Shaking / Vibration
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 946
Likes: 116
From: Panama City, Florida
Shaking / Vibration
Been dealing with a bit of shaking / vibration but really haven't messed with it in a while. Seems like it's coming from the front but not 100% sure. Anyway, while inspecting the front right area I noticed there was no space at all between the brake pad and the rotor. The pads seem to be up against the rotor. I could spin the tire but you could tell there was friction. Could this cause some shaking / vibration?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,108
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hello,
The brake pads are typically up against the rotor, but with almost no pressure.
Is there any sound involved with the vibration/shaking?
Is the rotor warped?
Regards....
The brake pads are typically up against the rotor, but with almost no pressure.
Is there any sound involved with the vibration/shaking?
Is the rotor warped?
Regards....
Last edited by Alan 71; Mar 24, 2026 at 03:49 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
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From: Minnesota
It’s normal for the brake pads to be very close to the rotor. Unless there’s something in the piston physically preventing it from retracing or a brake booster rod that’s too long it’s probably not the brakes.
have the wheel bearings been done recently? How old are the tires?
have the wheel bearings been done recently? How old are the tires?
Le Mans Master
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That's the design. The piston springs keep the pads up against the rotor with slight contact.
The last time I had a vibration it was a tire warning me of a tread separation...
The last time I had a vibration it was a tire warning me of a tread separation...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 946
Likes: 116
From: Panama City, Florida
Every day when I first drive off the brakes squeal from that wheel until I pump them a few times. Pads are new.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 946
Likes: 116
From: Panama City, Florida
It’s normal for the brake pads to be very close to the rotor. Unless there’s something in the piston physically preventing it from retracing or a brake booster rod that’s too long it’s probably not the brakes.
have the wheel bearings been done recently? How old are the tires?
have the wheel bearings been done recently? How old are the tires?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 946
Likes: 116
From: Panama City, Florida
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
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From: Indiana
I had the dealer where I purchased the tires re-balance them. When that didn't help I took them to Discount Tires and had them road forced balanced. Still no luck. But they did say it took a bit to get one of them balanced. I'm tempted to take them somewhere else and have it done again. Something in me still thinks it's the tires.
under 15 . Out of roundness seems to be a trend lately entire manufacturing.
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
FYI about the caliper pads slightly rubbing. Does the vibration seem worse as the tires warm up?
Also...in the early1980s GM developed caliper piston ORINGS that had a offset ridge on the O.D. The ridge pulled the pads about .015 away from the rotores to prevent wear and :grabbing".
GM accidently improved the MPG 2 miles oer gallon because the pads didn't create friction on the roiors.
I bet they trash-canned that pffset o-ring improvement.
Also...in the early1980s GM developed caliper piston ORINGS that had a offset ridge on the O.D. The ridge pulled the pads about .015 away from the rotores to prevent wear and :grabbing".
GM accidently improved the MPG 2 miles oer gallon because the pads didn't create friction on the roiors.
I bet they trash-canned that pffset o-ring improvement.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 946
Likes: 116
From: Panama City, Florida
[QUOTE=doorgunner;1609530577]FYI about the caliper pads slightly rubbing. Does the vibration seem worse as the tires warm up?
Also...in the early1980s GM developed caliper piston ORINGS that had a offset ridge on the O.D. The ridge pulled the pads about .015 away from the rotores to prevent wear and :grabbing".
GM accidently improved the MPG 2 miles oer gallon because the pads didn't create friction on the roiors.
I bet they trash-canned that pffset o-ring improvement.[/QUOTE}
Because of the vibration, I probably don't drive the car enough in any one trip to get the tires warm. But the faster I go the more the vibration.
Also...in the early1980s GM developed caliper piston ORINGS that had a offset ridge on the O.D. The ridge pulled the pads about .015 away from the rotores to prevent wear and :grabbing".
GM accidently improved the MPG 2 miles oer gallon because the pads didn't create friction on the roiors.
I bet they trash-canned that pffset o-ring improvement.[/QUOTE}
Because of the vibration, I probably don't drive the car enough in any one trip to get the tires warm. But the faster I go the more the vibration.
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Bottom line, any one of a large number of things can cause a vibration. For over 40 years I had no vibration. Then one day, I had a horrible vibration, shaking at about 70 -72 MPH. I didn't write a thread, sorry. I wrote about it extensively on the what did you do to your corvette thread over a period of close to a year. I replaced absolutely everything under my car. Nothing stopped it. New tires. Road force balance, new every everything. Drive shaft, all 6 U joints , idler arm , etc, etc, etc. Wheel bearings front and rear. Twice. Nothing helped. Did a vibration analysis to try and pin point the source. Didn't work out.
In the end. Twisted half shafts. Couldn't see it. Until I had the half shafts professionally balanced. Then it turned up.
new half shafts. Problem Solved. Everything under my car is new. Every bushing, every everything.
In the end. Twisted half shafts. Couldn't see it. Until I had the half shafts professionally balanced. Then it turned up.
new half shafts. Problem Solved. Everything under my car is new. Every bushing, every everything.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Virginia
Have you tried rotating the tires, to see if the vibration moves, or changes?
I'm betting tires, too. But make sure it's not an engine issue (clutch in, or shift to neutral, and rev engine, while at speed, for example).
I'd be tempted to go back to Discount Tire, and replace the one offending tire. I'd also inspect the wheel really carefully to make sure it isn't bent.
I'm betting tires, too. But make sure it's not an engine issue (clutch in, or shift to neutral, and rev engine, while at speed, for example).
I'd be tempted to go back to Discount Tire, and replace the one offending tire. I'd also inspect the wheel really carefully to make sure it isn't bent.