2008 mailbu After braking hard (coming off of freeway on to the service road) and then using the brakes a block later the rotors seem to have warped. After a few blocks the problem goes away. The rotors are smooth no noticeable wear. About 50K miles on vehicle mostly highway mileage. Pads are about 50% thickness. No notice play in sterring linkage or other front end suspension.

The problem is most likely in the vacuum booster. It has a valve inside when slight pressure is applied to the pedal, applies vacuum boost to the master cylinder aiding the operator in braking. If you notice applying the brakes several times with the engine off, the pedal will harden in the same fashion. With a malfunctioning internal valve the booster can apply the vacuum boost when not needed.

Have to ask as I'm curious

I have never had a brake problem in 50
years working on brakes personally & in
the repair shop business I once owned

Even if it is not brake related, what are your plans
to finding a solution & have you actually been in the
physical service bay & talked to the techs that have worked on it?

Have you gone for a ride with them & far enough to duplicate
the noise?

As odd as it seems, I didn't take in any work, until I road tested
with the customer driving,then we switched & went back to the shop

Doesn't it seem odd dealer service folks aside,that no one after
several visits has a clue,how do you justify that,are they trying to
get you to go away for their own sanity?

It sounds as it is a loud & predictable noise so unless your not
up to the cost of taking it apart,I know I could find it,but no way
I can guess from the internet without our road trip & a vehicle
to work on & test.

check your front and rear suspention rubbers and maybe your front and rear brakedisk

Usually a sign one or both of the front brake rotors are out of round or warped.

reset the ERCM using a scan tool
while the brake pads looked fine , the rotors should be removed as that gives the same impression as the abs in operation
there could be a cracked rotor causing the noise
take it to an accredited brake specialist shop

Jerks coming to a stop as in engine jerks, or does it seem like the brakes are jerking. When you leave off the pedal does it stop jerking? If it does it is probably warped rotors. A lot of new cars have this problem, my theory is that the brake pads they are using are way too hard. They put way too much heat into the rotor and warp it. Of course the rotors are none too heavy either. I think it is all in an effort to reduce weight in the vehicle.

You will need to check each brake caliper for obstruction to the brake rotor. The noise was something getting inside the pads and the rotors such as road debrie of some sort more than likely

I agree it is the brake pads and rotors. If it has been doing it for 6 months then it is pretty likely you need to replace the rotors. Had you replaced the brake pads soon after you started hearing the squeal, you might have gotten by just replacing the pads and not the rotor.

check master cylinder around vacuum booster for fluid leak .also if pedal is stiff it could be vacuum to booster or booster itself..master cylynder connects to split block of brake lines,there should be a sensor on that block..see if connected good,, chris

first off was it raining if could have debris on brake pads and rotors if not under heavy braking for that amount of time you would heat your pads to the point of burning wich the metalic in the pad gets glazed as does the rotor after cooling down it would be normal again but your brakes work with friction wich stops you as far as the pulling one or both of your calipers should be serviced to grease up sliding points one is hanging up