When driving I experience a vibration that only happens when braking. The whole car doesn't shake but the vibration is noticeable through the brake pedal and steering wheel. My pads and rotors were shot so I changed them, but to no avail.
Any ideas, thoughts, comments etc. are welcome

TIA, James

 

alignment man. my hatch is doing the same stuff and it's out of alignment. try that

 

New pads and rotors?? Could an alignment help?

 

Alignment should not be the case here.

Most likely it's the rotors and pads. They are warpped, which a lot of time is caused due sudden hard braking. Putting too much stress on the rotors, causing them to warp due to heat.

What you need to do is take the rotor off and bring them to Pep Boys. They can re-surface them (not all the time, depending on the life). I also suggest to have the pads changed at the same time.

If it's an alignment problem, it does cause the car to vibrate, but both during accleration and also stopping, not just one or another.

Ian

 

i put new pads and rotors on my hatch and when brake it shakes b/c i nedd an alignment. common knowledge and a friend told me so. an alignment will most likely do it. so do that and go from there. if you have more problems then take it to a brake specialist.

 

resurface your rotors

 

I already changed them out but nope, not the culprit.

I would think if this was the problem the car would not track properly. But it rolls straight cruising, braking, hell torque steer isn't even that bad. And its is only while braking not crusing or accelerating... Wierd

I'm thinking maybe the tie-rod end ball joint/knuckle connection is worn allowing the wheel to shimmy back and forth... <shrug>

James

 

check if one of your upper control arm ball joints has gone bad

 

Were they aftermarket rotors??? I have seen them warped right out of the box. My dad put aftermarket rotors on and about 3 weeks later they were warped.

 

did you wash the car after driving? do you have opened space wheels(like a spoonesque type wheel where the brakes are exposed) that possibly got wet during rain or snow driving? this is a very common thing to happen, water on hot metal equals warpage. plus auto store rotors sometimes are crap out of the box, go with a brembo blank its affordable and quality

 

 

yes this or tie rod bushings. i was having the same problem in my hatch and these things were the culprits

 

Does it "pull" in any given direction during vibration? If so, Id be pinning down one of your outer tie rod ends,(or both of them for that matter) as the most likely culprit. Have an allignment shop give you an idea as well, theyll probably be able to tell you pretty quickly...

 

check to make sure the capiler pivot bolts are tight, i had one come loose and it would shake so bad i thought the car was going to fall apart.. tightened it up and it was A-OK