Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Hi All,

I have a Gen 3 GLX and have a very noticeable vibration while driving. Most noticeale above say 80kmh.

It is worst while turning left, less when driving straightn and virtually not felt at all when turning right.

Reading this section of the forum this morning it seems as if the vibfration could be cause by having warped discs. Is that true?

My vibration has become worse recently and I have noticed that it does feel like my discs are a bit warped (braking is less effective and can feel the brakeease/brake action).

Check basics first

Tyre pressure
Balancing
Alignment

Once those are confirmed 100% then start looking elsewhere.

Your description

can feel the brakeease/brake action

tells me you have the same old problem with discs running out that so many of us have experienced to date.
Solutions vary:
The most desired would be to replace all four your discs with Powerdisk rotors. Very expensive solution.
95% of the time it is all caused by the front dics only, so the above solution can be halved if only front wheels are attended to.
Secondly you can go for all new original Mitsu discs front only or all four. R2000 to R4000 rand.
What I decided to do is to establish exactly where the vibration originates before making huge investments by taking it step by step. I removed the front discs only and had then skimmed at a cost of R60 rands per wheel. (That's no money). Guess what the outcome was? All braking vibration problems resolved immediately.I now know I only have to be concerned about the front wheels. I also know that this solution will not last as long as new discs, but they take off very little metal at a time and I hope to be able to do it at least two or three times more if necessary. I then would have spent about R500 on skimming which is a fraction of good new brakes. Must also mention the original as well as the first replacement set under motorplan has not lasted more that 40,000km either. I hope to get at least 15,000 to 20,000 out of the reskimming.

Had serious vibration on my 3.2 Did 2003, turned out the left front shock was seized - replaced and vibration was gone. check the shocks.

thanks everyone. a couple of things to check. been a while since I had the balancing/alignment etc done so need to have that done. almost time for a service so will ge the mech to check the discs for me as well as brake pads etc.

it seems from th ecomment above that replacing the discs with a new set only temporarily solves the problem (betw 20 000 to 40 000km). would fitting the powerbake brake discs be better ie. are they likely to be more resistant to warping than the ones supplied by Mitsu?

Howsit

Just M2C, their is no such thing as warped disks. Your disks could have "high spots", which really is only hardened spots on the disk, left by the direct contact by the pads on the disk when they are hot, like directly after heavy breaking, applying continious pressure to the breaks. This has an effect on the composition of the metals in the pad, causing the hardened spots on the disks.

You can Google this, look for "warped disk power breaks" and you will find a white paper onthe myths of "warped" disks.

To skim the disks is only a short term solution, while the pads and the disk beds in, after that the same problem will return. Replacing the disks also requires replacing the pads at the same time for the best results.

Power brakes are a good optioin as the break efficiency increases and they can handle higher temperatures, thus "avoiding" the high spots issue as described above.

Hope this helps

Johann