Mitsubishi Brake Discs

Yes, the most common cause of brake shudder or the unusual shaking of the steering wheel while braking is uneven brake disc wear. When the disc is warped or worn out unevenly, the brake pads come in contact with the high spots of the disc, thus causing vibration. The said vibration then results in brake shudder, which you can feel through the steering wheel. If you feel vibration or shudder on the steering without brakes applied, the possible cause would be tire imbalance and not necessarily worn-out brake disc.

This brake condition can be remedied by machining the discs to achieve even friction surface for the brake pads during braking. But if the disc has worn beyond the manufacturer’s specifications, it would be necessary to have it replaced. You should also check the wheel bearing adjustment. Sometimes, the brake pads may need replacement, too.

You should avoid driving through standing water as it will satiate your hot rotor or disc, causing it to warp. If this cannot be avoided, give your brakes some time to cool down first before driving through the water. Stopping short and braking hard can also hurt your brake disc too badly as they causes the disc to generate more heat. Such heat is what causes the rotors to warp. You should also, at all cost, avoid riding the brakes as even the lightest pressure on the brake pedal will cause your Mitsubishi’s brakes to drag and therefore produce heat.

Brake rotors will only necessitate cleaning if they become contaminated with oil or cleaning products. If you just came from off-road driving and you noticed dirt and mud on the brake disc, you can simply wipe the dirt off using a damp cloth. Unless you’ve had lube overspray or spill and the disc has been coated or contaminated with oil, cleaning may not be necessary. Just exercise caution when cleaning as cleaners and solvents can rid the disc of some or all of the bedded-in pad material, thus requiring bedding-in procedure after the cleaning process.

That black grime on the rotor can be caused by brake pad contamination from hydraulic fluid. If oil contaminates your pads and it got mixed up with brake dust, it will create a paste that gets accumulated onto the rotor, looking like black streaks or smudges. The said paste will now become your braking surface, thus causing an alarming drop in your braking performance. Most of the time, this is also accompanied by unusual squeaking sound while braking.

Test driving is the best way for you to know if your brakes are working properly. But before you test-drive, check if your new discs or rotors are already in good working condition by starting your ride, allowing it to roll forward, and then pumping the brakes for a few times. Then, depress the brake pedal and allow it to rise slowly. Your brakes should work properly without generating loud, squeaking sound or vibrations.

This is actually optional, but applying brake cleaner or other protective fluid on your rotor before installation is one way to protect it against moisture, dust, and grime, which can result in rust formation. If you choose to give your brake disc this kind of protection, just make sure that you’ll use a type of fluid that’s specifically formulated for such task to prevent damage not just on the disc but also on the brake pads. Make sure also that you wipe the brake cleaner off the disc before installing it.