Brakes Pulsing

[RamRVA]

Good afternoon. I'm a newbie and this is my first post.

Almost 1 year ago I purchased a "certified pre-owned" 2017 Ram Bighorn with just under 12k miles. Over the past few months I've noticed that upon stopping the brakes are pulsating. I notice it more during lower speed stops but I think it happens at all speeds. I can feel feedback in the brake pedal. it is almost like there is a hump in the rotors.

FYI - my truck now has just under 20k miles and I very much baby her. I never go off road, gun the engine or brake hard. This seems awfully early to be having brake issues. Also, I suspect regardless of the great promises made that the time of purchase, this likely will not be covered under warranty.

Thoughts / suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[Elevated 2013]

It’s a rotor warpage issue that is causing it. The question becomes front or rear brake rotors. Are you feeling it in the steering wheel?

If it’s under 20k miles and less than 3 years old you do possibly have a chance of getting it covered under the warranty. I can’t promise anything but they’re pretty lenient when you don’t have many miles and the truck isn’t that old.


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[RamRVA]

Thank you very much. No I do not feel it in the steering so it must be in the rear. I hadn't thought of that. And I'll do a little begging at the dealership since I pretty strapped for cash right now. Thank you for the heads up.

 

[Elevated 2013]

No problem. Almost 100% sure that it’s the rear since you don’t feel it in the steering wheel. Go into the dealer and keep your calm and when they tell you it’s the rotors try to play the warranty/low mileage/not real old card and you might just get them under warranty. If not, Rick Auto.com has great prices on pads and rotors even with the cost of shipping being high. They’re still better quality and cheaper than normal parts stores will charge.


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[RamCares]

Good afternoon. I'm a newbie and this is my first post.

Almost 1 year ago I purchased a "certified pre-owned" 2017 Ram Bighorn with just under 12k miles. Over the past few months I've noticed that upon stopping the brakes are pulsating. I notice it more during lower speed stops but I think it happens at all speeds. I can feel feedback in the brake pedal. it is almost like there is a hump in the rotors.

FYI - my truck now has just under 20k miles and I very much baby her. I never go off road, gun the engine or brake hard. This seems awfully early to be having brake issues. Also, I suspect regardless of the great promises made that the time of purchase, this likely will not be covered under warranty.

Thoughts / suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Hello RamRVA,

If you end up going into the dealer to get your brakes inspected and need any help with that process, let us know. We're available via direct message and would be happy to assist.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[JohnnyMac]

There is also the possibility that whomever was the last person to put your rear wheels on didn't torque them in the correct pattern. If this hasn't been happening too long, you might still be able to loosen all your rear lug nuts and then re-tighten them correctly. If it's been going on for a long time, then it may have already done the damage and you'll need new rotors. Good luck.

 

[16WhiteQC]

It’s a rotor warpage issue that is causing it. The question becomes front or rear brake rotors. Are you feeling it in the steering wheel?

If it’s under 20k miles and less than 3 years old you do possibly have a chance of getting it covered under the warranty. I can’t promise anything but they’re pretty lenient when you don’t have many miles and the truck isn’t that old.


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Nope, 1 year, 12K on brakes, trust me I went through this already.
My rear were shot @ 2yr/15K (warped), suffered for a bit and said F it and replaced all rotors and pads with the Z36 kit. 100% better than factory parts, smooth, quiet and great feel.

Hello RamRVA,

If you end up going into the dealer to get your brakes inspected and need any help with that process, let us know. We're available via direct message and would be happy to assist.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

RamCares,

Take a look at all the people having this type of brake issues on 16/17's on here, clearly there is an issue with poor materials used for the rotors. It would be nice if Ram would step up and help us out vs. forcing us to go aftermarket to get quality parts.

 

[Damion]

I just replaced a rear rotor due to warpage on my '16 with 41000KMS. It was a rear one for what its worth.

Spent $100 on a new poem one, and brought my warped one to a local shop I trust and got them to turn it down so its true again, now I have a spare if the other side starts. ( The shop said it wasn't too badly warped but enough I could feel it. )

 

[buddy guy]

my daughter bought a gently used 2015 ford escape titanium last october. brakes were doing something. maybe a pulse when we took it for a test drive. i told salesmen we wanted it fixed. he said the vehicle had been sitting for awhile (it was winter) and there was some surface rust on the discs and they would fix it. i did a tire change to steel winter rims on it a month after she bought it and I know the discs were smooth. So 5 months later, took off the winters and put her stock wheels and rims on. didn't notice any grooving. 2 weeks after that, my daughter says the brakes are pulsing. So I look at it. bad grooves in rears, fronts are ok. I told her I'm sure its from the rear brakes. I know there was lots of materials on the pads. i said take it to Ford (she bought extended warranty) and hope they can just resurface the discs and pads will be ok. I was scratching my head though cause 5 months before, the brakes, discs seemed fine!!! turned out discs were glazed, pads were glazed I think they said too. they redid all the discs, cleaned all the pads, lubed the calipers. brakes are fine...AND Ford did it under warranty. I think they did because in doing so reading after she told me about her issue, there are lots of reports that Ford has their own factory in China for some parts and many complaints about crappy quality discs.

