Brake Shimmy

[StevieRayB]

My '01 Regal Custom developed a front end vibration after our local dealer installed brake pads at 55,000 miles. It is barely noticeable at low speeds, but as a previous poster discribed his problem - "The car feels as if it were going over rumble strips on the highway" at high speeds when braking. I let this go for 2 months as I didn't have the time to change the rotors, however, I changed them last night, and STILL have the problem. One thing I noticed is that there are 2 holding bolts for the assembly that holds the brakes to the rotor. One of them is rubber-tipped. On one side, the tipped bolt is on the upper part of the assembly, while the other side has it on the bottom - could this be a problem, or could the pads that the dealer put on be defective - or could it be something else?

[Big Dan58]

The rubber tips over the calipter bolts are to prevent dirt and grit from getting in the grease that is with the bolt. Be sure that the caliper bolts are nice and tight. You might want to put some lock-tite on the bolts to be sure they don't back out with vibration. At first it souded like you had hot spots on the rotor but if they are new, but you might have damaged brake pads by now if a couple on months have gone by. Replace the pads and don't get the cheap-o ones. Remember that the brakes could save lives! Be sure that the rotors are turned as well. That way you have an even grip when the pads make contact.

[StevieRayB]

Thanks for your reply, Dan. I bought OEM Bendix brake pad replacements and put them on this morning. The problem was still there. I went and then purchased the back rotors and OEM Bendix brake pads for the back - problem solved! It does state in the Haynes manual to replace both front and back pads/rotors at the same time. That is advice that I plan to follow from here on in.