Explorer "Bounces" while braking

[screamingnak3d]

Hello, this is my first post and I'm a complete noob at cars and all the sorts. But here's what's wrong: When I start to break, it feels like my car is going over a little bit of gravel, like its a little bouncy. I went to Goodyear, and to Firestone, and goodyear said that my ball joints are bad, and firestone said I just need new break pads and rotors. Does anybody have personal expierence with this? If so, can you tell me how you fixed it? I would like to be able to learn how to do work on my own car and not pay someone for labor. Thanks in advance!

 

[Joe Dirt]

Is it like a "pulsing" feeling? If so, the rotors are probably warped. When the brakes are done, the rotors can be turned (basically sanded flat again) if there is enough material left or replaced. For the price of new rotors anymore, I just replace them.

Maybe until you're more comfortable wrenching on your car, I would talk to some friends and find a good reputable small garage that someone works with rather than the big Firestone, NTB, Goodyear, etc. shops, they don't give the best advice or repair procedure. Not that they can't do good work, but it seems that they gravitate to the same fixes all the time when the fix they suggest isn't the actual issue, it's just the one they're used to working on and it's less work to diagnose and they can get you in and out- except that the problem will still be there, and they'll have some of your $$$.

 

[1AJeremyD]

I would have to agree with the brakes being warped