My 2006 Heritage Edition has developed braking shimmy

[GoofyTimL]

Our H.E. has been the wife's daily driver ever since the MSRT8 came into our stable about 20 months and 8-10k miles ago. Neither she nor I have ever driven this car hard other than a few brief high speed runs on road trips out west, and never braked her hard. A month or so ago, she told me that the car was vibrating when she braked. I took it out for a ride around the neighboorhood and didn't notice anything particularly unusual.

Well, yesterday we/I drove about 100 miles to the WVU v. Cincinatti football game (boo for the outcome and most of WVU's offensive play during the game). But I definitely noticed the brake shimmy from highway speeds... not braking hard at all... just bringing it down at a reasonable non-enthusiasts rate. So I start checking out the forum info.

Peruse through the TSBs, but don't really find anything descriptive of my observation. Peruse the Brake forum and find several threads on what sounds like similar situations, most happening way earlier than we've experienced.

Seems the consensus is possible warped rotors. Since the car is close to the 35k mile mark and is due service for spark plugs, etc., I thought I'd throw up a thread here and ask if I should be concerned about rotor warp... pad build-up... or tie-rod deterioration.

Any specifics you, who have had this issue and a correction addressed, would be greatly appreciated. We'll be contacting our local dealer this week... so please comment.

[Rambit]

I think you should try bedding the brakes first Tim. Could be just an uneven buildup of pad material on the rotors causing judder.

Bernie

[GoofyTimL]

That certainly is an easy solution Bernie, but... 1) how do I ensure they are temperature prep'd for some hard braking? and 2) if they are warped, what additional damage may bedding bring to "bear"?

[Rambit]

Originally Posted by GoofyTimL

That certainly is an easy solution Bernie, but... 1) how do I ensure they are temperature prep'd for some hard braking? and 2) if they are warped, what additional damage may bedding bring to "bear"?

Just follow these instructions from DaveZ - http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm. You can't cause any harm doing this and according to Dave warping is not all that common. Finding a suitable place may be the hardest part though.

Bernie

[Rambit]

Here's a little on judder vs warped rotors. I didn't realize it was also on his site - Avoiding Brake Judder at the Track.

Bernie

[Moose]

It's not your tie rods. Just need a rotor turn and new pads...be good as new.

[CoolVSRT8]

yeah i agree with everything above but maybe look into slotted rotors ive gone through brakes fairly quickly

[GoofyTimL]

I followed DaveZ's instructions to the letter on the MSRT8's OEM pads and never had a squeeling problem with them. Although I changed to his Centric Posi-Quiet pads by 700 miles... and bedded them also. Just never figured that was necessary with the H.E.

Wife's home now so... I guess I'm going for a little drive and hard braking...

Will report back.

[Chase300]

I tried the bedding procedure with my HE and it did not last...or make much difference. I also had pretty severe fading of the brakes trying to follow his procedure with the stock brakes.
Actually, I've found Chrysler brakes to be substandard in my opinion. Not the calibers or brake capability, but its either the rotors are substandard, or the brake material is crap or both. I have found once I replace the rotors with a good aftermarket brand, and use my favorite street pads, Porterfield Racing's R4S pads, I no longer have any warping or brake juddering and the rotors don't ever have to be replaced again or be turned. Furthermore, the brake performance is greatly improved. I think the real culprit is the stock pads Chrysler uses.

[oldmac1]

Never had a Chrysler product that I did not have to have the rotors cut for the same type of problem. I have owned several Chrysler products and they all had to have their rotors cut. Only needed once to replace them though. Seems that they warped between 12 to 25k and were good to go after that.