What’s Behind Brake Pulsation in Your Range Rover?
Range Rover is the perfect combination of luxury and power… a vehicle designed to be driven over off-road terrain. With advanced driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, hill descent control, and forward collision warning, the model is considered one of the most reliable luxury SUVs to drive in.
Today’s blog post is about an issue that has been haunting Range Rover owners since the launch of the brand’s first models: brake pulsation. Some of the leading reasons behind brake pulsation, along with solutions, have been discussed in detail here.
Brake Pulsation in Range Rovers: How Widespread Is This Problem?
Although Range Rover is perceived as a reliable luxury SUV, it has its fair share of imperfections. Its braking system, for example, may experience snags occasionally. The brake components can wear out at an accelerated pace due to the vehicle’s weight and driving demands, contributing to vibrations during braking.
If you don’t want the issue to accelerate and adversely impact your driving experience… find out the culprit that might have contributed to the pulsating sensation and have it fixed before it translates into an expensive repair.
Identifying the Causes of Brake Pulsation
Attached to the wheel hub, the brake rotor provides the surface for brake pads to clamp down on… converting kinetic energy into heat energy through friction, stopping the vehicle as a result.
Although brake rotors your Range Rover comes equipped with are built from durable material, they may sustain deformities over time due to thermal stress, hard braking, and poor maintenance. Driving with uneven rotors may result in vibrating brake pedal when braking.
- Consider ‘resurfacing’ the affected rotors to get rid of any imperfections.
- If the rotors are beyond repair, have them ‘replaced’ with high-quality, OEM parts.
Mechanical braking systems that modern-day cars come equipped with are centered around brake pads. Made of semi-metallic or ceramic materials, brake pads play a crucial role in stopping the vehicle quickly and safely.
Although they are designed to last for 30,000 to 70,000 miles, aggressive braking habit may cause them to wear prematurely… leaving material deposits on the rotor surface. High and low spots created on rotor surfaces because of these deposits may contribute to a pulsating sensation.
- Remove brake pad deposits off brake rotor to restore a smooth surface.
- Check your Range Rover’s brake pads every now and then, have them replaced if there is not much friction material left.
#3- Poor alignment of the wheels
Having the wheels positioned correctly relative to each other and the road surface allows the tires to make optimal contact with the road… which, by the way, is necessary to prevent premature tire wear, improve steering response, reduce the risk of handling issues.
Proper wheel alignment is also critical for the smooth and efficient operation of the braking system in your Range Rover. Poor alignment may contribute to issues such as uneven brake pad pressure and increased rotor wear… which may contribute to brake pulsation.
- Adjust the angles of your Range Rover’s wheels to the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Ensure that the wheels are properly aligned with each other and with the vehicle’s body.
#4- Worn suspension components
The suspension system does much more than absorb road shocks… it plays a crucial role in maintaining vehicle stability, handling, and comfort. To provide you with an optimal driving comfort, this system relies on an array of components, including springs, shock absorbers, control arms, ball joints, and bushings.
A glitch in any of these components can significantly affect braking performance and may contribute to brake pulsation. Issues with the suspension system may also contribute to excessive body roll among other drivability problems.
- Carefully check suspension system parts for signs of wear or damage.
- Consider replacing defective parts to restore your Range Rover’s stability and prevent unwanted movement during braking.
In addition to the above said reasons… worn out brake caliper and defective ABS may contribute to braking pulsation in Range Rover models. Only a factory-trained technician will be able to diagnose the issue more accurately.