Brake pedal pulsation?

[sheldpaugh]

Test drove an 88' 320i yesterday, when braking the pedal had a strong pulsation but there was no shake in the steering wheel. Buddy said that he done all the brakes last year and recently rebuilt a caliper. Of course right away I think the rotors are warped but wouldn't that also make the steering wheel shake too? Anyone have this problem before or know what it could be? Thanks

[Stanley Rockafella]

OT: Was this a J spec car?
There were no 320i's offered for the North American market back in 88.

[sheldpaugh]

OT: Was this a J spec car?
There were no 320i's offered for the North American market back in 88.

Yes it was imported

[ClayW]

Replace the rotors.

If he had all the brakes done last year, he wouldn't need to rebuild a caliper recently. my guess is that he replaced the pads but not the rotors.

[slammin.e28]

Pulse in pedal with no steering wheel shake = rear rotors.

Replace and report back.

Agree'd above, dude probably only replaced the pads.

[sheldpaugh]

Replace the rotors.

If he had all the brakes done last year, he wouldn't need to rebuild a caliper recently. my guess is that he replaced the pads but not the rotors.

Hopefully it's just as simple as new rotors, I'm thinking maybe he didn't bed them properly, or just didn't put new rotors on

[Exodus_2pt0]

Pulse in pedal with no steering wheel shake = rear rotors.

Replace and report back.

Agree'd above, dude probably only replaced the pads.

Yup, my old auto tech teacher described it perfectly.

Find a straight road, let go of the wheel, press the brakes.

If you feel it in your ass but the wheel stays steady, it's in the rear. Feel it in the wheel, it's the front.

If rotors aren't stored properly (on their end instead of flat), then they can warp. I used to have a supplier that delivered so many warped rotors, we would turn them fresh out of the box before install.

[sheldpaugh]

Pulse in pedal with no steering wheel shake = rear rotors.

Replace and report back.

Agree'd above, dude probably only replaced the pads.

Yeah just never experience brake pulse without the wheel shake, kind of caught me off guard, he said he will look for some new rotors to give me with the car, I'll report back asap!