Steering wheel pulses when braking
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Aggieland, TX
Steering wheel pulses when braking
I have a 2002 F-250 CC 4x4 PSD with just over 36K miles. I added a Pro Comp 4-inch lift kit, and BFG A/T tires (35 x 12.5) on Pro Comp simulated beadlock wheels (16.5 x 9.75 - strong mother scratchers). I also added a Pro Comp steering stabilizer.
More often than not, when I approach a stop and apply the brakes, the truck vibrates. Actually, vibration isn't the right word. It's more like a pulsing effect, where the steering wheel dances. Could my front end need realigning? Or would adding a second steering stabilizer help? Is it just that big tires need to be balanced more frequently than small tires?
I'd like to fix this before I start having brake problems, irregular tire wear, etc. By the way, when I apply the brakes firmly, the effect isn't as pronounced, and sometimes it doesn't display the behavior at all. Of course, before I added the big tires, there was no pulsing.
Thanks,
bspeake
More often than not, when I approach a stop and apply the brakes, the truck vibrates. Actually, vibration isn't the right word. It's more like a pulsing effect, where the steering wheel dances. Could my front end need realigning? Or would adding a second steering stabilizer help? Is it just that big tires need to be balanced more frequently than small tires?
I'd like to fix this before I start having brake problems, irregular tire wear, etc. By the way, when I apply the brakes firmly, the effect isn't as pronounced, and sometimes it doesn't display the behavior at all. Of course, before I added the big tires, there was no pulsing.
Thanks,
bspeake
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Perkins, OK
I've had something like what you described on other trucks. It was caused by warped disc brake rotors. You can get them turned to straighten them out, assuming that it hasn't already been done. You can only take off so much material before you have to replace them. Might be worth a try. It's normally not terribly expensive.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 0
Second that. It sounds like warped discs. Just be glad you don't have a D*dge. A friend has three of them in his fleet of 2 dozen trucks - mostly Fords. The D*dges eat brakes - averaging only about 15,000 miles between front brake jobs - and they need new discs every other brake job. Ouch.
I can't say this is normal for D*dges, but his three are all about the same. And don't get him started on fuel mileage of the V10s...
I can't say this is normal for D*dges, but his three are all about the same. And don't get him started on fuel mileage of the V10s...
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City, OK
Yep. I'd say you definately have warped brake rotors. I've had this happen on a lot of other vehicles. As long as the vibration isn't too bad, go ahead and get them turned. Auto Zone does this, but my might want to go to a place that specializes in brakes. If they get too bad, you'll have to replace the rotors. Rotors for a half ton truck are usually around $20 to $30 each. I hate to think what a rotor costs for a 3/4 ton or 1 ton diesel truck! Matt
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 0
From: IOWA
For preventative maintenance, be sure not to over tighten the lug nuts, with the big tires and lift it's tempting to do it to keep the wheels from falling off. Use a torque wrench and torque the lug nuts to what is suggested, either by Ford or the suspension company.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 0
From: Near DC
Any recommended mileage to get the rotors turned? I also, feel a very slight pulse. Got 37k on my '03 PSD, no brake job yet.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Steve_250
Any recommended mileage to get the rotors turned? I also, feel a very slight pulse. Got 37k on my '03 PSD, no brake job yet.
One other thing that helps preserve disc integrity - DO use a torque wrench, as farmb0y said, but when you torque them down, do them in a cross-pattern sequence so you are tightening around the disc evenly. Works for cylinder head bolts, works for lug nuts.
On light weight cars it helps, but I believe on heavy pickups, it is necessary.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,821
Likes: 19
From: South Dakota
With the size of tires you are running, it shouldn't be any surprise that your rotors are getting warped. Your stock brake system is having to do double duty to stop the extra rolling mass, which means extra heat.
Torquing to proper specs is necessary, but in the grand scheme of things, means diddly as far as rotor warping goes. Weather, driving style, brake pad quality, and tire size are all factors that affect rotor warping.
Sounds like better rotors (read slotted or drilled) and better brakes are in order.
Torquing to proper specs is necessary, but in the grand scheme of things, means diddly as far as rotor warping goes. Weather, driving style, brake pad quality, and tire size are all factors that affect rotor warping.
Sounds like better rotors (read slotted or drilled) and better brakes are in order.
Last edited by superrangerman2002; Mar 29, 2005 at 09:59 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 0
From: IOWA
Originally Posted by superrangerman2002
Torquing to proper specs is necessary, but in the grand scheme of things, means diddly as far as rotor warping goes. Weather, driving style, brake pad quality, and tire size are all factors that affect rotor warping.
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
I have almost the same truck with a similar setup and I'm having the same problem. I was interested in watching this post to see what others would say. I'm certain it's not the rotors on mine, I can hit the brakes hard to get it to stop pulsing...and I don't feel the movement in the brake pedal. I was thinking when it started that a wheel isn't sitting flat on the hub, and when I tighten the lugs, it's crooked, or it could be a wheel bearing going bad....or in your case it could be a rotor, but if it's like mine.....it's probably not...
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 0
Usually you feel the pulsing most in the steering wheel. Also, when the rotors are not badly warped, you can press hard enough to stop the pulsing. If they warp badly enough, even hard braking will not stop the pulsing.
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
It appears that I may have been correct, at least on mine. As I stated I had a similar problem, and was fairly certain that it wasn't the brakes. I had recently rotated my tires from the back to the front, on the same side, and that's when the problem appeared to begin, so I decided to switch the front tires to see what happens, and that seemed to fix it. I have 36" Interco TrXus tires, so they aren't uni-directional, so it should cause any problems to do this. If this hadn't solved my problem, I would have turned the rotors.
