break it and then feel vibration in high speed

[lmei007]

I have a 1996 toyota camry. I changed the front brake pad three yrs ago. Recently I feel the vehicle vibrate when I apply brake when the speed is high. It is fine when speed is lower. There is no noise.

I bought this car four yrs ago. The previous owner did not change the brake pad for long time. So I changed it but only front.

what's the possible reasons for this vibration? It is fine before. It happened 1 week ago.

thanks,

[Mike Gerber]

This is the classic sign of warped front brake rotors. They need to be cut (turned on a brake lathe) if there is enough thickness left on them, or replaced. If your car has rear drum brakes and you normally use the emergency brake, this condition can be verified by pulling up on the emergency brake when driving at the speed(s) at which the pulsation occurs. If you feel the pulsation in your hand, then it is actually the rear drums in the rear brakes that are warped. If you don't feel it, then it is obviously the front brakes that are warped. You can't do this test if the car has rear disc brakes. However, to verify the warping is in the front brakes, the next time it happens notice if you also feel vibration in the steering wheel. This is indication that the problem is with the front brakes.

Michael

[lmei007]

Thank you Mike.

Yes, I feel obvious vibration in steering wheel and also I can feel the pulsation sometime.

Do you think it is an issue we need to look at it immediately or wait to few weeks later. We have planned drive it to Niagara Falls from Boston this Sunday, which is about 9 hrs driving. Do you think it is ok or we need to change to another car, which is smaller in our case.

thanks,

[GSS123]

You can make the trip without any problems. When you get back take the rotors into a automotive parts stores they will turn them down for you. I usually take them in Saturday morning, go eat breakfast at one my favorite spots then go back and pick them up. Our local NAPA store charges $20 a pair to turn down. You will have to replace the disk pads when you have the rotors turned. You will find several threads on how to do a brake job on this forum or you can watch film on how to do it on YouTube or buy a Haynes repair manual for your car and do the job yourself. Your out of pocket costs for a front brake job using good quality disk pads will be around $70 if you do all the work except turning down the rotors

[Mike Gerber]

Imei007,

Yes it is stilll safe to drive the car. I would address this problem shortly after returning as the pulsation will continue to get worse as time passes and the rotors warp even more. It makes for an uncomfortable and disconcerting ride.

If you want to learn how to do this work yourself as GSS123 suggested, there are Toyota factory service manuals that are stickied at the top of this forum's home page, that are available for free downloading. Download the one for the generation 3 Camry. Generation 3 was 1992-1996.

Mike

[JOET/CAMRY]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

If your car has rear drum brakes and you normally use the emergency brake, this condition can be verified by pulling up on the emergency brake when driving at the speed(s) at which the pulsation occurs.

Don't forget to hold in the button on the end of the emergency brake handle if doing this test. If not the rear brakes could lock up on you.

JOET/CAMRY

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by JOET/CAMRY

Don't forget to hold in the button on the end of the emergency brake handle if doing this test. If not the rear brakes could lock up on you.

JOET/CAMRY

Good point.

Mike

[jdmccright]

I'll also add that after the front brakes have been repaired, don't forget to readjust the rear brakes...ideally they should be disassembled, cleaned, relubed, and readjusted so that they are working with the fronts to stop the car.

The rear drums provide 30% of the stopping power but if they are not properly adjusted, the fronts do all the work, causing the warped rotors.