brake vibrations

[chcknugget]

When I apply my brakes on the highway, the whole car shakes and somethng rattles under the passenger side dash. Are my rotors probably warped? Might it be the heater core that's rattling?

[lou S.]

Yep, if I had to guess I would check your rotor's.

[Mikado14]

If it doesn't do it until you apply the brakes, yep, what lou S. said. You have warped rotors. If it is that bad that things are rattling under your dash, you better have them checked as well as your front suspension.

[chcknugget]

yeah, I guess my brakes are pretty shot, They squaek unless I press the brake pedal. Is this squeaking something that replacing the pads/ rotors might fix, or are there caliper parts that also need fixing?

[chcknugget]

o yeah- the thing rattles when I go over bumps too. It just sounds like the car is gonna fly apart when I apply the brakes (especially at high speeds).

[lou S.]

The squeeking is probably the sensors(metal tabs) on your pads rubbing against the rotors. Sounds to me like ya need new brakes(pads and rotors).

[Trail Blazin96]

the rattleing is kinda normal for the blazers, seeing that the plastics like to work a bit loose after a while, check the rotors like everyone else is saying it sounds to me that they are warped, and get some new pads!

[Mikado14]

The squeaking you hear is the wear indicator. It is designed to squeal to let you know that the pads are wearing down and that they need to be changed so that you don't become a machinist and turn your front brakes into a lathe.

As far as plastics on the front brakes, I have never seen plastic on any front disc brakes I have worked on. It doesn't mean that there may not be out there somewhere but owing to the hear produced, I can't see it.

As far as the front brake squeal is concerned, there are several products available that you put on the back of the pad that comes into contact with the caliper and the anvil or when you purchase you pads just ask for anti-squeal pads. These are placed on the back of the pads with a self-adhesive.

[Trail Blazin96]

Interior plastic is what i am talking about I didnt specify, pardon! I dont know if that is the rattling he is hearing but I do know a lot of the blazers rattle on the inside because of the plastic!

[lou S.]

MY 94 has rattles that I am sure are from loose plastic connections in the interior, but for him to say," it feels like the car is gonna fly apart" he needs to change those brakes TODAY-----wouldn't ya say guys.

[Mikado14]

Agreed!....emphatically

[Trail Blazin96]

agreed

[BlazerLT]

Yip, thirded.

New rotors and pads. Don't replace the calipers, they won't need changing yet.

[chcknugget]

Any suggestions on new pads and rotors? I think drilled and slotted is a waste (unless for aesthetic reasons), but I don't like how stock rotors rust. I was leaning towards stock delco rotors. Are ceramic pads any better than the semimetallic?
thanks

[BlazerLT]

Normal rotors will be fine. AC Delco ones are very expensive.

Get a normal set or pads more int eh middle price range and don't go for ceramic unless you want sqealing brakes all the time.