Severe vibration and break light warnings

[mike_young]

I've got a '93 GrandAm SE that has started to shake violently when I turn sharply into a parking spot at my apartment. It doesn't seem to happen when I'm turning faster and at less of an angle.

I don't know if this is part of it, but when I'd been driving for about 20 miles on the interstate, my brake light came on and my anti-lock brake light started flashing. I pulled over and turned off the ignition and turned it back on to reset the anti-lock breaks, but that didn't fix the problem. I drove about 20 more miles down the road and both lights turned off, so I don't know what was going on.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

--Mike

[Igovert500]

Check your brake fluid first of all.

[mike_young]

I added a little brake fluid, and drove it around for awhile and it seemed to work. I've had to add brake fluid a few times over the last 2 years or so. Does this mean that I have some kind of a leak or is this normal?

[Slade901]

As the brake pads and drum lining wears out, the brake fluid level goes down with respect to the wear of the pads/lining.

If the brake fluid level goes down very significantly within a few weeks then you have a leak. A very small leak inside the brake caliper piston, is very hard to detect as it might not drip all the way down to wheel rim. The only way to find out is to remove the brake pads and compress the brake caliper piston with a c-clamp or a tool for compressing the caliper piston. If there is a leak then your brake caliper needs replacement.

BTW, make sure the two large bolt strut to knuckle is torqued properly and the wheel lug nuts are torqued as well.

[mike_young]

Thanks for the suggestions. I changed my brake pads about 3 or 4 months ago, so I might have to take off the wheels and check the bolt tightness. I need to change my radiator fluid also, so I might just kill 2 birds with one stone.

The severe vibration still happens when I'm turning into parking spots, but I think it only happens when I'm turning left sharply. I don't think it happens when I turn right, but I'm not 100% on that. Any suggestions about the vibrations?

[shark2000]

Just a shot in the dark. Maybe the vibration @ that sharp angle is a CV joint? Maybe something else with the brakes? I'd tear it down and inspect everything very closely.