RedRado14

So, I was driving to a horse show this morning at 6am, and for the first time in days, the sun was shining. I was wearing sunglasses, and had the visor down. Interestingly enough, the auto headlights on my 05 Rado were still on, and didn't shut off at all, even when I got to the show at 6:30. On my drive, I was in and out of the trees, but when I got to the show, it was all open, bright, and shining. I don't really get it. It hasn't done this before, and when I drove home, it was fine.

I also have a vibration on the highway, especially with the cruise on. It has even idled really rough a couple of times- once for the dealer, and once for me after I got it back from the dealer (when the dealer experienced it, and told me about it, I had not yet experienced it). It has not happened in the 3 weeks or so since it last did it. It was at the dealer's for a brake job- though they swear nothing was wrong with the brakes, I have driven everything there is to drive between Dodge Shadows and Plymouth Sundances to minivans, trucks, and even municipal 12 ton buses, and this truck had the worst brakes I'd ever experienced. Magically, they are much better after the dealer didn't do "anything" to them.

Any thoughts?

RahX

What kind of brake pads do you have on there? Dealerships try and use the cheapest brake pads they can on warranty work and let me tell you, some of them are downright crap. Have a qualified shop check the brakes out and see if a different set of pads does the trick and slap the dealership for the warranty work. If it is done by ASE mechanics then there shouldn't be much room for them to say anything. Another thing to check is the finish on the rotors. They should be fairly smooth without a lot of roughness. The only other thing I can think of would be the adjustment of the rear brakes. I have a xtreme and the thing will stop on a dime and keep the change.

RedRado14

Hey, thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. I had a panic stop with the truck...I was going 35mph, and there was a log truck going to cut me off- I just saw it happening- and in any regular vehicle, there would have been plenty of time to stop, but with this truck, a regular stop turned into a panic stop, and the ABS kicked in. It really freaked me out, and made me really mad that a truck that small can't stop as fast as a 40-foot bus packed down with 85 people. I wish my truck would stop on a dime! It will under 20mph, but not over that. Since the dealership had it, it has been braking better, but I've had the truck for 2 months and I still drive it like the stopping distance should be shorter than it is. Before this, I drove an Explorer Sport 4x4 5-spd, so I think I might still be used to using the engine to brake, but I usually adjust quickly. Yeah, I adjust quickly every morning after I come to the first stop line and go 4 feet past it. My boyfriend's 87 S10 stops better, and the rear brakes don't even work! Anyway, thanks again. Any thoughts on the vibration?

RahX

Might be a harmonic with the engine and drivetrain. Does it only do it at a certain speed or?

RedRado14

It feels like it is coming up through the floor of the truck, almost like a tire out of balance. The speed is non-specific...I can have it on cruise at 70 or 65 or even 60 and it will come and go.