help with vibration when brakeing. Warped Rotors?

Sep 17, 2003 2 Replies
S
1997 Camery XLE 6 cyl 74,000 miles. I've had all wheels off, plenty of brake pad material left. When I step on the brake with light to medium pressure the steering wheel vibrates. If I apply harder pressure the vibration is less or goes away completely.

I'm ass u ming warped rotors??? Can I have them tested at an auto zone type parts store? (I havent had much luck with them testing my alternator awhile back ) I hate to just replace them!!



Could it be the calipers not sliding and uneven pressure being applied?



Anything else I could check???



Does the fact that I feel it in the steering wheel mean the problem is isolated to the front brakes or could the back brakes also be doing this but obviously there is no steering wheel connected to the rear so there is no way to "feel" it there????



Thanks for ant usfull advice



Steve


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C

Steve,

I suggest you get a micrometer and messure the run out of the rotors so see if they are even. If the thickness varies considerably, then warped rotors are the reason. One can machine them till they are even (assuming there is sufficient thickness left after machining) or replace the rotors. Thicker rotors will give you a better heat sink and prevent pad wear.

As for the caliper, I am not familier how you would check this,

Mark A., others. Any ideas?

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S

I had a similiar issue on my Saturn. As the brakes got hotter, the braking became smooth. This was caused by the rotor glazing over. You could actually see the rotor was different colors in someplaces. It would transition between shiny and shiny blue. If you pull the wheel off, start the car and put it in gear to let the rotor spin, you should put your finger on the rotor and feel the difference in friction on the different parts of the rotor.

Solution is you have to replace the rotor. The blue-ness penetrates deep into the metal, so just cutting them may not solve the problem.

scot

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