alignment/rotor problems for 2001 Taurus

Since owning my 2001 Taurus, I have constantly had to deal with alignment problems and warped rotors. I have had both of them supposedly fixed but not long afterwards the steering wheel starts shaking again when the brakes are applied and my car pulls to the right. I had my aligment fixed about a year and a half ago. There they replaced the two front ball joints along with the alignment. My rotors were replaced also about a year and a half ago and were turned about 4 months ago.

Could the two problems be linked? Could the alignment cause the rotors to warp? If so, then what could be the cause for the alignment going bad so quickly?

I feel your pain. Taurus' are cursed with warping rotors and vibration during driving. My 91 suffered from warped rotors and so did my 01. Solution is not to let the dealer put in replacement ford rotors. They suck. Upgrade with a good set of aftermarket rotors. Changinf my rotors fixed the virbration during braking. To fix the other vibration I had to get new struts, ball joints, and four new tires. That finally did it. 1200.00 bucks later. Don't forget to have the wheels balanced and have the rims checked for damage! Good luck.

Make sure the wheels are not tightened using an impact wrench. Make sure they are tightened with the star pattern and properly torqued.

I'd suggest you make sure you don't have a caliper that is staying applied due to a seized slide pin or a collapsed brake hose. A collapsed brake hose will act like a one way valve, you apply the brakes and the master cylinder is able to force fluid through the collapsed portion. However, the fluid is not able to completely flow back to the master cylinder and the brake caliper remains slightly engaged. This causes the rotor to remain hot. You then drive through a puddle and the cool water causes the hot rotor to warp.

-Rod

I did the Impact wrench, and I definately screwed up my rotors several years back. True Dat!

Also check the engine cradle mounts. I have seen the bolts come loose and the car steers really funny.

I never checked the torque specs for Taurus lug nuts but on our T Bird it was 90-100 ft lbs. I checked behind tire shops that rotated my tires and found it as much as 125 ft lbs or more. If they tell you their impact wrench has a torque attachment ask them to show it to you because some shops lie. Torque wrenches are cheap and over time pay for themselves. What jacks my jaws is I get out on the road and have a flat and they torqued the lug nuts so tight I can't get them loose with that sorry nut wrench autos provide. Buy a X lug wrench and keep it in the trunk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_wrench
This here's a 'Beam' type economical torque wrench, get one and the right socket for your lug nuts and you're good to go. Use it for replacing spark plugs so you don't strip the threads and lose your religion. :slap:

Be suspicious of the wheel bearing. If you hear a noise like an aiplane in the distance, have about 500 ready for the dealer to remedy it.

Cvolpe and I park our cars in the same garage. I do not turn these floating rotors any more. I replace them.

As they wear and are turned they get thinner and warp easier. Thirty bucks at the Zone, and your rotor is true (and thick again).