My friend's honda is shaking/shimmy when I apply brake on the highway but when I am driving in town there no noticeable shake/shimmy when I apply brake.

It only noticeable if I am going like over 55 mph then brake to exit the off ramp and it shake/shimmy while braking/slowing down the car.

I do know most likely it a warp rotor but I never worked on a honda before so wanted to ask on forum for your input on this.

Also I notice when car is park and I hit the brake the idle rpm drop alittle bit by looking at the rpm on the dashboard. Is that normal too or it leaking too much vac? The needle would be steady at 800 then drop to about 650-700 when I press down the brake peddle in park.

Thanks for your replies and inputs!
Bill

 

Tires need Rotation and Rebalancing maybe an alignment also

 

the same thing is happening to me. and my uncle has the same car and I asked him about it and he said his does it too. I think it may just be a problem with all our cars, Im thinkin its the rotors. As soon as I get my new slotted rotors Ill deffinetly let you know if it makes any difference!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by radiuslight &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Tires need Rotation and Rebalancing maybe an alignment also</TD></TR></TABLE>

NO!!!

Its going to be the brake rotors warped. If its the steering wheel that is shaking its the front rotors that are warped, and if its the brake pedal pulsating back and forth its the rear brakes. If theres enough meat on the rotors/drums thay can be turned if not, then you will need to replace them.

 

It could be that!!

but when was the last time ur tires got rotated and balanced!!!!
could even be a bad wheel bearing!!

 

a bad wheel bearing should shakes/shimmy all the time shouldn't it??

This is only occuring only when I apply the brake. Also I should had mentioned ni earlier post that this is a 1997 model.


Steering doesn't seem to be shaking/shimmy but I can feel the shaking/shimmy on my butt/back and feet when I apply the brake on highway speed going straight and I let go the steering wheel when I tested it and it stay straight so I don't think it the aligement or tires either.


I am leaning toward rotors and I am not even sure if the 1997 model have all 4 disc brake or just only the front. I have not look at the rear yet to see if it a disc or drum brake.


Thanks for your replies!
Bill


Modified by TechBill at 3:00 PM 5/15/2008

 

I would say its the rotors for sure. They are probably warped pretty bad. I would recommend changing them and changing the pads and carefully inspecting the calipers. If the rotors are that bad then there is a good possibility that the calipers are shot too. It wouldnt be a wheel bearing because yes, it would be grinding the whole time. As for tires, it wouldnt get worse when braking, it would get worse as you gained speed. hope this helps

 

i changed my rotors and its still like that.... so any other ideas?

 

possibly the calipers...does it only happen when you brake?? or does it shake all the time?

 

Like I said before

Dude

Just get your Wheels Rebalanced and Rotated!!
Thats going to be the problem!!

 

Did you change out the pads?

Reusing f'd up pads will continue vibration and just warp the new ones as well.

If it just happens during braking radiuslight it's most likely NOT wheel issues. It'd shimmy on accelerating and cruising as well

 

If it still shakes after replacing the brake rotors, you should first look at the brake pads as stated. sand those down and check. If the shaking was really bad to begin with then replace the pads as well. If you used really cheap rotors then you will either A: need to do an on the car rotor turn to make them trun to the hub, or B: return them for a new set.

 

brand new rotors and pads....

 

at work we measure new rotors for run out ("warpage") before installing them, sometimes, especially with the cheaper brands, they have excessive amounts of run out right out of the box...so we have to cut them anyway. it's a common thing even with new rotors, so that's probably the issue. just take the rotors to have them cut and it will take care of your issue. if it is shaking in the steering wheel during braking (and no pulling/noise while braking) then 99.9% of the time, your front rotors have excessive run-out.

 

when you get the rotors cut try to break them in ... and by that i mean dont ride on the brakes and no harsh braking ... because if you do you might warp them and you might glaze the pads ...