Brake shudder

2012 MAZDA 6
129,000 MILES • 3.7L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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CHEYWATTS234
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Hey, I've recently come across a problem with my car listed above, when I put on the brakes the car shakes and it feels like the front passenger wheel is about to fall off. Front rotors and pads were changed a few months back and just replaced the right side front caliper today and it's still doing it just not as bad. Not sure what to think considering I keep replacing parts and it doesn't fix the problem. Thanks
Oct 22, 2020 at 8:26 AM
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KASEKENNY
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 18,907 POSTS
I assume you replaced the caliper because it was locked up? If this is the case, even if it is not, I suspect the new rotors are warped which is what is causing the vibration when you apply the brakes.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-front-brake-pads-and-rotors-fwd

Unfortunately when rotors get too hot they get distorted and case a pretty bad vibration only when you apply the brakes.

We need to measure rotor runout to confirm this. That is where you put a dial indicator on the surface of the rotor and spin the rotor. That will tell us the difference between the high and low spot of the rotor surface. As you can imagine, it should be even like a table top. However, when there are waves in the table top and you run your hand over it, you feel the bumps. Now just imagine your brake pad riding on something like that and the vibration is created from this.
Oct 22, 2020 at 9:42 AM
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