JStrider
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- December 18, 2005
- Messages
- 295
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- North Houston, TX
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- *RIP* 1993 XLT 4dr 4x4
Ok this past spring break I went up to Colorado for a week (near florrisant)
about mid week I started getting a vibration in the front end when braking. So I figured I was getting a warped rotor and needed to make sure I wasn't riding the brakes down hills and what not.
I deal with it for the rest of the week. sometimes it wasnt very bad and sometimes it was really bad then on the way home I noticed it wasn't doing it anymore.
I've finally gotten around to pulling off the front tires and checking things out...
I looked for anything that could be problematic... everything was covered in road grime tho, i'll prolly go blast all that off with a pressure washer later.
the brakes look to be in good shape, the outside of the passenger rotor has some slight grooves in it... but their not very deep, 1mm MAX. The pads are still nice and thick.
when I spun the rotor by hand I could hear the pads touching the rotor, but It wasn't really enough to slow it down or anything... just enough to make a slight sound when spinning. I'm not sure if thats normal, or i the pads are supposed to completely come away from the rotor when the brakes not on.
the radius arm bushings look alright... not cracked at all and they have bolts, not rivets, so they have been replaced before.
I looked at the front U-joints, they looked kinda crusty like everything else under my car. maybe a little more so but there didnt seem to be any unusual play in the joints. But I didn't really know what to look for specifically
once I had the tires back on I notice that grabbing them and shaking them got a little play in the tire, the brake rotors did not move also,
in the front passenger side there was more movement if I shook it top to bottom, I looked behind to see if the play was in the balljoints, they appeared stationary as well as the rotors. the side to side play was less pronounced then the top to bottom.
on the driver side there was a little bit of play top to bottom, but not as much , and on the side to side there was almost no play at all. on this side the rotors and ball joints were not flexing at all either, it was just the tire.
not really sure what to do about the disapeared vibration... can't really go to a mechanic and have them feel it.
now the squeek, its been there off and on for a year or so, just recently its gotten more prominent and more on then off.
usually starts around 5-15mph and I can hear it to about 45ish, might just get covered by wind noise. the sound kinda oscilates and gets faster as I drive faster, it sounds like its coming from the front of the car while I am sitting in the driver seat.
Wasn't really gonna do anything about this, figured I've just been driving around town mostly and not doing much traveling... But now I'm planning to head up to moab to meet all you guys. Don't know if i'll be doing much wheeling, dont have all the things on the list. But I would like to figure out what these problems are before I head out on a long trip like that.
thanks for the help you guys.
about mid week I started getting a vibration in the front end when braking. So I figured I was getting a warped rotor and needed to make sure I wasn't riding the brakes down hills and what not.
I deal with it for the rest of the week. sometimes it wasnt very bad and sometimes it was really bad then on the way home I noticed it wasn't doing it anymore.
I've finally gotten around to pulling off the front tires and checking things out...
I looked for anything that could be problematic... everything was covered in road grime tho, i'll prolly go blast all that off with a pressure washer later.
the brakes look to be in good shape, the outside of the passenger rotor has some slight grooves in it... but their not very deep, 1mm MAX. The pads are still nice and thick.
when I spun the rotor by hand I could hear the pads touching the rotor, but It wasn't really enough to slow it down or anything... just enough to make a slight sound when spinning. I'm not sure if thats normal, or i the pads are supposed to completely come away from the rotor when the brakes not on.
the radius arm bushings look alright... not cracked at all and they have bolts, not rivets, so they have been replaced before.
I looked at the front U-joints, they looked kinda crusty like everything else under my car. maybe a little more so but there didnt seem to be any unusual play in the joints. But I didn't really know what to look for specifically
once I had the tires back on I notice that grabbing them and shaking them got a little play in the tire, the brake rotors did not move also,
in the front passenger side there was more movement if I shook it top to bottom, I looked behind to see if the play was in the balljoints, they appeared stationary as well as the rotors. the side to side play was less pronounced then the top to bottom.
on the driver side there was a little bit of play top to bottom, but not as much , and on the side to side there was almost no play at all. on this side the rotors and ball joints were not flexing at all either, it was just the tire.
not really sure what to do about the disapeared vibration... can't really go to a mechanic and have them feel it.
now the squeek, its been there off and on for a year or so, just recently its gotten more prominent and more on then off.
usually starts around 5-15mph and I can hear it to about 45ish, might just get covered by wind noise. the sound kinda oscilates and gets faster as I drive faster, it sounds like its coming from the front of the car while I am sitting in the driver seat.
Wasn't really gonna do anything about this, figured I've just been driving around town mostly and not doing much traveling... But now I'm planning to head up to moab to meet all you guys. Don't know if i'll be doing much wheeling, dont have all the things on the list. But I would like to figure out what these problems are before I head out on a long trip like that.
thanks for the help you guys.
