Hi everyone,
I have a 2009 Toyota Aygo which I've had a few years now and over the past six months I've noticed a change in the way the car slows down as I apply the brakes. It's very difficult to describe and it doesn't seem to happen all the time, but often when I'm applying the brakes to stop the car, the car slows down unevenly - in other words, the car judders forward as I'm applying the brakes instead of continuing forward slowing down smoothly. I should emphasise here that this happens with consistent pressure on the brakes, so it's not something I'm doing to cause it.
I know I'll have questions about brake fluid and whether the car wobbles from side-to-side. I've had the fluid checked by a mechanic (who also checked to make sure there isn't air in the system), the brake pads have been checked for wear and the car does not wobble from side-to-side when I apply the brakes. The only possible explanation I can think of is the brake discs could be warped, but then that wouldn't explain why it's intermittent. If this was the cause, surely it would happen every time I apply the brakes? Sometimes braking is perfectly smooth.
I honestly have run out of ideas as to what the cause could be, and several mechanics don't seem to know either which is almost baffling to me. And there doesn't seem to be a pattern I can pick up on - for example it can happen when it's sunny or raining and equally as much during the summer as with the winter with no apparent differences in frequency.
Since I've had the vehicle, there have been two repairs: last year the vehicle failed MOT as a wheel bearing needed to be replaced. Other than that, the brake pads have been replaced perhaps 12 - 18 months ago (and again these were checked recently and regreased within the last six months).
I'm stumped as to what the problem could be. Any advice would be appreciated. I would really like to get to the bottom of this.
Thanks!