Brakes

Author
Discussion

Out Run

Original Poster:

151 posts

290 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
Had my R500 for 4 years now. V. happy. However....

On the way to Le Mans, I started getting an odd feeling under braking at slow speed. Feels like warped discs (or at least I think it does, never having had them). Basically, at slow speed you get an uneven pull from the brakes, resulting in a slight, but ever so annoying, low speed lurch. The effect is worse once the brakes are warmed up.

At a recent factory service I was told this is common to many caterhams, and not a problem (unless it realy annoys you). I am told brakes are all good and I trust them on this, (given they have faithfully looked after the car all these years).

But I have never heard of this before and the lack of a technical explanation leaves me unsettled. Does anyone else have experience of this? And if so, did you find a fix for it, without replacing everything?

And/or, are there any known Caterham experts around Sussex who could give a second opinion if I did want to, because it really is bloody annoying.

Murph7355

38,909 posts

263 months

Monday 19th September 2005
quotequote all
It sounds like the discs to me.

You can replace them and I would have thought that will cure it. Believe you can also have them skimmed.

Has the car done a lot of miles and/or lots of track work with heavy stopping?

bertie

8,566 posts

291 months

Tuesday 20th September 2005
quotequote all
If you park and stick the handbrake on after a track session or very heavy road run the heat soak from the pads can warp the rear discs.

Ditto if after a track session you sit with your foot on the brake for the fronts.

But who uses the handbrake anyway.

Incorrigible

13,668 posts

268 months

Tuesday 20th September 2005
quotequote all
I'm in Sussex if you need a hand changing the disks

Out Run

Original Poster:

151 posts

290 months

Tuesday 20th September 2005
quotequote all
I had the brakes replaced last year and they have done relatively little since. I used to do alot more in the car (road & track) but never experienced this problam before.

The factory checked everything and said they are not warped and all OK. This is what is so annoying - they say everything is OK, yet I still have this issue. They know I will pay to make it good, but could not point to what I would need to change to make it go away (except perhaps everything).

The one hint they had was that I may have had my foot on the brake in town after heavy cross-country use and this has left a "shadow" on the disc - but again Simon said this is common, "don't worry about it".

Ummm.

(I am aware of the handbrake mistake and to my knowledge have observed this faithfully over the years).

Not sure where this leaves me ?

Murph7355

38,909 posts

263 months

Tuesday 20th September 2005
quotequote all
It doesn't take much difference in the surface to make a big difference under braking.

If it stops OK, you're probably best (from a wallet perspective) living with it. But I'd bet money it's the disks (or less money on the pads - might be worth taking them out to see if they're OK).

Out Run

Original Poster:

151 posts

290 months

Wednesday 21st September 2005
quotequote all
I think you're right Murph - thanks.

jackal

11,249 posts

289 months

Thursday 29th September 2005
quotequote all
could be deposits


has the car been standing ?


you could try rubbing the disks down with Garnet paper