SUZUKI IGNIS 2003 - 3RD TIME CHANGING BRAKE DISCS WITHIN A YEAR | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

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Sat 5 Oct 2013 14:53

SUZUKI IGNIS 2003 - 3RD TIME CHANGING BRAKE DISCS WITHIN A YEAR - gizmo42

Hi everyone,

I bought 14 months ago a suzuki ignis 2003, i was told that the brake discs where just after been replaced. 6 months later, i had to get them replaced (even though i was told by mechanic they looked pretty new) as they were warped (apex fitted).

5 months later, same problem, was told the one fitted were probably faulty or that it was due to the fact the pads (that looked new at the time and told they were fine) werent replaced at the time.

So, i got a new set of discs fitted (blueprint) free of charge and bought new pads.

today, 3 months later, i get the same symptoms while braking (steering wheel shaking), i just went to the same garage, and the mechanic is now accusing the poor quality of the discs & pads fitted, strongly suggesting me to get genuine suzuki parts fitted instead.

I am willing to go that road even though it is very costy (300euros + labor + vat) if the problem is once and for all sorted.

But , from my experience and as being told from the service manager of the same garage, it seems pretty unlikely that the problem lies in the poor quality of the parts, and told me it is the first time in his career that someone has asked him to price genuine part for a car of that age.

I am very confused, and dont know what to do. I just dont fancy to have to buy genuine parts if the problem lies somewhere else, and waste such a large amount of money.

Does anyone encountered a similar problem on this make and model of car? Any advice are more than welcome. Please enlighten me on that subject. I have no idea in what to do.

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Sat 5 Oct 2013 15:49

SUZUKI IGNIS 2003 - 3RD TIME CHANGING BRAKE DISCS WITHIN A YEAR - gordonbennet

Firstly, if you are driving it like you stole it, for example belting up to every roundabout in Milton Keynes and stopping from full speed repeatedly the you can overheat brakes and can warp the discs.

Assuming this is not your style, then several things spring to mind.

1 front calipers either pistons and/or sliders seizing leading to overheated front brakes

2 front hubs not cleaned properly before discs fitted, run out should be checked when the next new set go on

3 rear brakes poor effort meaning all braking effort is left to the fronts

first thing i would do is drive up a dual carriageway for several miles without braking and stop the car gently without braking into a convenient layby, usig handbrake gently to come to a final rest, the have a good feel round the brakes, the fronts should be cold at this point especially, the rears just warmed by the slowing into the layby.

Then brake normally and again check see all brakes have a healthy warmth about them.

You don't need to buy genuine parts but neither would i buy brake parts from unknown sources, i would suggest you get Pagid (or any good make) pads and discs from Carparts4less..Eurocarparts online sister company...and get a good mechanic to go through the whole braking system especially the rears paying extra ttention to the wheel cylinders/pistons, possible the rears are past their best.

One other thing, if you stop from a high speed, try to release the brake pedal as the car comes to final rest, keeping hard pressure on the brakes when stationary very hot after a prolonged heavy brake can transfer pad material onto the disc, this can give similar feelings to warped discs.

Edited by gordonbennet on 05/10/2013 at 16:03

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Sat 5 Oct 2013 16:20

SUZUKI IGNIS 2003 - 3RD TIME CHANGING BRAKE DISCS WITHIN A YEAR - injection doc

I agree with GB

Make sure those rear brakes are working properly incase the fronts are doing all the work!

Nothing wrong with blueprint discs, very good quality but what pads are you using ? are you using Mintex by any chance ?

I used to find Mintex too hard and would often cause warped discs ! Ferodo or again blueprint is what i would use !

Are the correct wheels and wheel trims fitted as this is often overlooked for air flow around the brakes ?

Do you drive it hard ?

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Sat 5 Oct 2013 21:50

SUZUKI IGNIS 2003 - 3RD TIME CHANGING BRAKE DISCS WITHIN A YEAR - gizmo42

Hi, thanks for your feedback,

I don't know what the make of the pads is but will try to find out, i will certainly keep these makes in the back of my mind when asking, thanks.

Do you know if Apex is any good?

Wheels are the original suzuki alloy wheels.

I don't consider myself as a fast driver, just probably the average driver.

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Sat 5 Oct 2013 21:41

SUZUKI IGNIS 2003 - 3RD TIME CHANGING BRAKE DISCS WITHIN A YEAR - gizmo42

Hi, thanks for your answer.

No i am not driving it like i stole it, lol

I also thought it could have been connected to the calipers, but everytime i have asked the mechanic who fitted the discs, he has told me it wasnt , so i just went with his expertise...

I would try to do the test you are suggesting me to do, do i am not sure i would be able to identify a healthy warmth.

I am glad you are confirming me that no genuine part is required, should make the bill to come a bit less scary :-)

I also forgot to mention, that after buying the car, I had her checked up and got rear left wheel bearing changed, i am not sure, it is of any help...

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Sun 6 Oct 2013 00:25

SUZUKI IGNIS 2003 - 3RD TIME CHANGING BRAKE DISCS WITHIN A YEAR - Andrew-T

Of the 30 or so cars I have owned, only one showed signs of pulsating during braking - a Pug 205 1.4 with about 15K on the clock. I had the discs skimmed, which cured the symptoms, but they gradually returned after a few more K. I had to assume that the metal of the discs was unevenly hard. Had to fit new discs in the end.

Doesn't seem to be your problem though.

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