In trying to eliminate a moderate pulsing vibration when braking (99 TL, 160k miles) I replaced the pads and rotors on the front wheels. The problem didn't go away so I took the car to a mechanic to have the bushings, etc. checked thinking it might be a sloppy suspension causing the problem. (There is no vibration when driving, only when braking and the wheels are in alignment.) The mechanic didn't find anything and suggested the new rotors were junk and to swap them out. I replaced the pads and rotors but the pulsing continues.

Any thoughts on my next steps?

Thanks....

 

Ummm...Change the back

 

I thought of that but the vibration seems to be coming from the front of the car. If the back is causing the problems wouldn't you feel it from the rear? I hate to spend the bucks to replace the back rotors to test it.

 

Other members have had the issue & the rears were the problem.

 

I had the same problem bro, I had put in new front rotors and pads and the pulsation still continued it got worse as I was going fast at 60mph I could brake and the whole cabin would shake real bad just like how having front warped rotors feel. I felt the vibration come through the back as I felt it in my seat, I changed the rear rotors and pads and that solved the vibration issues when braking. Look at at this way: Front steering wheel shake while braking= front rotors and pads, if you feel the vibe comming from the back to the front its the rear.

 

Your rears could be causing the problem. Many have had it happen.

 

fronts=steering wheel shake and pedal
back=pedals and feel in in the back/ass.

 

Thanks everyone, off to buy some rear rotors and pads. Stay tuned.......

 

Also if your rear rotors are warping check out your calipers. When you take them off see if the piston recesses uniformly. If it's very hard to recess on one side or altogether them get some rebuilt calipers. Calipers are a prime cause of warped rotors, 2nd behind poorly designed rotors (usually cheap rotors like those from Autozone).

 

New rotors on the rear and things are fine. The calipers were fine, the rotors were the originals and with 160k miles well past being replaced I suspect.

 

yea 160k miles on original rotors will def be warped , my oem rotors barely lasted 3k miles before warping.

 

wow 160k and never changed? What other maintainance are you slacking on?

 

Obviously the more times that rotors are turned (shaved), the thinner they become, and the more likely they are to get warped. I personally don't see the need to get rotors turned every time the pads are changed. I confess that I have driven with rotors that have pretty deep groves before. I figure that the pads will seat into the groves eventually.

 

if you feel your brake pedal shacking while braking, its your rear you need to replace, and if your steering wheel shakes while braking its your front