I think I know what's going on, but I'd like to hear from the experts in here.

When braking in normal driving conditions, my brakes work fine without any strange issues.
But, once I go up in the Santa Cruz mountain highway, breaking a lot causes the brakes to feel bumpy, and my steering wheel starts to shake.
The vehicle does not steer to the left or right, it just shakes vigorously.

The brake pedal feels like a chunk of my rotor is missing or warped... (I checked, it isnt... )

This shaking happens in either heavy traffic in Silicon Valley (where I work) or in the mountain roads/highway after intermittent breaking for a while.

Anything from the experts would be great to know.
Thanks for your time.

John

 

Warped rotors. Buy brembo rotors and hawk LTS of HD pads and never worry again.

 

I was hoping it wasn't the rotors, but it makes the best sense, thanks CJM.

 

Why does it only happen when they get hot?

Rob

 

Ditto what CJM said. I did the same, but did not get the Brembo rotors. I got Autozone blanks. I did that for only one reason--Autozone is local and they offer a 2 year warranty. If it warps again, I can just take it in and get it back the same day. I don't know if Brembo offers a warranty, but even if they did, you'd have to send the rotor in, and wait for them to send you a new one (lots of down time). Brembo makes great products, but just wish they were local. 10k miles on the Duralast and still brakes solid (I go up and down lots of canyons around here, too).

Oh, and lastly, but very important--make sure to bed in your pads correctly.

 

Brembo will be my next set of rotors. I bought some AutoZone Duralast Gold brake pads and I must say, they are the smoothest, quiestest, best stopping pads I have ever used. I'm sure there are better pads out there, but for $39 with a lifetime warranty I don't think these pas can be beat. You pay $39 bucks once and get brake pads for life. Wear em out, take em back and get another set for free...

 

Forgot to mention I also got the brake pads from Autozone. They were the ceramic pads and cost me $40 or so. I was going to get the Hawk LTS pads, but needed to do the brakes that day, so I just got the Autozone ones. Works great. And like Nate08 said, it's got a lifetime warranty, so if it wears out, then I get a new set for free.

 

+1

i didn't do it right and have warped rotors

 

also remember to change all of you brake fluid atleast once every two years. i know this is a tad off subject....

 

how do you bed in your pads correctly??

 

I used the method on here
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...contents.shtml

And this is an interesting article
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...rakedisk.shtml

 

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/tech/....jsp?techid=85

I usually do 10 stops from 60mph, followed by a couple hard braking also from 60mph. Allow brakes to cool, then I'm set.

 

+1

Stoptech is a great company with a ton of research to back their products. I ran Stoptech stage II kit on my WRX with track time and some very hadcore canyon carving included and never had any problems at all.

 

Let me know how long it takes for the crew at AZ to stop laughing at you when you take in your wore out pads for an exchange. Fact is, the lifetime warranty is against factory defects or abnormal performance problems, NOT normal wear and tear. There is no such thing as "brake pads for life"

 

I verified this with the manager at my local Autozone. He said if they wear out, bring them in.

 

I'll confirm the Autozone lifetime warranty gets free replacements. Only had to pay sales tax on price of pads.

 

That is exactly what I was told.

 

i just got in my wheel bearings today and am getting Toyota rotors from the dealership on friday. I purchased the Hawk ferrow-carbon LTS pads for $35 bucks on sale. and to answer the bedding question, the pads has manufacturers instuctions on the box specific to that pad.

 

now i know that i dont have to buy rotors, they can be turned! I just saved a 130 bucks