Brake Vibration, @ highway speed braking Options

[Speedy2k]

Recently I noticed that when braking from 100km/h (60mph) the car would shake and vibrate. I decided to check out the front rotors and pads. The rotors had quite a bit of thickness difference and were actually below the 23mm min thickness. So I got new rotors and pads.

I install the new rotors, pads and then go out to bed them in. I go on the highway and do some stops. My car is still vibrating! :x

I dont get it! What else could be wrong? The hub surface was clean and there looked to be no dirt or anything that could offset the mating surface with the rotor. Is it possible my wheel hubs are bent and have in/out play?

The car has new sway bar end links, ball joints, and tie rods that were all installed a couple of weeks ago. The driver side axle seems to be broken though, because it makes a noise every time I take off.

[celica101]

My car did the same thing and oddly enough it turned out to be the wheel bearing. I replaced it and it was fine after that.

[Speedy2k]

Now how do I tell which wheel bearing is bad?

[celica101]

if you jack up the front of the car grab the top of the tire and pull it towards you and push it back, if the wheel shakes the bearings going bad. Keep in mind this might not be whats wrong just happened to be the problem for me.

[LewFX]

shoulda research the probable causes before buying

[Speedy2k]

shoulda research the probable causes before buying

Thanks for the tip mate

[malpaso]

I had the same problem caused by hand brake (pakring brake). If you have been using it, that may be your problem too.

[94GT]

Do you have any uneven tire wear? That can cause vibration while decelerating through certain speeds.

[Speedy2k]

No this is strictly when breaking from higher speeds. It really vibrates. However yesterday I also noticed that when I am going 80mph I have the vibration in the steering wheel as well. I dont get it because I had all 4 wheels balanced???

Maybe the fact that my driver side axle has play at the tranny side is causing this vibration.

[DeW_H0e_GT]

try rotating your tires to see if you still have vibrations

[Speedy2k]

Rotated rear tires to the front and still have the same vibration. WTF!?!?

[cheeco]

there alot of potholes around where you live? if so chances are you have bent wheels.
jack the car up and spin the wheel while looking at the inner rim edge, if it wobbles, its
bent. steel wheels will bend alot easier than alloy, but at the same time are easier to
bend back.

as for the brake vibration, you said you felt it in the car?, like the seat? could the rears be warped.
somtimes its hard to tell where the vibration is coming from unless you know the characteristics
of the car very well.

[Bitter]

it could be...

warped rotors
bent/warped hub
bent wheel
badly balanced wheel
missing axle dampener

the last 3 should cause vibrations when NOT braking and when braking, the 1st 2 are more likely to cause issues only when braking.