sometimes warped and sometimes not

[thegoon543]

I just had my rotors and pads replaced back in may of last year. They worked fine for a while, but now sometimes it will act warped (going down the highway and braking causes the steering wheel to vibrate erratically) and sometimes it doesnt (no vibration). I have no idea what the deal is but I'd sure like to know.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Rotors do warp, but tires also come out of balance also. You need to get that checked soon and find out the exact cause. If you do need new rotors, get you some good ones, like the ones at ExplorerExpress.

HotDogs

 

[TarHeel085]

its prob dependent on how much you drive since you do live in Boone, and i see by your profile that you go App so must do a good bit of driving down the mountians.

 

[thegoon543]

sorry, i forgot to mention that it is only when i'm braking. just driving doesnt vibrate or anything.

i just dunno how rotors could warp so fast (if thats the problem). i dont drive much because i take the bus to campus each day and ive only taken a few trips up on top of a mountain and back down (i live in the valley). most of where i drive is relatively flat (for Boone). oh well.

but yeah, mountains can quickly chew up brakes.

ill have to check the balance too, i guess. i had new Michelin tires on last year too so i get free balancing (only when i go home, though), so i might wait on that.

 

[snocross1985]

I'm bumping this one up because I have been experiencing the same problem. When I brake going down the highway, the steering wheel shakes like crazy. Anyone know what causes this?

 

[410Fortune]

Its called having a TTB front end. Beamed trucks have these problems.
If ball joints are worn it doesnt help.
If radius arm bushings are worn or toasted or not torqued properly it can cause this
If the axle pivot bushings are shot it can contribute to this.

You see each side, each beam is a triangulated suspension member, with the radius arm taking the full front to back load, everything is mounted on rubber bushings.
Rubber bushings give a little, so they allow the beams to move forward and back slightly, braking will amplify this.

If the ball joints are loose, the wheel bearings are not constantly torqued properly, and all the rest of the above, it is likely all of these things contributing to the vibration, or pulsing.

Now what you can do about it.
First off check tire pressure on all 4
Check pad wear
What kind of pads are you running? the harder the pad the worse its going to be cheapo rotors will warp quickly too

If it is really violent then you need to do a front end shakedown.

Keeping the wheel bearings torqued properly, tires inflated properly, keep the slide pins greased and the knuckle clean from dirt and grime, it will help a great deal.

Also this is assuming the tires are balanced, wheels are not bent, and the truck is aligned.