Jaguar XF Brake Problems
Table of Contents
Jaguar XF Brake Problems
Jaguar XF Brake Problems
Jaguar XF Brake Problems – Past Lessons, Present Fixes
Here at Pellon Tyre and Autocentre in Halifax, we’re fortunate to have a loyal customer base, including a few proud owners of the stylish Jaguar XF. As someone who’s been in the garage game for a long time – going right back to my days as an apprentice mechanic – I’ve always had a soft spot for Jaguar cars.
They’ve come a long way over the decades, but some things haven’t changed – particularly the ongoing issue of brake vibrations.
🚗 A Bit of Jaguar History – From Fox’s Biscuits to Flared Arches
Back in the day, we had a number of wealthy customers who brought their Jags in for service – including one of the Fox family, the directors behind the Fox’s Biscuits empire. He was always rolling in with a fresh set of new Jaguars – typically keeping four or five on the go at once – which kept us busy with regular servicing and brake repairs.
I particularly remember the Jaguar XJ4 when it launched in the late 1960s – a real head-turner with flared arches and a brand-new tyre spec: the ER70VR15, specially made for Jaguar by Dunlop Tyres. These tyres were engineered in partnership with Jaguar to cope with the power and handling of the new cars.
🛞 The Original Brake Vibration Mystery Jaguar XF Brake Problems
But as great as the XJ4 looked, it wasn’t without its issues – particularly vibration through the brakes and steering wheel. I remember working for National Tyre Service at the time (owned by Dunlop), and we were constantly trying to balance Jaguar wheels as precisely as possible.
Back then, we didn’t have the fancy laser-guided balancers we use today – just basic machines and plenty of elbow grease. In fact, some of the worst cases were taken in secret to a Dunlop test facility in Leeds, where engineers would even skim the tread off tyres in an attempt to make them perfectly round. That’s how serious the vibration problem had become – and how committed Jaguar and Dunlop were to protecting their reputation.
🛠️ Back to the Modern Day – Jaguar XF Brake Issues Still Exist
Fast-forward to today, and we’re still seeing similar issues on the Jaguar XF, especially when it comes to brake judder and droning noises. We regularly carry out brake servicing on several local XF models, and a pattern has started to emerge.
🔍 Case 1 – Vibration at Low Speed Jaguar XF Brake Problems
One XF owner came in reporting a strange issue: the car ran perfectly at high speeds but vibrated when slowing down between 60 and 40 mph. We road-tested it, but – as is often the case – the problem wouldn’t show itself while we were behind the wheel.
The customer had also visited the main dealer, who confirmed this is now a recognised fault with the XF range. The likely cause? Disc brake or hub runout – a slight misalignment that causes vibration when the brakes are applied.
🔧 Case 2 – New Discs and Pads, But Still Vibrating
Another Jaguar XF came in for servicing and needed discs and pads all round. We replaced them, but a few months later the customer returned, complaining of a slight vibration through the brake pedal.
We took the car in for inspection and – while everything looked fine – we suspected a faulty disc. We replaced it under warranty with help from our supplier, but this time we took an extra step: we thoroughly cleaned the hub face before fitting the new discs.
Sure enough, a small amount of rust build-up on the outer part of the hub had caused a very slight misalignment. Cleaning it completely and re-seating the new discs fixed the issue.
🔧 Top Tip – Always Clean the Hub Face Jaguar XF Brake Problems
This experience has led us to a clear conclusion: if you’re fitting new brake discs to a Jaguar XF (or any precision car, really), it’s vital to clean the hub face thoroughly. Even a tiny bit of corrosion can throw off the alignment just enough to cause brake vibration.
It’s a simple fix that many overlook – and it could save a lot of head-scratching (and repeat visits) later on.
📍 Jaguar Brake Repairs and MOTs in Halifax
If you drive a Jaguar XF and you’ve noticed:
- A pulsing brake pedal
- Droning noises when slowing down
- Juddering through the steering at low speeds
…bring it in to Pellon Tyre and Autocentre for a full brake inspection. We specialise in brake repairs, MOT testing, and servicing for prestige cars.
With decades of hands-on experience and a real passion for cars, we’ll keep your Jaguar running smoothly – without the mystery vibrations.
Eric Roberts
