Braking Question

  • 85lund
    Menomonie, WI
    Posts: 2317
    #1271544

    We have a Ford Escape and when I apply the brakes it shakes quite a bit. What usually causes this? I was thinking warped rotors, but is there anything else that can cause this? Just looking for some input so I don’t get raked over the coals when I take it in.

    Thanks Guys,

    Mike W
    MN/Anoka/Ham lake
    Posts: 13294
    #952491

    Would think warped rooters to.

    kroger3
    blaine mn
    Posts: 1116
    #952494

    warped rotors

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22456
    #952500

    Yep, really bad, it’s the fronts.

    skeeter20
    Winnie/Grand Rapids,MN
    Posts: 902
    #952517

    Yeah warped rotors for sure. If you have let it go to far then you wont be able to turn them and also if gone too long you might need new pads. The way to tell if its the front or the rear is if when you break its in the wheel its the front and if you feel the shake in the seat its the rear.

    whiskeysour
    4 miles from Pool 9
    Posts: 693
    #952530

    Who needs brakes?

    85lund
    Menomonie, WI
    Posts: 2317
    #952538

    Quote:


    Yeah warped rotors for sure. If you have let it go to far then you wont be able to turn them and also if gone too long you might need new pads. The way to tell if its the front or the rear is if when you break its in the wheel its the front and if you feel the shake in the seat its the rear.


    Its in the wheel. Time for an appointment! Thanks guys

    bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9362
    #952545

    Quote:


    Who needs brakes?


    My wife doesn’t

    Long ago the wife gets home from running errands with HER truck. She walked in the house and told me she believed something fell out from the front of the truck. I asked if she heard anything funny before or had any idea where she thought the object came from. She then tells me that the front has been squeaking for sometime when she stops and that she believed what ever she heard came from the very front of the truck. Upon inspection I found that the left front brake pads were completely gone and the rights were hangin’ on by a thread Squeaking my arse, that had to sound like a meat grinder on metal

    Long story short, I ended up replacing rotors that I might have been able to take in and have turned down which could have saved me some cost for the brake job. Now days I believe the rotors on most vehicles are disposable anyways.

    Oh yea, by the way…after the butt chewing she got I hear about every little tick, ding or vibration in her vehicles now

    nick
    Lakeville, MN
    Posts: 4977
    #952576

    I stand by the point that is almost all cases it’s just extra brake pad built up on the rotors, (then again rotors don’t last forever and should be replaced once in awhile.)

    I noticed my car was doing this a bit today, I apply a method told to me by a guy that sold brake pads and rotors for a living, take the car out find a nice safe stretch of road, bring it up to decent speed 55-70mph, and full brakes to the floor, repeat 3-5 times, that should be enough to take any extra stuck on pad off.

    Did it twice pretty good from 55mph this morning, noticeable difference already.

    IMHO, if you can find a safe stretch of road and feel comfortable doing such, try it, for me it’s worked EVERY time I had pulsing starting.

    Worst off rotors are cheap and easy to replace on your own, and shops charge redicoulous prices for the service and parts.

    Added benefit, Have you actually done such a thing with your car before? I know the brakes on our Rav4 are much more impressive than previously thought, when you can feel it in your chest.

    Czech
    Cottage Grove, MN
    Posts: 1574
    #952629

    If you have the choice, consider a solid cast rotor, the cheaper ones are cast and steel and I believe they warp easier because they heat and cool at different rates. Also torque the lugs with a torque wench to spec, air hammers can over tighten and lead to warping also. 2 cents!

    taildancer
    Posts: 20
    #952633

    Like everyone else, I would assume the rotors. With the cost of them I usually just replace them instead of turning them. The brakes are REALLY easy to do. Two 18mm bolts and the caliper is off then the rotor pretty much fall off. With the best pads and about 45min you can put them on yourself for about $80 per side.

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