Brake Vibration
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Laurel Md
Brake Vibration
Hey guys, got another one for ya. Yesterday while proving that Corvettes own the road (sorry, I had to... a type-R Dodge Neon was taunting me), I was breaking kinda fast from about 90 mph. I felt a huge pulsating in the front end and it seemed to be the brakes. It was very scary to have to slow down only to feel your front end almost floating and not making any kind of traction. Brake pads seem to be okay so any ideas?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,602
Likes: 20
From: Palm City Florida
Re: Brake Vibration (TheWoody)
You have warped rotors... :cry
Sometimes if you get em real hot again and then let off and let em cool without any brake pressure they might come back.. I heard rumors of this..but don't count on it..
Sometimes if you get em real hot again and then let off and let em cool without any brake pressure they might come back.. I heard rumors of this..but don't count on it..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Laurel Md
Re: Brake Vibration (chuckster)
I will try to get them to reform themselves but I am thinking after 2 days the odds are against me. I noticed you have some aftermarket brake rotors, is this how you know what my problem was? I mean is this a common thing on c5s?
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
From: Rochester NY
Re: Brake Vibration (TheWoody)
I hear ya. Same problem here when the front brakes get hot. Rather than resurface, I'm going to replace all 4 with drilled slotted for looks and cooler temps.
Anybody know where I can buy DBA Longlifes Golds online?
Mark
Anybody know where I can buy DBA Longlifes Golds online?
Mark
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley CA
Re: Brake Vibration (TheWoody)
At the risk of being simplistic, are you sure you didn't just activate the ABS. Your note said "huge pulsating" which is exactly what ABS feels like as opposed to rotor related stuff which is more of a flutter or shimmy. I'd try intentionally activating ABS with a panic stop and double check before I'd screw around with the purchase of new stuff.
Good luck :cheers:
Good luck :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington DE
Re: Brake Vibration (kraff)
Oh come on kraff, lets not get logical or even examine other possibilities; let's all jump to the concolusion that it's warped rotors. :smash:
A short story: I picked up my Chrysler 300M from the dealer and on the way home the brake peddle was pulsing very noticably. NO it wasn't warped rotors. :nonod: It was very simple. The lug nuts were not torqued correctly. I think one was at 100 lb-ft and the others were very lightly torqued, which caused the brake pulsing problem. I torqued the lug nuts correctly and the pulsing went away. :D
A short story: I picked up my Chrysler 300M from the dealer and on the way home the brake peddle was pulsing very noticably. NO it wasn't warped rotors. :nonod: It was very simple. The lug nuts were not torqued correctly. I think one was at 100 lb-ft and the others were very lightly torqued, which caused the brake pulsing problem. I torqued the lug nuts correctly and the pulsing went away. :D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington DE
Re: Brake Vibration (TheWoody)
TheWoody:
The pulsing could be caused by a number of things, including one or more warped rotors, but with a little investigation you can probably narrow it down. If you don't have the time or interest in analyzing the situation, then take you car to a trusted mechanic and find out what the problem really is before you start throwing $$$$ at the wrong problem.
I would remove all the wheels and carefully inspect the rotors for cracks. If one is cracked this can cause some terrible pulsing. Check the suspension. Is something loose (like a tie rod joint)? Turn the rotors by hand and see if there is any noticable binding during the rotation of the rotor. Clean the area where the wheel contacts the rotor ( and the wheel hub also) so the wheel and rotor have a flush contact patch. Finally put the wheels back on (assuming you didn't find any problems) and torque the nuts to 100 lb-ft and take it for a ride. If it's still pulsing then one or more of the rotors are most likely warped. Good Luck :D
The pulsing could be caused by a number of things, including one or more warped rotors, but with a little investigation you can probably narrow it down. If you don't have the time or interest in analyzing the situation, then take you car to a trusted mechanic and find out what the problem really is before you start throwing $$$$ at the wrong problem.
I would remove all the wheels and carefully inspect the rotors for cracks. If one is cracked this can cause some terrible pulsing. Check the suspension. Is something loose (like a tie rod joint)? Turn the rotors by hand and see if there is any noticable binding during the rotation of the rotor. Clean the area where the wheel contacts the rotor ( and the wheel hub also) so the wheel and rotor have a flush contact patch. Finally put the wheels back on (assuming you didn't find any problems) and torque the nuts to 100 lb-ft and take it for a ride. If it's still pulsing then one or more of the rotors are most likely warped. Good Luck :D
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 162
From: Louisville KY
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C6 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Re: Brake Vibration (Jim 47)
If there not pulsating anymore then you probably hit a rough, or slick spot which made the car lose traction activating the antilock braking. :yesnod:
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Laurel Md
Re: Brake Vibration (pjazz)
Thanks for all the input guys. I really appreciate the fact that people are happy to help each other out. However, even today at slower stopping speeds, I can feel the same thing. I am going to take off the wheels and have a look this weekend.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,541
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Re: Brake Vibration (TheWoody)
Thanks for all the input guys. I really appreciate the fact that people are happy to help each other out. However, even today at slower stopping speeds, I can feel the same thing. I am going to take off the wheels and have a look this weekend.
Yup they are warped :(
