Hi all, had a similar issue not so long ago but thought i cured it. Basically i was getting juddering through the brakes around 40-30, i found out it was a rear wheel bearing which i replaced, along with new discs and pads and it has been fine for 6k miles+. Topic here: http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=334601&hl=

Anyway i noticed the car was jolting forwards when braking at low speeds <10mph, like there is a high spot on the discs. However there is nothing at 70mph, Perfectly fine.

I thought to check the rear wheel bearings and behold the one i replaced had a little play in it 1-2mm, i tightened the hub nut up beyond the 175nm to FT. I checked the other one and that was even worse, so that was done FT too.

I Thought it must be the nuts coming undone, i got some new ones and fitted today, torqued one up, wheel on, still a wobble so had to do it FT again.

Not sure if its normal but even with no play i can pull the wheel and turn it which will cause it to drag on the brake pad that bit more / less, so there is still a tiny bit of play.

I can feel SOMETIMES the judder in the pedal under 40.

I&#39;m taking it onto the brake machine at a local garage tomorrow to see if it shows anything.

Just want somebody else's opinion.

Is it the fact that the bearings are crap quality (were about £30 each, continental i think).

Do i splash out and put genuine VW bearings on for £££?

Do i leave it for a bit to see if it goes away since i found the play which is now gone.

The fronts have been turned whilst on the car so i dont think its them.

Thanks

The rear bearings on yours are not considered replaceable, you fit a new hub/bearing unit. On the 6N and earlier you could just replace the bearings

This wheel bearing/hub unit is maintenance and adjustment free. Adjusting and servicing is not possible!

Ok, ill have to replace then.

I would also look closely at the stub axles as they might of been damaged when you went FT on the nut,

There's a 2001 GTi in black being broken,http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=341476&hl=see how much they want for the stub axles & hub/bearing units ??

I went tight, but not stupid, when I swapped the nuts to new ones they went on fine so the threads are ok.

Going to VW today to order some bearings. Thanks for input, ill post back when they are on.

VW Price £118

Bit too much for me so got some FAG ones from ECP for £70.

Fitted them in an hour and a half from tools out to tools away, must be a record. Anyway i found out from changing the disc a while ago that you dont need to remove the carrier as you can tilt it out.

Anyway, its no better. However, iv been thinking.

From looking at my discs the top 10mm on the outside has been looking rusty / half used for a while now. So the discs have not been straight causing the ouside top of the pad to be further away from the pad.

Could the all of a sudden change back to normal cause the jerking and judder in the pedal (nothing in the steering wheel). I&#39;m thinking there may be uneven pad deposits. I&#39;m going to the local garage to get it on a brake tester to see what it says. Dont want to have to buy new discs again

Changed the rear discs, didnt really make much difference. Let them bed in a few days as i used the old pads but still nothing. Checked the runout on the back and got 0.02 and 0.05 which is within the 0.1 tolerance.

Took it to a local mot centre today and had it on the brake tester.

The front passenger side wheel is the culprit! The braking force jumps around!

Now what i cannot understand is why. There is no vibration when braking through the steering wheel and a tiny bit in the pedal if anything. This to me says they arnt warped. (They were turned on the car with a brake lathe 6 months ago).

Other than checking the runout and an inspection of the brake parts which I&#39;m going to do soon what else could it be? Its like theres some lube on half of my disc lol.

Suggest that you check for runout on that N/S/F disc - To do this properly, you need a DTI (Dial Test Indicator) - you need to check BOTH faces of the disc.

It would also pay to check that the pad carriers are free to slide.

Regards

So took the front passenger wheel off to check it today.

Found nothing.

Checked with the dial gauge and got 0.02 on each side.

Sliders free

I did notice black dots on the inside disc surface but its like that on the other side too.

Pictures of disc surfaces and pads;

Inside Pad

Outside Pad

Not quite sure where to go now??

Edited 15 June, 201511 yr by chrisjb330

Driving to work the car dipps to the left when i brake hard... Which it has done for a while but i always thought it was the rears. Going to look at the drivers side tomorrow.

Can anyone clarify if the black dots are abnormal deposits of friction material?

Not sure what those marks are on the close-up of the disc, but if it is contamination, you may be able to clean it off with some brake cleaner or methylated spirit and one of those foam backed pan scourers.

Regards

I tried that on some but it wouldnt come off, i tried a wire brush and a scouring pad, didnt work.

When i was watching it on the brake tester it seemed to dip in braking force every rotation of the wheel as if somewhere there is bad contact.

Dont want to have to buy new discs and pads as these have been machined on the car to eliminate a problem which turned out to be the rears!