Steering Wheel Wobbles During Braking - Why?

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tdfuller

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I have a 2003 EB Ford Expedition with 68,000 miles. Does anybody have an idea why the steering wheel wobbles ONLY during moderate to heavy breaking from speeds at or above 50 MPH?

The front disc brake pads were replaced at 45,000 miles. The rear disc brake pads were replaced at 65,000 miles as was an alignment performed at 65,000 miles.

When no brakes are applied, the vehicle drives smoothly and perfectly - no steering wheel wobble at all.

If brakes are applied lightly at any speed, or, if the speed is slow (in town) driving, with any degree of brake pressure there is no wobble.

All 4 disc brake rotors appear unscathed - there is no noise, just the steering wheel wobble when moderate to heavy braking pressure is applied when moving at or near highway speeds.

Thanks for any pointers.
 

KWT2000

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welcome to the feeling of warped rotors... if it is in the steering wheel it is the front rotors if it is in the seat and floor it is the rear/.. have them turned or replaced to fix the problem
 

ELVATO

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I would just replace. Turned rotors (that's when they put them on a lathe, and "level" them, right?) are thinner, so they are even more likely to warp. Unless, of course, they are brand new.

Did they at least scour the surface of the rotors when they replaced them? Did they bed them in?

I'm getting this when I need new brakes. The F150online people who've tried them have been happy with them.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Expe...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
 

rptr00

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agree on the warping issue. If those are the original rotors its definitely time to change them out.
 

METALLICA

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guys quick question, if one of the rotor disc in front is thinner than the other, does this affect the gear shifting or do i really have to replace my tranny motor?
 

KWT2000

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i use ceramic pads and get 80k + from a set of brakes so i always replace rotors when i do brakes i also run drilled and slotted rotors very much worth it
 

ELVATO

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guys quick question, if one of the rotor disc in front is thinner than the other, does this affect the gear shifting or do i really have to replace my tranny motor?

Don't think so? Don't see how the rotors are connected to the transmission? The caliper piston would just have to travel a little further on the thinner one.
 

METALLICA

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Tnx Elvato... i thought since the other rotor is thinner, everytime u break the tendency is that the other wheel stops ahead of the other hence the shifting of the tranny will not be equal between the two wheels. am having problems with the thumbing sound of my left wheel, the one with thinner rotor but my mechanic said its the transmission engine.
 

alexhozee

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the caliper piston would only travel a bit further the first time you brake after assembly.
When you relief the pressure o the brakepedal the piston backs off just enough to let the disc run free. both side the distance would be the same.

Alex
 
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