Vibration While Braking
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Vibration While Braking
Hello, I have a 1977 F-150 Custom, 4x4, 351m.
Under light braking, there is some serious vibration that has developed over the last few days. When im at highway speeds and lightly depress the brake, a vibration builds up and it feels just like the right front wheel is about to fall off. If, during this, I jam the brakes on hard, the vibration lessens and is controllable. Today I pulled the right front wheel off and checked the rotor. The rotor spins very freely for about a half turn, and then drags really hard against the pads for the rest of the turn. Im wondering if the rotor could be warped.
All brake components seem to be tight, and the wheel bearings and ball joints seem to be in good shape.
Im wanting to know if anyone has experienced this with their truck and if these symptoms are indicative of a warped rotor. I have not measured the thickness of the rotors, but im reasonably sure they're the originals.
Thanks for any advice
Under light braking, there is some serious vibration that has developed over the last few days. When im at highway speeds and lightly depress the brake, a vibration builds up and it feels just like the right front wheel is about to fall off. If, during this, I jam the brakes on hard, the vibration lessens and is controllable. Today I pulled the right front wheel off and checked the rotor. The rotor spins very freely for about a half turn, and then drags really hard against the pads for the rest of the turn. Im wondering if the rotor could be warped.
All brake components seem to be tight, and the wheel bearings and ball joints seem to be in good shape.
Im wanting to know if anyone has experienced this with their truck and if these symptoms are indicative of a warped rotor. I have not measured the thickness of the rotors, but im reasonably sure they're the originals.
Thanks for any advice
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Warped rotors is mostly a misnomer. Very few rotors are actually warped. The majority have uneven pad material build up. This can happen when the rotor overheats and the pad is left pressed against it-stop light after hard braking, etc. The pad material transfers to the rotor in one spot or unevenly causing the pulsation/vibration. There is a chance you can turn these and get rid of all the old pad material and be ok.
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Well I found the problem, and it wasnt brakes. I noticed that the vibration started showing up even when I wasnt braking and thought that maybe it wasnt the rotors at all. It turns out that the trac bar bushings are completely worn out. I got up under the truck and it was very obvious what the problem was. So, Ive got some ordered.
How hard are these to change? Also, Im kinda worried that the trac bar mounts may be wallowed out from driving it with bad bushings. If they are, is there a fix for it?
How hard are these to change? Also, Im kinda worried that the trac bar mounts may be wallowed out from driving it with bad bushings. If they are, is there a fix for it?
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