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Thread: Braking vibration

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
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    53
    My Cars
    M235 | M3 | 325Ci

    Braking vibration

    I have now gotten a few track days under my belt, in my E36 M3, and I have noticed that my brakes pulse/vibrate badly once they get really hot under hard braking. At the beginning of a session, no problem, but near the end when the brakes get hot, when I brake hard into a corner I get bad brake pulsing. When I first noticed it, I just assumed I had warped rotors that needed replacing. But then I realized, that I do not have this issue AT ALL when driving on the street. And even at the beginning of a track lap session, the brakes are fine, it is only after about 15 minutes on the track that I get the brake pulsing.

    Any thoughts? Do I just need to replace the rotors, or is this normal? Or somethint else is going on here? Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Seattle
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    5,773
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    99 M3
    You don’t mention what pads you are using, but it sounds as though the pads/rotors have overheated.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Central, MD
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    3,844
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    1995 M3
    Not normal. It is odd that it takes 15 minutes. But, my BET is that it's a combination of pad type and uneven pad deposits. A few fast laps gets you a good deposit on the rotors, then some combination of slow laps and minimal braking, or pulling into pits, holding brakes on while sitting still, etc, creates 'snarf' on the rotors, which will absolutely create the problem you've described.

    Warped (or out of spec) rotors are VERY rare, and would cause vibration at all times.

    What pads are you using?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
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    Marietta, GA
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    2,680
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    95 M3, 87 535is
    Change to a different pad compound or brake harder to push past the uneven deposits on the rotors.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Orlando, FL, USA
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    212
    My Cars
    1993 BMW 325i
    Inspect for a crack as well

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    NoVa
    Posts
    59
    My Cars
    E36 M3 GTS2
    Yes, what brand and model of pad would help diagnose the problem.

    It's possible if your using a street pad, it could be depositing material on the rotor when you over heat them. Only noticeable under heavy braking when hot.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
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    53
    My Cars
    M235 | M3 | 325Ci
    Pads are EBC Yellowstuff. I have not noted any cracks on the rotors when I self tech.
    Last edited by skyotee; 12-31-2017 at 12:07 AM.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
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    Maryland
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    865
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    2006 Estoril Blue/Cin M3
    Are you sure it isn't ABS?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    NoVa
    Posts
    59
    My Cars
    E36 M3 GTS2
    Quote Originally Posted by skyotee View Post
    Pads are EBC Yellowstuff. I have not noted any cracks on the rotors when I self tech.
    That's a street/track pad. Perhaps you're just over working them

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    West Seattle/ Pullman, WA
    Posts
    78
    My Cars
    98 M3 Cosmos
    Do you feel the pulsing/vibration through the steering wheel and pedal?

    It sounds like pad deposits to me.

    When I first started tracking my car I struggled with brake shudder that would begin halfway through sessions.
    I had a set of street pads and a set of track pads (PFC 06) and would swap pads before heading to the track.
    After dealing with the shudder for a few events I bought a dedicated set of rotors that I would only use with my track pads.
    The shudder hasn't returned once I stopped using street and track pads on the same set of rotors.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    ArlingtonVA
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    428
    My Cars
    E46S54B32
    about 5 years ago at VIR I got a brake vibration that felt exactly like a warped rotor/pad deposit but it was neither..… turned out to be a bent hub.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    Posts
    669
    My Cars
    E46 330 ZHP, E36 328i
    I would try PFC.
    They have an enduro compound (Usually even numbered) that will be usable on the street and does not require bedding once you get to the track. Once you try it you will not go back. There is a reason they are expensive... They work.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    California BAY AREA
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    6,875
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    e30 M3, 335d
    I was having this exact issue with my E36 M3 as well. I recommend upgrading to a more track friendly pad. Your pads might be reaching their heat limit near the 12-15 minute mark during your sessions.

    - Max

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