[Shotimes] Recurrent front end shudder

[Dave Garber]

I had the exact same symptoms when my front wheel bearings were going south. 
I'd be driving along and out of nowhere I'd start getting vibrations in the 
steering wheel that I could also feel in the floorboard. I checked 
everything I could think of the first time but it all looked fine. A couple 
weeks later it got worse so I checked again and could finally feel loosness 
in the front bearings (both driver and passenger).

Zach also gave some good pointers to check out. But there isn't a lot up 
there that can cause your problem. Wheel bearings, CV joint (or CV joint 
carrier bearing on the passenger side), rotor/caliper, etc..

Good luck!


Dave Garber
Pittsburgh, PA
99 White, 90k
91 Red, 159k (For Sale)


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "sabutin" <sabutin@mindspring.com>
To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 10:09 AM
Subject: [Shotimes] Recurrent front end shudder


> Ok folks, here's an interesting one...
>
> '94 MTX, going on 200K. My daily driver since new.
>
> I've had a number of vibration problems with this car over the past couple 
> of years...solved some of them, working on others. Also some abnormal rear 
> brake wear .
>
> Now...this has happened three times.
>
> I'm driving along, highway speeds, dry-ish conditions.
>
> Suddenly I get a  front end shudder. Starts small, gets fairly serious. I 
> can really feel it through the steering wheel. When i brake, it feels like 
> the worst warped rotor ever. The first time it happened, I pulled off at a 
> nearby exit and got out. No loose wheel, no smells...nothing. Got back in 
> the car...no shudder. Chalked it up to mud or debris.
>
> But now it's happened twice more.  Each time, it builds for a few minutes, 
> then decreases and disappears.
>
> it MUST be the brakes sticking.
>
> Right?
>
> What else would progress and then regress like that?
>
> I THINK it happens a minute or so after after a fairly strong brake 
> application...but certainly not after every one. Plus...I think that 
> applying the brakes makes it go away faster. (Can't really be 
> sure...always in traffic; no warning; can't experiment much.)
>
> Any ideas?
>
> New brake lines?
>
> That Gen III brake replacement?
>
> The pedal return system? Spring?
>
> Anyone else had a similar problem?
>
> S.
> -- 
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