When I had my 2003 Tacoma, I had what i thought was pulsing brakes, rotors were replaced, going down hills especially noticeable pulsing or if you hit the brakes firmlly (but not enough to trigger ABS. I know the difference) Never did figure out for sure what went on there. Someone here said that off road tires in pavement can sometimes make brakes feel or act a bit pulsey. I ran nothing but A/T's on my Taco so maybe that was it...or crap Chinese discs?

 

[ThunderMug95]

@RamRVA Which dealership are you going to take it to?
Whitten? Pearson? Haley?
I have had the best service at Crossroads in Colonial Heights.
If its just bad rotors, its not all that expensive to do yourself. If youve never done brakes before, hell I will show you. I replaced all 4 rotors and pads with performance parts for $400 and takes about 30 min a wheel. So plain replacements would be cheaper. 1/2 that number if its just front or rear.
PM me if you want.

 

[RamRVA]

Hello RamRVA,

If you end up going into the dealer to get your brakes inspected and need any help with that process, let us know. We're available via direct message and would be happy to assist.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

I did end up going to the dealer. Unfortunately it was not "warrantable" although I would consider this a premature failure. The dealer machined both the front and rear rotors and said I was given a discount. Still disappointed that I had to pay $170 but I appreciate the dealer recognizing that this was abnormal and providing me with a discount.

 

[RamRVA]

@RamRVA Which dealership are you going to take it to?
Whitten? Pearson? Haley?
I have had the best service at Crossroads in Colonial Heights.
If its just bad rotors, its not all that expensive to do yourself. If youve never done brakes before, hell I will show you. I replaced all 4 rotors and pads with performance parts for $400 and takes about 30 min a wheel. So plain replacements would be cheaper. 1/2 that number if its just front or rear.
PM me if you want.

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I hear it is pretty easy. However, a while back I broke my floor jack so I would have had to purchase a new one to do this job. If I had more time I would have considered doing the job myself. The shop ended up machining the rotors. The truck seems to brake smoothly now. Time will tell whether or not the OEM parts will last.

BTW I took the truck to the dealer that sold it to me Whitten, which is about 15 minutes from my home. Also they provide a loaner vehicle so that was super helpful. However, I have noticed that they have a very long lead time for service - I often need to make an appointment 2 + weeks in advance. Do you know if the other dealers have such a long lead time too?

 

[RamCares]

I did end up going to the dealer. Unfortunately it was not "warrantable" although I would consider this a premature failure. The dealer machined both the front and rear rotors and said I was given a discount. Still disappointed that I had to pay $170 but I appreciate the dealer recognizing that this was abnormal and providing me with a discount.

I appreciate you letting me know and understand how disappointing this was. If you have any other questions about your service visit or even your warranty, don't hesitate to reach out.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[ThunderMug95]

@RamRVA I have dealt with Whitten in Ashland, but not Midlothian. I actually go to Crossroads in CJDR in Colonial Heights. Big facility, lots of techs. They won my business by being accurate on service times and not trying to BS me on all the little service up-sells. They do a pretty tempting job on trying to separate me from my ‘17 and put me in a ‘19 though. Resist...resist...

 

[pedersen_tim]

I work at a dealership(not a ram dealer) as a technician and do alot of used cars. When we do our test drives and what not if we feel a pulsation we check the brakes and if the pads are acceptable for the level of inspection we would generally if not always reccomend the machining of the front and rear rotors. Most of the time they approve it and we do them but sometimes the used car manager says no for whatever reason he comes up with. Ive had cars come back with a pulsation with my tech number on the job saying i didnt do it right and they will try to blast me for it but they dont realize i did the job like 3 months prior to them owning the car! Lot rot is a thing i tell ya. No pulsations would be felt but cars and trucks sit on lots for a while sometimes and the rotors get rusty thus causing pulsation. Its not like we dont check the brakes its just sometimes its stuff we(technicians) cant control.

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[madtrucker2016]

Warping of the rotor can happen when your driving and its hot out and you drive into a large puddle of water it will cool the metal down too fast and possible warp your rotors also