Question about brakes

[davidb]

Well my SHO made it three whole months without any issues that would send it to the shop. Today I had to brake somewhat hard and the whole front felt like it was going to shake right off. Stearing wheel shook back and forth in my hands and the front end sort of did a clatter type thing. It was really bad. Does anyone know what I might be dealing with. I would like to know what may be wrong before I let a shop tell me. Thank much!!

Dave

 

[SableSal]

Sounds like you experienced an ABS Panic Stop. If so, nothing I would worry about...

Did the pedal feel like it were vibrating too? If so, thats what it is...




Sal

 

[davidb]

Sounds like you experienced an ABS Panic Stop. If so, nothing I would worry about...

Did the pedal feel like it were vibrating too? If so, thats what it is...




Sal

Really dont know if the peddel was vibrating or not. I was to worried about the shaking to notice. The brakes work fine now if I apply them real slow but if I do any hard braking I get the front end shake.

Dave

 

[SuperHO]

Sounds like a warped rotor to me....lord knows, with my 94's rear brakes not really working, I'm familiar with that feeling......

 

[ManySHOs]

I suspect that you have "warped" rotors (which are really hot spots on the rotor surface). I would not have them cut. Get new ones installed.

Ian

 

[laxmax327]

yea its hard to say just by your description. but i too would say its just warped rotors. although if the abs kicks in for some reason it will give you a similar feeling. but i doubt thats it unless you were driving in the rain.

 

[SuperHO]

yea its hard to say just by your description. but i too would say its just warped rotors. although if the abs kicks in for some reason it will give you a similar feeling. but i doubt thats it unless you were driving in the rain.

I've never ONCE had the ABS cause the steering wheel to shake....pedal, yes, but never the wheel...

 

[Shoaz]

I've never ONCE had the ABS cause the steering wheel to shake....pedal, yes, but never the wheel...

Same here, and "warped" rotors shouldn't cause that, either.

There's definitely a problem, and I'd stop driving it regularly until you get it sorted out.

 

[davidb]

Same here, and "warped" rotors shouldn't cause that, either.

There's definitely a problem, and I'd stop driving it regularly until you get it sorted out.

Well then, its back to the shop for the shophog because I really do not know what it is. I do know it feels like something is lose up front. Could it have anything to do with the struts. The last owner put struts on the car that are so stiff it reminds me of riding one of those hard tire bikes when I was a kid. Its fine on good road but if you hit a bump it jars you to the bone.

Dave

 

[Shoaz]

A first quick thing to do is make sure that your wheels are still bolted on tight and that you haven't broken a stud or lost a lug nut or two. Even just a couple of lugs coming loose will cause trouble.

Beyond that it will be a good idea to get things looked at more closely.

 

[davidb]

A first quick thing to do is make sure that your wheels are still bolted on tight and that you haven't broken a stud or lost a lug nut or two. Even just a couple of lugs coming loose will cause trouble.

Beyond that it will be a good idea to get things looked at more closely.

I just ruled out the lug nuts. Wheels are all on tight. I rolled the car in neutral and noticed that the right front wheel seemed to have a slight skip in it, almost like it was trying to lift up off the road I have know idea what that could be, or if it is even a problem.

Dave

 

[Dan H]

Mine used to shake quite a bit during hard braking, new rotors and pads fixed the problem.

 

[davidb]

Mine used to shake quite a bit during hard braking, new rotors and pads fixed the problem.

I am having the car looked at tommrow. I was hoping to get an idea of what might be wrong before I took it in.

Dave

 

[stevemainian]

Sounds like your front rotors have some runout on them. The only accurate way to check that is with a dial indicator. And see if your readings match factory specs.

You may be able to turn them if the thickness of the rotor has not went below the refinish specs.

Your best bet is to just buy new front pads and rotors. Make sure you clean off the rotors before you install them. New rotors come from the factory with a protective oil film on them. Get a can of brake clean and clean them, if not, youll get some brake noise. Be sure to **** the shim arms so the pad is able to move freely in the bracket.

 

[davidb]

Sounds like your front rotors have some runout on them. The only accurate way to check that is with a dial indicator. And see if your readings match factory specs.

You may be able to turn them if the thickness of the rotor has not went below the refinish specs.

Your best bet is to just buy new front pads and rotors. Make sure you clean off the rotors before you install them. New rotors come from the factory with a protective oil film on them. Get a can of brake clean and clean them, if not, youll get some brake noise. Be sure to **** the shim arms so the pad is able to move freely in the bracket.

Thanks for the info

Dave

 

[davidb]

Back from the shop

Well, The shophog is back. I needed to have my rotors resurfaced. I needed new brake pads; went with Akebono AKE Ceramic pads. I also had a broken front sway bar link. I replaced thoes with moog links. I also had a broken front strut mount and my struts were way out of adjustment. Total cost: $400.00 installed. I have to learn how to do this stuff myself.

Dave