Brakes dont feel right!

[rugster]

I have a shimmy upon braking and its been there for a while. I replaced the front rotors and pads and its still there. It definitely feels like its coming from the front of the car and it feels like it is rotational...meaning as I come to a stop at a light it feels like the caliper is only grabbing on section of the rotor and the braking isn't even all the way around the rotor....I recently lowered the car 2 inches and put on caster camber plates and I'm wondering if this will go away after I have it aligned, or if this problem could be something else....any help would be greatly appreciated

Also when i replaced the front brakes the drivers side front pad was worn way down while the passenger side was nearly untouched...maybe this is the culprit?

 

[FalconGuy016]

By shimmy do you mean it's like, sort of, a pulsing feel? It definitely rotational for me and I can feel it even right before I come to a complete stop sometimes. Because if so that crap has been happening to me for 20,000 miles and I'd really like to know how to fix this.

 

[WillDuhhBeast]

Have you guys tried bleeding your systems, or replacing your brake fluid? They Haynes describes how to do it the exact way.

 

[Skud]

Maybe you have too much runout in one of your front hubs? The best way to check is to take off your wheel, and use a dial indicator on the rotor.

Spin the rotor and watch to see how much the dial indicator moves. I think the runout should be less than 10 thousandths.

If you have too much runout, then the rotor will contact your pads harder in some spots than others. This will cause a feeling similar to a warped rotor..

Riley

 

[4point6]

Did you change the rears too? I thought mine felt like they were the fronts too, but ended up being warped rears. Just a thought

 

[rugster]

no i didnt change the rears....reason being that I was on the highway wondering if maybe it was the rears...so i pulled the e-brake and there was no such vibration...so I dont think it was the rears

 

[rugster]

oh and i have a bigger problem to worry about now....I have the dreaded piston slap and Im putting in a new motor this weekend....at least it's a PI motor

 

[merc123]

I don't think you'll feel a vibration by pulling the e-brake up like that.

 

[GDawg]

I remember a couple times really getting on the brakes. Afterwards I started to feel a very noticeable "pulse" in my brakes when braking. I took my car to a reliable brake shop to get my rotors "turned". They told me my rotors weren't that bad but I had them do it anyway. It helped.

Are Mustang stock rotors that sensitive?

I want some Bullitt brakes.

 

[merc123]

Is this an automatic or manual?

 

[rugster]

manual

 

[FalconGuy016]

Maybe I should just get a cobra brake conversion sigh

 

[rugster]

wish i could do that, but I bought a new engine today so I think I have had enough for this week..

 

[StangYellow]

You lowered the car... which means your brake lines came off. If your brakes arent bled, they end up feeling a little soft... maybe they are grabbing the brakes.... and then going soft? Sounds more like an issue with the pads and calipers. If you have a pulse it means your rotors are warped.

 

[rugster]

i lowered the car yes, but i never had to take off the brake calipers so i shouldnt need to bleed the lines...im gona replace the rears and hopefully the problem will go away.

 

[FalconGuy016]

Great. Sounds like I have warped rotors then.

 

[02gtat54]

Did you lube the bolts that mount the calipers?It sounds like the caliper may be frozen and not moving properly on the side with no wear to the when th pistons try to push on the pads.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Also when i replaced the front brakes the drivers side front pad was worn way down while the passenger side was nearly untouched...maybe this is the culprit?

That happens when the slide pins in the caliper sieze and do not move. The caliper basically only presses on one side. It would cause the issues you are having.

You will need to pull the caliper, free up the pins, clean then and relube.

Also, a good bleed couldn't hurt either