Low Frequency Brake Dampers... What the?!...
 

Since there's really not a lot going on TV at the moment, I have "TruckU" on right now on the Velocity channel. They're working on some kind of 4WD truck/jeep/something, and they mentioned these low freq dampers for use on the brakes. They're designed to eliminate moans, groans and squeals from the brakes. And there's a list of vehicles that they are "designed" for as well as new vehicle that come from the factory with them. Not to my surprise, they're ALL American vehicles. Imagine that.

This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. Not once in my life with all of the vehicles I have owned or driven over the years was there any low freq noise coming from the brakes. The only noises I have ever heard come from brakes are either high pitch squeals from worn brake pads or low freq vibrations shaking the entire car from warped rotors up front.

Sorry, but if your vehicle has some kind of low freq noise coming from its brakes, then something somewhere is a total $h!t design and the engineer that designed it needs to be fired. But then again, they are ALL American vehicles only mentioned, so that pretty much goes without saying...

Just another reason for me to NEVER buy an American vehicle.

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Wet brakes tend to make low-frequency noises (moans, groans, shudders, etc) at low speeds and "4WD truck/jeep/something" vehicles often drive slow and get wet brakes when off-road. Doesn't mean anything is wrong with the braking system but the noise can be irritating. I can't imagine the dampers doing much good but that's just my guess.

The list below is what's mentioned for these things, and other than the few actual trucks in that list, I highly doubt the others are going to be off-roading at any speed. On top of that, I've driven plenty of Nissan, Toyota and Mazda pickups off road before through water and mud, even a few stock and modified Land Rovers and Range Rovers. Not once was there any noises coming from the brakes at any speeds above dead stop.

Plus, you don't have to have an off-road vehicle to have wet brakes. Driving a regular car on the road during a rain storm will get your brakes wet, even saturated. Still no noises... Ever.


Ford F150
Lincoln Mark LT
Lincoln Town Car
Ford Ranger
Mercury Grand Marquis
Ford Crown Victoria
Ford Explorer
Lincoln MKX
Ford Edge
Ford Flex
Lincoln MKS
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKT
Chevy Cruze
Chevy Volt

Brakes don't get wet in a normal rain storm - what centrifugal force doesn't sling off gets squeegeed by the pads. Any residual moisture evaporates when you apply the brakes. Off-road vehicle brakes can end up being submersed in water.

Will the dampers do any good on a highway-driven passenger car? Probably not - because they aren't needed.
Off-roads vehicles? Probably won't do much attenuation but may make the noise a little less nerve-racking.

There must be some truth to what I said, why else would cars like a Town Car, Taurus, Crown Vic, Cruze or Volt be on that list? Do people go "muddin" in those cars a lot that I don't know about?

Either way, I'm not exactly disagreeing with or arguing with you. I honestly think the whole thing is stupid and these mentioned vehicles have some kind of design flaw, hence using these dampers as a band aid instead of attacking and solving the issue.

Again, I've driven plenty of trucks and SUV's off road before, in mud and water up to and past the door sills, even up to the hood in the Land Rover Defender. Not ever a problem with any of them.

If you are judging what the truth is by advertising copy, you are screwing up. Because those types of cars are seldom driven through high water, they don't need the dampers at all. But that's not going to stop the company from selling them to anyone willing to pony up a few bucks.

There is no design flaw, it's advertising.

Lucky you. Many people don't have such good luck.

Advertising is all about taking advantage of stupid people thinking the same way. It generally makes no sense to people with any sense.

... like purchasing low freq brake dampers for a Lincoln Town Car.

What do just about all those cars on the list have in common?











Pretty much all of them are common fleet cars for police departments.

Wow. Must have touched a nerve.

What I was getting at was that there's no truth at all about any of it. What that list is is a list of vehicles that come from the factory with that crap on them already. Or at least that's what that company claims. I haven't researched it nor do I care to. Funny it's only American vehicles though.

Luck has nothing to do with it. Common sense on the other hand does.

Though judging from your first post, you seem to believe in this low freq brake phenomenon. Yet now suddenly don't and blame in on advertising.

So they use these instead of replacing warped rotors. LOL :p

Or warped officers :rofl2:

The phenomenon does exist - if disc brakes get wet, they tend to make noise.

Not in my 24+ years of driving, but I guess "I'm just lucky". You know, being that I live in Florida and drive in massive thunderstorms nearly every day during the summer months.

That's great but brakes don't normally get wet in a rainstorm. Off-road is a different story.

:shakes head: