Brake pedal and Steering Shakes

[mchongct]

Hi there,

I have a Corolla 2003 model. I've recently changed my brake pads(Wagner Thermal Quiet) and the rotor (brand new) as well.

The brake pedal and steering shakes when I try to brake softly or hardly at the speed above 70 Km/h. What could be wrong? I've sent it back for checking and they said there is nothing wrong.

Should I change another type of brake pads? Any help is appreciated.

Thank you,
Michael

[Flashmn]

Your disks are warped.

[teffer]

I'm just curious, do different brake pads have different effects on cars? I thought it's universal.

[Flashmn]

Yeah, different brakepads do different things. Most crappy autopart pads are hard and last along time, but the disks are under more stress and braking force isnt that great.

Softer pads wear out faster, but have better braking power.

[tashirosgt]

And how do you rate the Wagner Thermal Quiet pads? Hard and crappy or soft and non-crappy?

[rice]

are they ceremic pads? what does it say on the package? it should say something like ceremic, or semi-ceremic or metallic or some crap like that, or how much did the pads cost you?

[Flashmn]

And how do you rate the Wagner Thermal Quiet pads? Hard and crappy or soft and non-crappy?

Never heard about them.

Ceramic pads arent necessarily hard. It depends on alot of things.

[mchongct]

Thanks for the info, this is great.

Now that my new disk is warped, Do I need to change my brake pads(newly replaced) too? Is the warped disk going to damage the new brake pads?

What could have caused a new disk to warped?
I noticed that the mechanic used a hammer to hammer inward on the old disk to loosen it. I am not sure if he did use hammer to put the new one on. Do you need to use a hammer to put on a disk? I suspect he might have used a hammer to fit it in and possibly cause the warped? If hammer is not required, I'll have to make sure he doesn't use it - incase that is his method of installation.

Thank you,
Michael

[Flashmn]

maybe a rubber mallet, but really you need a hammer to take the old one off because it rusts on.

What could have caused a new disk to warped?

Usually improper break in, too much heat or bad quality rotors.
and yeah, always new pads when you get new disks, old ones wont break in with a new rotor.

[freakinbox]

yea go easy on them for the first while. putting rotors under more stress can also cause them to glaze can't it?

[Flashmn]

its the pads that generally get glazed. rotors mainly warp. But its a vicious circle, when the pads glaze, braking power gets worse, so you press the pad onto the disk harder which causes more heat.

[retiredat44]

Sounds like the discs went on a hair crooked, and were not perfectly flat/flush on the hub when installed. Better yank them off and check their condition. You may be able to salvage them and make another attempt at the install. This time use a plastic or rubber mallet to make sure they go all the way on.

[mchongct]

Hello,

It's fixed. I went to the shop over the weekend and they changed the Rotor and the Brake Pads. Now it's not shaking anymore.

Thank you everyone for your response. I appreciate it.

Michael