Judder
October 31, 2008 by cynthia
Today I learned a brand new word: Judder.
I also learned what it means: $1,000.
Max, my trusty old car, had started to shimmy a bit when I applied the brakes. Not much, just enough to be noticeable. I took him in Thursday for his 60K mile checkup and casually mentioned the shimmy thing.
“You mean it’s juddering?” asked the service manager. My puzzled look produced the explanation that this meant rhythmic short and sharp little jerks. It was most often caused by worn brake pads but there could be, he added ominously, other reasons.
Turns out the other reasons are “bent rotors,” which happen when you repeatedly apply the brakes hard and overheat the rotors…or something like that.* Replacing them is apparently a massive pain in the neck, worth it only if the customer possesses a thousand bucks.
Drat.
*Since I am one of the most sedate and careful drivers I know, there obviously must be another reason.
sounds like your car read, and then misunderstood, the heading on your feeling flush blog entry.
“Sedate and careful driver?” Girl, I’ve been a passenger in your car. You and I need to TALK!
Amy