? Constant wobble sound, shake at high speed

[Lyndsay]

Hi there,

I have a 99 Windstar that up til now I haven't had many problems with.

About a week ago, I began to hear a wobble type sound. It sounded like it was coming from the front passenger side.
Figured it was the tires, as they were old anyway... Replaced them. A belt in my passenger rear tire had gone.. figured it solved it.
Problem remains.

The main issue is at lower speeds (50-70km/hr) I can hear the wobble more than feel it. Slight pull to the right, but not substantial. (Tires were balanced when installed) At highway speeds the wobble is much louder, and I can feel a shaking across the front & in the steering wheel.

It was suggested it may be a bearing... If so how do I know for sure, and how do I fix that without spending a bundle on it.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

[12Ounce]

How many total miles on car? Were all four tires replaced?

[Lyndsay]

It's got 77,000 miles on it..
All four tires were replaced.
Thanks

[12Ounce]

It may be bearings, .... but my first guess would be brake rotors.

[Lyndsay]

Really? Wouldn't I feel that more in the brakes then? I do feel a slight vibration in the brake when slowing down from high speeds.. but not a lot.

If thats the case, thats an easy fix...
Thanks

[ruggratt]

Originally Posted by Lyndsay

Really? Wouldn't I feel that more in the brakes then? I do feel a slight vibration in the brake when slowing down from high speeds.. but not a lot.

If thats the case, thats an easy fix...
Thanks

I agree with 12ounce. I had warped rotors on my 1996 Windstar and the hotter they got the more the front end would wobble. After awhile it would wobble whether I was using the brakes or not. Changing the rotors fixed the problem for me. I also was told when my brakes were being replaced that I need outer tie rod ends but I haven't replaced them yet because the wobble hasn't returned.

[toddler62]

Warped rotors usually show up when you apply the brakes, another possibility would be a caliper sticking and slightly warped rotors this could cause it to pull to one side also

[Karmana]

Originally Posted by toddler62

Warped rotors usually show up when you apply the brakes, another possibility would be a caliper sticking and slightly warped rotors this could cause it to pull to one side also

What could/would cause brand new calipers to stick?

(There does not appear to be any obvious damage to the various suspension parts - boots all look fine, nothing bent, etc.) There is maybe 1/8" "play" at the tie rod end, when the tire is rocked left/right. I am stumped!

[busboy4]

[quote=Karmana]What could/would cause brand new calipers to stick?

I've been wondering the same thing. Two thoughts:
-I have never changed a master cylinder but could one possibly fail or wear internally so that it does not allow proper return fluid after brake application?

-Have you thoroughly flushed your brake fluid, or had it done? I am wondering what high heat may have done to the fluid. Many of us have done a self flush using a mitivac hand vacuum pump. I have pumped some really ugly fluid out of my brake system, especially from the rear cylinders. If your fluid, is almost all old you might think about that. I realize to change the calipers you had to bleed them which should have flushed at least the front lines.

Best regards.