01 Mustang GT steering wheel vibrates when braking. New Brembo rotors, pds applied. Camber is out of specs..?

Question

My steering wheel vibrates under braking from 50mph +. I applied new Brembo rotors, pads, Cobra calipers, etc, but still vibrating under braking from 50 mph and above. Previously, I did hit a curb after spinning the car and damage the front end (ie. left front wheel hit curb). Had that repaired but now this steering vibration problem is appearing. I did an alignment and it shows that the camber of the left front is way negative and out of specifications. Pepboys tried to shift the OEM caster/camber plate as much as possible but still showed very bad camber.

Does the caster/camber kit from Maximum Motorsports correct this problem that the OEM plate can't ?

Has Anyone experienced this situation after hitting a curb?

How do I fix if problem is not the alignment?

Should I get the insurance company to reexamine the car and its suspension?

!!!!!!!!!!Seriously, Please I would appreciate Experienced Answers Only from Mustang Ethusiasts/Technicians !!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

I own a shop, and have seen this issue before. 90% of the time the vibration is caused by a warped, or cracked rotor. You will have to have it turned, but do both sides at the same time, so it will be even. Camber cannot be set properly unless the wheels are running true, so also check to see if you have a warped wheel. I've installed the kit you are talking about, and it does give you much more adjustment, but one must rule out any other cause too. The wheel (rim), and the rotor both must be running true, before the camber can be adjusted properly. Another thing you may have is a seperated belt in the tire, so you may want to consider having that checked too. Yes the kit may work, but if you don't fix the problem, then the kit may, or may not work depending on how far its out. When you apply the brakes at 55 mph, the rotor is turning a lot of rpm's, thus the pads are hitting high spots hard, and low spots soft. This causes vibration, and a nudge in the brake pedal as it slows down usually. You may have a bent the spindle, and this would do it too. Start by inspecting rotors for cracks, turning the rotors, checking the wheel for run out, inspecting tire for broken belt, and you may find the culprit. If you stop the vehicle while running along side your car in another car so you can see the wheel, you are looking for the wheel to move from side to side, or up & down. If it has any up & down movement, it may have a damaged strut allowing the wheel to hop. If its hop, then the rotor may not be the problem, but a tire or strut issue. You can have the rotors turned on the vehicle, and this is the best way to do it, but not that many shops have a machine to do this with. Make the kit your last resort to get the camber under control. Don't forget; the camber cannot be set properly unless the wheel is truning true. If you hit the curb hard enough, a bent spindle is a reality.
Part 2:
Has the car been lowered? If it has, then this is what the kit is for. It's for correcting the camber enough to keep the inside of the tires from wearing out. Big rims, and low profile tires will make it not have enough camber. I have installed these kits, and they are for correcting camber, and not for fixing anything that may be bent. If you have a bent component causing this problem, then the kit may not fix it. It will only correct some issues, but the design is based on one with a normal camber, and one out too bad will have to be dealt with accordingly. If the camber was alright before you hit the curb, then doesn't it stand to reason something is wrong besides just being out of camber. You must find out why its out, and not just try to correct it with a part that's made for another issue. 99% of the time something else will show up down the road, and you will still have something else to deal with. Find out why its out, Don't just look for a quick solution, or you will spend money on it, and still have a problem. Rule #1 is fix it right the first time, and you'll be glad you did. This rings especially true if its something that could break, and cause you to loose control of the vehicle at 75 mph. A good front end shop can find it right away, as they are equipped to straighten out wrecked vehicles. They can even straighten the frame if thats what the problem is, but they can find it right away. You will be glad you did.
Glad to help out, Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

You are correct in your diagnoses, it is warped front brake rotors. No you do not need an alignment because it has nothing to do with the braking, nor does a rotation. If it were a bad tire or alignment, you would have the problem all the time. The reason the steering wheel vibrates is because the caliper is in a fixed position on the spindle and the warpage in the rotor will force the hub to move back and forth causing the vibration. Most auto parts stores offer two different rotors for most vehicles, but you get what you pay for. The less expensive ones are not the same quality as the more expensive ones and are more prone to warpage. If you are going to replace them yourself, make sure to spray them off with a brake parts cleaner prior to installation. They are packaged with a chemical coating that keeps them from rusting, but this chemical will cause the brake pads to glaze. Hope this helps. Christopher

Answer 3

I would say you have runout in the rotors. vibration while braking is due to a brake problem. i run an automotive shop and have seen brand new brembo rotors out of the box be warped.

if it shakes the steering wheel its normally the front.

if its been in an accident, there could be a loose tie rod or bad wheel bearing.

Answer 4

The problem can be three things:

1- You have to turn the brake disks. (Turn on a lathe)
2- Some bend tie rods.
3- The entire strut bend.

The caster can be fix by installing a kit. The kit is only for tunning the suspension not for fixing problems.

Answer 5

alignment will not cause a vibration, just a pull. bad tires or bent rim will cause the vibration.