Shake and Brake

Antiapathetic · Mar 22, 2009, 02:11 PM

Hey guys, Ive got a used 2004 Lancer RA with about 84,000 miles on it. I was hoping some of you might have either experience or ideas as to what is causing my current problem.. Also, hope this is posted in the right section. Please let me know if not and I will get it moved to the correct area.

When I am going over 30mph and start to brake my car starts shaking, rather violently. It is at its worst in the high 30s to 60mph.

My brakes are new and I have had the rotors checked for warping, not the problem. I also just had my alignment done and everything balanced.

The tie rods were replaced about 3 months ago when I first took it in for this problem. It helped for a little while but the shaking has returned since.

At low speeds there is no shaking at all, and I have also noticed that when I really lay on the brakes it calms it down a bit. Medium braking is where it is the worst.

I dont know if it is related but there is a fairly loud squeaking coming from the back, slightly right area, under the hood. It seems to be coming from lower down, transmission? I can't hear this inside the car unless Im stopped and the windows are down.

But I CAN hear a ticking when I am on the gas... it disappears as soon as I push in the clutch. (this might be an exhaust leak, though only last week I had everything replaced with RRM header & dp and magnaflow parts) It can't be heard when left at idle and I get underneath to listen.

I can't think of anything else atm.. but will post more as it comes up. Id really love some idea of what could be going on before I take it in as my experience level is not very high.

Thanks for any help!

stEVOx · Mar 22, 2009, 02:20 PM

i had similar problem, turn out i had warped the front(factory) brakes, had them machined and all is fine, but you said you had them checked, maybe get a second opinion?

Billah · Mar 22, 2009, 03:57 PM

How can you tell if you've warped the brakes? I'm having this same exact problem with my 04 RA.

stEVOx · Mar 22, 2009, 08:35 PM

how mine was it was when i would drive from 60km/h and above and under medium braking the steering wheel would shudder

rdc · Mar 23, 2009, 09:08 AM

If it only happens when you hit the brakes, the problem is obviously in the brake system. Go get a second opinion (maybe someone didnt install averything correctly or something) and while youre at it check the bushings for cracks, etc. as they can be the ones that make weird sounds as the car moves.

Antiapathetic · Mar 23, 2009, 11:29 AM

I figured out that the squeaking and ticking are the same... it just sounds completely different when inside the car. I've also found that braking on an incline sometimes causes a screech like sound in the steering column (doesn't last for too long).

Everywhere I've checked up on this problem I find more on warped rotors, but since the brakes aren't even a year old and I don't drive it that hard I feel like it should be something else.

I will definitely get a second opinion though, and thanks for the comments.

silversleeper · Mar 23, 2009, 09:25 PM

You can do one of two things, take the rotors to a shop or auto parts store and have them turn your rotors. I don't know how you had them checked but someone looking at them wont be able to tell, and using a micrometer to check thickness wont work, they have to be put on a break machine and turned. I have the same problem, but i am replacing my front calipers ect soooo i went and got new rotors ect. You don't have to drive your car a lot to get them to warp, heck if you drive your car and then hit a car wash, just the simple fact that there metal and you hit them with cold water will cause warping. Rotors can also get hot spots ect, sorry for just rambling on, but your best bet is to spend around 20 dollars and have your rotors turned and see if that does not solve your problem. EVERY TIME you change break pads you should get the rotors turned, sooo the pads have a fresh surface to start on. IF you didnt get them turned when you did your pads then your pads could not be making complete contact with your rotors. Pads create groves in the rotors, sooooo your pads are not making full contact with the rotor sooo basically when your not hitting on the breaks hard your not getting enough contact to slow you down like you would with a fresh turned rotor.

Canada_Comp · Mar 24, 2009, 01:42 AM

check your wheel bearings. jack up the front of the car and give the tire a good shake left and right and up and down, if there is play it's your wheel bearing. also check ball joints and strut mounts

silversleeper · Mar 24, 2009, 02:20 AM

^^^^^^^^^ good point, yea could be wheel bearing to, lol i was just coming off a 24 hour duty day sooooo didnt think of that.

Antiapathetic · Mar 24, 2009, 03:12 AM

thanks for the advice! i will do that, just as soon as all of this flippin' snow clears and I can even make it from my front door to the car.

Im fairly new to the forums and I gotta say.. the few times I've posted or commented I've been really impressed with how quickly everyone responds and how relative the information is

Im glad I got the car that I did

Raikiri · Mar 24, 2009, 08:10 AM

It just shows how addicted some people are to these forums

haha at least we have an awesome community with a bunch of knowledge about almost anything you can think of with this car

Canada_Comp · Mar 24, 2009, 11:56 AM

haha yep yep, welcome to the forums!