I am new here... and I just bought a 2002 F150 FX4.


Under normal braking, everything is fine.

However, when I am at speeds of say 55+MPH and I brake a littler harder than normal (nothing extreme just harder than normal), then I get a vibration in the steering wheel until I get back below around 45MPH.

Is this a warped rotor? More likely the front? Would it make sense that I don't get this shimmy other times if it is a warped rotor?

Or is this possibly another problem? Worn wheel bearings? Bad idler arm? Ball joint? Other?

I would appreciate any and all help.

 

Your guess of a front rotor is 99.9% likely to be correct. A warped rear rotor or drum would not feed through the steering wheel. An out of balance tire or other suspension issue would be there in cases other than braking.

Trucks and vans are pretty tough on rotors. You could have yours turned (if it ends up more than the minimum thickness), but that will make the rotor even thinner and more likely to warp again. The better option is to get a new pair of rotors and new pads for the front.

Good luck,
George

 

If you had a warped rotor you would more than likely feel it all the time and it would give feed back through the brake pedal.

Maybe, a tie rod end? get the front end up off the ground and try move the tire by hand and watch the tie rod end at the same time. I have the same problem you describe in my truck and i know i have play in the tie rods ends, im going to let it get a little worse before i replace anything, as mine is not bad yet. usually i have always replaced the ball joints at the same time and definetly get it aligned afterwards. if in fact that is your problem.