Vibration from Steering wheel While braking - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

marc780 · 05-03-2007, 02:47 PM

My wive 2001 V6 Solara has vibration from the steering wheel when braking only. (im posting here cause i want more responses than i'd get on Solara forum) I am changing the pads and front rotors in a week. Any ideas on anything else that could cause this vibration? I havent driven her car and im just assuming it is the rotors -
Any tips on doing this job easier from people who have done it? Thanks-

JSM1284 · 05-03-2007, 02:53 PM

Its warped rotors, Replacing them or resurfacing them will fix the problem

thapranksta · 05-03-2007, 02:59 PM

My Camry vibrates a little as well when I brake but only when I'm bringing the car to a complete stop or slowing to probably below 5 mph. The issue is more noticable when the AC is on. The dealership told me that it might be a leaking hose or something. I haven't gotten the problem fixed yet because I've learned to drive with it. Any ideas of what it could actually be?

***toyomoho*** · 05-03-2007, 05:12 PM

A/C on might cause the engine to vibrate more. Does the idle speed pickup when the A/C turns on?

thapranksta · 05-03-2007, 05:17 PM

I'll have to check it out.

marc780 · 05-03-2007, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSM1284

Its warped rotors, Replacing them or resurfacing them will fix the problem

Thanks, i thought so too - is it likely there could be some other or adidtional problem causing it like wheel alignment out or something - i'd hate to replace the rotors and she still has the vibrations after all that.

Luna2 · 05-03-2007, 07:11 PM

Have the CV (outer) joints checked, during the brake job. (One bad spot could do it, too. Just like a warped rotor. Might check the wheel bearing at the same time.)

marc780 · 05-04-2007, 09:23 AM

ok thanks...do you suppose a bad cv would only vibrate while braking though? It is possible, as you say - i will check the boots and free play for sure while in in there.

marc780 · 05-13-2007, 01:56 PM

UPDATE: I did the brake job and changed the pads and rotors. She wanted to play it cheap and since she is an expert on everything, told me not to change the rotors if they looked good. I had driven the car, knew the pedal vibrated when braking and knew it must be the rotors, but damned if the old rotors and pads DIDN'T look good. Rotors reasonably smooth and the pads with about 3/4 of their lining left.

I started sanding the old ones to remove the glaze, then thought better of it and just started the brake job - i didnt have a dial indicator to check, but my braking foot had told me already the rotors must be warped.

I probably could have reused the old pads but didn't, i just changed 'em and kept em for later. I test drove the car, and decided if all this hadn't fixed the problem then i would replace the old parts and look elsewhere for the problem. The car now braked smooth like new, problem solved, wife happy for 5 minutes, so i went home and tossed the old rotors but kept the old pads for next time.

I guess i learned a rotor can look good but still it isn't good. I might have had the old ones turned instead of buying new ones; but a) just wanted to get it over with and not jerk around all day, and maybe into the next with this crap, and b) the new ones were only $21/each.