Braking Vibration

1041 Views 9 Replies 4 Participants Last post by firespirit, May 17, 2004

cowspotter

Discussion Starter · May 16, 2004

Hey everyone. I have a 1998 Taurus SE w/67k miles on it. I've been having a chronic vibration problem for a while now. After I've been driving for a bit (varies, but usually 5-10 min) and I press down on the brakes, i get a vibration. It's not a pedal vibration, more of a wheel vibration. The thing is, it's felt throughout the whole car, not just the wheel. The higher the speed the brakes are used, the greater the vibration. I've replaced the front rotors, rear drums, shoes, and cylinders. I didn't replace the pads because they had plenty of material left on them and they've had 6 months since the rotor replacement to reshape themselves. I had the wheels rotated and balanced, but that didn't resolve the problem. I've heard there are two possibilities: bad tire(s), suspension problems. Anyone here have any ideas?
My Other problem is with the illumination on my radio. Occasionally (not very frequently and quite randomly) when i'm driving at night with my lights on the illumination on my radio and climate controls will go out. Somtimes I tap the face of the radio and they come back on, sometimes i roll the panel dim wheel and they come back on. The light switch panel on the left side of the wheel is a bit loose. I am able to push on the bottom and it angles in. Could there be something loose on the back of there that would cause this? Should I replace the switch? Thanks.

Save

1 - 10 of 10 Posts

baby sho

· #2 · May 16, 2004

Welcome to the TCCA!

The first problem could be suspension related. My first guess would be warped rotors. You could have warped the new ones if your calliper is not floating correctly(pins are jammed up). Usually a suspension or tire problem will exibit itself during all driving situations, so i doubt it will be that.

Your secons problem seems like a loose connection. There are no bulbs in the radio, its an electroluminecent sheet, so its probbaly a bad dimmer swich or bad connection behind the radio.

Sorry i could not help more.

Brad

Save

cowspotter

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 16, 2004

Is there a special way to remove the light switch? I know how to remove the radio, just not sure about the light switch...

Save

baby sho

· #4 · May 16, 2004

yea...theres some crazy procedure for removing the headlight swich,

If you have a floor shift...just pry the thing out from the bottom, i have yet to break one.

If you have column shift, pry the black piece AROUND the headligh swich, there are pop clips that hold it in.

Brad

Save

cowspotter

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 17, 2004

Does anyone know what wire provides power for the illumination? I pulled the radio out but the mass of wires had me at a loss as to which one actually provided the power for the EL sheet.

Save

smc540

· #6 · May 17, 2004

Originally posted by the_spy_guy@May 16 2004, 06:00 PM
yea...theres some crazy procedure for removing the headlight swich,

If you have a floor shift...just pry the thing out from the bottom, i have yet to break one.

I was over at this guy's house and we were working on installing a new stereo in my (now) ex's Mustang. He was a Ford tech so he knew what he was doing. He looked over at me and said "This is gonna sound real sick, but nothing's gonna break." The next thing you know, he reachs down and just rips the hell outta the plastic trim piece, but nothing was broken afterwards. He was right though, it wasn't a sound you would want to hear while working on your car. :blink:

Save

cowspotter

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 17, 2004

Yeah, i managed to get that thing out of the dash. It certainly did sound like either the switch was gonna break or the dash would crack. Can you ask your tech friend which wire on the dim switch connector provides the power to the illumination on the radio?

Save

smc540

· #8 · May 17, 2004

Originally posted by cowspotter@May 17 2004, 04:14 PM
Yeah, i managed to get that thing out of the dash. It certainly did sound like either the switch was gonna break or the dash would crack. Can you ask your tech friend which wire on the dim switch connector provides the power to the illumination on the radio?

Well, ya see, here's the thing....we aren't friends anymore. No problems between he and I, its just that his wife and my ex are best friends, so when she and I broke things off, I also lost contact with them. Eh well, maybe you can check it out in a Haynes Manual?

Save

cowspotter

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 17, 2004

unfortunately i only have an owner's manual, so that doesn't really help me for the time being...

Save

firespirit

· #10 · May 17, 2004

Go to the library, or Autozone and get a 96-99 Chilton/Haynes manual!

__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote

Save

1 - 10 of 10 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month