Vibration when braking question

My 2008 Grand Caravan was in for an oil change a few weeks ago. The
Dodge dealer's SA said the front brakes were down to 2mm and needed
new pads. I had them do the work (new pads and turning the discs)
since I was planning a trip through the Sierra Nevada mountains.
I recently returned from the trip and have started getting a vibration
in the front end whenever I lightly apply the brakes. It gets worse as
the pedal pressure increases, and then pretty much stops when the
vehicle has almost stopped.
..
Van is the SXT with the 17" wheel option and has about 16,000 miles.
I suspect that 16K is early for brakes, but there has been one similar
trip last year to the Sierras, and weekly (during the summer months
drives to and from the local mountains. This involves a decent of
between 5000 and 6000 feet to get home. I do use the shifter to reduce
the amount of braking needed when descending. 4th gear generally holds
the speed to 55 which is the speed limit. I have made no panic or hard
stops since the brake work was done.
..
Comments as to the cause? Prior to the brake work, I had no problems
or complaints about the brakes.

QX wrote:
> My 2008 Grand Caravan was in for an oil change a few weeks ago. The
> Dodge dealer's SA said the front brakes were down to 2mm and needed
> new pads. I had them do the work (new pads and turning the discs)
> since I was planning a trip through the Sierra Nevada mountains.
> I recently returned from the trip and have started getting a vibration
> in the front end whenever I lightly apply the brakes. It gets worse as
> the pedal pressure increases, and then pretty much stops when the
> vehicle has almost stopped.
> .
> Van is the SXT with the 17" wheel option and has about 16,000 miles.
> I suspect that 16K is early for brakes, but there has been one similar
> trip last year to the Sierras, and weekly (during the summer months
> drives to and from the local mountains. This involves a decent of
> between 5000 and 6000 feet to get home. I do use the shifter to reduce
> the amount of braking needed when descending. 4th gear generally holds
> the speed to 55 which is the speed limit. I have made no panic or hard
> stops since the brake work was done.
> .
> Comments as to the cause? Prior to the brake work, I had no problems
> or complaints about the brakes.

Did they replace the pads - same rotors?

They may have put what I call "gummy" pads on. These are pads that have
binders that melt and smear onto the rotors unevenly and cause the
vibration on braking. Or it could be warped rotors, but people probably
blame that far too often.

--
Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

6000 ft isn't that high (i used to live at a 5550 in one town then moved up
in the mountains to about 6900) but if he had some steep descents and was on
the brakes quite a bit, i wouldn't be surprised if the rotors got a small
warp in them now. question is....do they vibrate when the car and brakes
are fairly cool (basically any time the brakes are applied , hot or cold),
or only after the brakes have been used for a bit?


other question is did they do the rears? issue is most likely fronts but you
never know.


"Bill Putney" > wrote in message
...
> QX wrote:
>> My 2008 Grand Caravan was in for an oil change a few weeks ago. The
>> Dodge dealer's SA said the front brakes were down to 2mm and needed
>> new pads. I had them do the work (new pads and turning the discs)
>> since I was planning a trip through the Sierra Nevada mountains. I
>> recently returned from the trip and have started getting a vibration
>> in the front end whenever I lightly apply the brakes. It gets worse as
>> the pedal pressure increases, and then pretty much stops when the
>> vehicle has almost stopped. .
>> Van is the SXT with the 17" wheel option and has about 16,000 miles.
>> I suspect that 16K is early for brakes, but there has been one similar
>> trip last year to the Sierras, and weekly (during the summer months
>> drives to and from the local mountains. This involves a decent of
>> between 5000 and 6000 feet to get home. I do use the shifter to reduce
>> the amount of braking needed when descending. 4th gear generally holds
>> the speed to 55 which is the speed limit. I have made no panic or hard
>> stops since the brake work was done.
>> .
>> Comments as to the cause? Prior to the brake work, I had no problems
>> or complaints about the brakes.
>
> Did they replace the pads - same rotors?
>
> They may have put what I call "gummy" pads on. These are pads that have
> binders that melt and smear onto the rotors unevenly and cause the
> vibration on braking. Or it could be warped rotors, but people probably
> blame that far too often.
>
> --
> Bill Putney
> (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address
> with the letter 'x')

According to the Dodge Dealership service order they:
Installed 43060 Brake Kit.
Installed 68029264AB Pad Kit, Front disc brake.
Removed and replaced front brakes and resurfaced rotors.
Verified repair. All OK.



On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 22:54:39 -0400, "rob" > wrote:

>6000 ft isn't that high (i used to live at a 5550 in one town then moved up
>in the mountains to about 6900) but if he had some steep descents and was on
>the brakes quite a bit, i wouldn't be surprised if the rotors got a small
>warp in them now. question is....do they vibrate when the car and brakes
>are fairly cool (basically any time the brakes are applied , hot or cold),
>or only after the brakes have been used for a bit?
>
>
>other question is did they do the rears? issue is most likely fronts but you
>never know.
>
>
>"Bill Putney" > wrote in message
...
>> QX wrote:
>>> My 2008 Grand Caravan was in for an oil change a few weeks ago. The
>>> Dodge dealer's SA said the front brakes were down to 2mm and needed
>>> new pads. I had them do the work (new pads and turning the discs)
>>> since I was planning a trip through the Sierra Nevada mountains. I
>>> recently returned from the trip and have started getting a vibration
>>> in the front end whenever I lightly apply the brakes. It gets worse as
>>> the pedal pressure increases, and then pretty much stops when the
>>> vehicle has almost stopped. .
>>> Van is the SXT with the 17" wheel option and has about 16,000 miles.
>>> I suspect that 16K is early for brakes, but there has been one similar
>>> trip last year to the Sierras, and weekly (during the summer months
>>> drives to and from the local mountains. This involves a decent of
>>> between 5000 and 6000 feet to get home. I do use the shifter to reduce
>>> the amount of braking needed when descending. 4th gear generally holds
>>> the speed to 55 which is the speed limit. I have made no panic or hard
>>> stops since the brake work was done.
>>> .
>>> Comments as to the cause? Prior to the brake work, I had no problems
>>> or complaints about the brakes.
>>
>> Did they replace the pads - same rotors?
>>
>> They may have put what I call "gummy" pads on. These are pads that have
>> binders that melt and smear onto the rotors unevenly and cause the
>> vibration on braking. Or it could be warped rotors, but people probably
>> blame that far too often.
>>
>> --
>> Bill Putney
>> (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address
>> with the letter 'x')
>