. There's a service bulletin out about this. But you have to request it. They don't solicit owners for a $1000 repair. In all honesty I had only read about other owner's problems and I had no problem with it.

So happy with their attitude that I traded the WRX for a '05 Legacy LGT wagon in silver w/short shifter. Two days before I had the car, I wasn't even thinking about getting a new car. Took a road test in the Legacy and bought one off the lot.

[Ken S]

Does anyone notice that when it does shudder, the brake pedal doesn't pulsate? I would have thought if the rotors were warped then the pedal would pulsate in sympathy. Reason I ask is I’m wondering if the (occasional) shudder could be caused by something else.

I believe one feels warped rotors through the steering wheel more than the brake pedal simply due to the direct vs. indirect linkage. Vibrations are more easily felt through the brakes->wheel->steering rack->steering wheel vs. the hydraulics that connect the brake pedal to the brakes.

Ken