front end noise or transmission?

[pitbull30]

This is regarding a 2001 toyota corolla 87k miles/ auto transmission

Today while driving the toyota to work I had to slam the brakes which sent the car into a skid. I let off the brake to avoid skidding out of control and then I gave it alittle gas to continue out of the way of a dodge ram.

Long story short, after driving off something either in the front end or transmission was not right. It was like a shudder/vibration and It felt like the car didnt want to continue shifting to the next gear or the RPMs were off.

I pulled over about 1 block later and shut off the car. Gave a visual inspection and nothing. I then drove off and the car was shifting fine, but it feels as if somewhere in the front end, or the transmission something is running rough. Kind of like the vibration you get when driving on a semi-rough piece of highway. Thats about the best I can explain it.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance

[Crowbar911]

Is the shudder only when you brake? I had to slam on my brakes a fwe times over the years, and I have had to get new rotors, pads, and my drums totally rebuilt. I don't have ABS on my 01.

EDIT:

My bad, I didn't understand at first.

Ok. Do you have ABS?

When I have slammed on my brakes before, My car does feel a little different afterwards, like its tired. Try letting everything cool down, when you get done work, check under the car to see if any fluids are dripping.

Be careful on the way home. If you still have the problem, check your fluids.

I am giving you general advice, maybe somebody could expand on this.

[pitbull30]

I believe I have ABS.

I just drove the car again a few minutes ago and when going slower 10-30 mph I feel a pulsing coming from the front end. It kind of feels like riding a bike with a bent rim and the pulsing radiates through the steering wheel.

No fluids are dripping. I think I first assumed the transmission because I was driving at freeway speeds and it felt like more of a Vibration than a pulse.

So do you think I knocked the alignment out of whack? Or something else?

Thanks for your help.

[Crowbar911]

I don't think that you have knocked your front aligment out. I wanted to do some testing, so a while ago, I was going 30, and slammed on the brakes as hard I could. (I was in a safe place, and had the police OK and them watching). They let me do it a few times, but after the first time, I had some MASSIVE brake fade.

I left good skid marks to.

I hit a curb in the ice doing maybe 5 MPH, and that bent my alignment a little, but if you just slammed on the brakes, that should not have affected your aligment.

Was it raining?

I have heard that if you slam on your brakes hard enough to lock them, your rotors get hot from the friction, then if you go though a puddle, your brakes cool down really fast. I have had steam coming form my brakes, and After that, my rotors were warped.

but... if this is happening when you are not braking, I don't know. Take it to your local mechanic if you can't get it.

[pitbull30]

It was not raining. I hit the brakes hard and the car skid to the side a little.

Is it possible I warped a rotor? Is there anyway I can tell this by a visual inspection or do I have to take it to the shop?

[Crowbar911]

It is very possible that you warped a rotor. When you drive, brake, if the wheel pulses, you did.

It is perfectly normal for your car to slid left or right when you brake like this.

My advice is to take it to a mechanic. You should fee lucky, You avoided an accident, and might have to pay money for avoiding it, but alot less than it would hav cost had you been in the accident.

plus, you now know what the car can do. When I first started to drive, my dad took me out to a parking lot, and told me to floor it. then brake. I learned what my car could, and could not do. How fast does it take to stop, how hard can I turn and not loose traction. I attempt not to go to the edges of what My car can go to, But i have had to. I once avoided a truck on the new jersey turnpike because it was merging, and There was a truck to my left, So i could not get out of his way. I knew I could either slam on the brakes, or floor it and get out infront. I floored it, because I knew my car can't stop in the distance at the speed i was going.
/rant(my bad)

Head to the mechanic and ask him to take a look, then report back. I would like to know what happened incase this oneday happens to me.

[wheredoesthisgo]

This gentleman is looking for shade tree answers here. Not take it to the mechanic. Brakes are not really that complicated except when the anti lock comes into play. Lets try to help this brotha?

[wheredoesthisgo]

OK I am a shade tree idiot. Take the offending wheel off. If it is front wheel drive jack the whole front end up. Call me crazy but spin the front wheel and look for warpage.

[Crowbar911]

The thing that makes me think it might not even be rotors, is that this happens when he does not break. Rotors only come into play when he brakes.