brand new brake issues!!!!

[fatngs]

today, with the help of a buddy, we just installed brand new centric rotors front and back, akebono pads front and back, and new hardware kits all from rock auto...... installation went well and the first few stops were fine.... i tested in a residential area so i couldnt go too fast but at one point i got it up to about 30 and hit the brakes with medium pressure and let go of the wheel and i immediately noticed the wheel shaking ..... so i turned around and stopped again the same way and it did it again.... we visually checked all the brake componets and they seemed ok

so now when i drive above 25 and press the brakes the entire front end of the car shakes, depending on the pedal pressure

i called rock auto and after about 45 mins of bickering on the phone with them i ordered 2 new ones and they will refund them once they recieve the defective ones..... i did request new front pads because i prefer to have fresh pads with the new rotors... they said i would have to pull them off to see if theyre bad and they would defect them if theyre bad

i wont recieve the new rotors until about mon or tue of next week and i wont be able to install them until next wednesday.... and in between that i have 2 jobs to get to and a car with messed up brakes...... anyway ive been trying to be as easy on the brakes by doing quite a bit of engine braking when coming to a stop and keeping my speed down

so here are my questions......

1. have u ever heard of this happening? i sell auto parts at one job and this is rare that ppl come back so soon

2. i know theres no way of knowing until i pull the pads off but do you think they will be ok to use with the new rotors? they should have less than 200 miles on them by the time i can replace the rotors again

3. also a few days ago, with the recent snow, i slid into a curb on the LF wheel and screwed up the alignment (drives normal but steering wheel is off center)..... tie rod is ok but i was just wondering if this could have anything todo with the brake problems... the steering has felt a little odd since i hit the curb (i'm geting an alignment sometime next week)

thanks!!

[gdanaher]

Yes, the alignment is an issue. You have bent something, but here's the fix for the out of round rotor. To get that much action at the steering wheel, one of the rotors is way out of round and it likely did not happen at the factory. Jack the car and block it well on one side, remove the wheel so you can see the rotor and with help from a second person hopefully, put the car in gear and let the axle spin up. You should see it easily if it is out of round. If you can't tell, use something stiff but light such as a popsicle stick and press it against the caliper as a guide and push in slowly until it contacts the spinning rotor. You should be able to feel it running true or out of round. If all seems ok, go the the other side and do the same thing. When you find the one that is out of round, pull the caliper off and hang it so you don't stress the hydraulic hose , pull the rotor and see if you have a piece of dirt, pebble or something stuck to the backside. Then look at the hub and feel all the way around to see if you have any kind of nick that would force the rotor off center. As for the pads, use the ones you have, send the new ones back. There is no way you could have damaged the ones on the car right now.

[gator1939]

Bite tongue, bite tongue, bite tongue, I must bite my tongue.

Ask a question and then answer it in the last paragraph???

gator1939

[Mike Gerber]

1. I have had things like this happen before. Many years ago on an 86 Camry I got new rear drums and 1 of the 2 was warped right out of the box. The brand back then was World Parts.

2. As far as the pads are concerned, they should be fine. Just give them a light sanding and reinstall them on the new rotors. This will give them a new surface so they will seat properly to the new rotors.

3. As far as the front suspension, yes, have it checked out ASAP. It could possibly be causing the problem. Most likely it's not. Did you have the pulsation problem with the old brake parts installed and after hitting the curb (still with the old brake parts installed)? You don't specify. In my opinion it is most likey a warped rotor right out of the box.

Also, go back and check your torque specs on the calipers and the caliper mounting brackets up front. It wouldn't be the first time someone forgot to tighten things down.

Mike

[fatngs]

the old brakes were fine after i hit the curb so i kno it wasnt from the impact; i forgot to mention when we were removing the lug nuts on the LF wheel we broke a stud.... we bought a new one and a new lug but the only one the local store had wasnt the same as the originals; i bought a new one at work today that was as close to the original as possible and it didnt shake as bad but it stil did

on my way to work i shot a short video showing the steering wheel shake before the new lug..... you can hear it during braking at 24, 44, and 58 seconds..... here is the link

You Tube

You Tube

i'm geting the alignment done on wednesday morning and installing the new rotors wednesday afternoon; i figured i'll have the shop check the lateral runout of the front rotors to show i'm not crazy lol

[carsrus]

How did you tighten the wheels? Did you use a gun?

My buddy tightened his wheel so much once that it bent the rotor. He was the provided tire iron too. It happens a lot, especially since most mechanics dont even know what a torque stick is.

RockAuto is pretty good with refunds though.

[fatngs]

nah we used a standard star wrench to tighten the lugs

[carsrus]

Originally Posted by fatngs

nah we used a standard star wrench to tighten the lugs

You mighta over tightened them. With the gun the impact force will usually snap the stud before you get enough torque on it, but with the regular wrench you can go pretty heavy on it before anything happens.

Ive never seen a DOA set of rotors and ive done dozens of brake jobs. Be careful tightening the bolts. They only need ~75ft/lbs and thats even a bit to much.

[fatngs]

thnx ill definately pay attention to that when we install the new rotors

[fatngs]

if i remember correctly, i did hear the fed ex guy DROP the boxes of parts on my concrete porch and the boxes werent very well insulated

i'm having the alignment done 2moro then i'll install the rotors so i'll let u all kno wht happens

[fatngs]

brakes are fixed

after the alignment the suspension definately felt tighter but the brakes stil shook a bit

we replaced the rotors..... i noticed the inside of the L hand rotor had a spot on it with an odd patch of brake dust..... brakes work great now and are smooth as silk..... now if only i can get my engine to stop making a racket

thnx guys!!!