Vibration and pull.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Triple

Truck vibrates at freeway speeds and pulls to the left. Has relatively new tires with proper pressure; recently had its wheels rebalanced and the front end aligned.

My first thought was a stuck caliper, but there is no additional reaction upon application of the brakes.

Ideas?

I think it pulling to the left might have a problem with your arms being worked out from the bike....


http://www.twowheelfix.com/showthread.php?t=12842

Originally Posted by Triple

... feel like it's riding on flat tires?

My bike has developed a new handling peculiarity over the past two months or so. The sensation is similar to riding on tires with low air pressure. Obviously, my tires are not low, and I've experimented with a few different pressures to see if it made any difference (it didn't).

Aggressive riding is out of the question. It's very unnerving and has me waiting for the front, rear, or both to step out on me at any time.

Also, the bike falls into left turns and resists right turns.

Ideas?

[101lifts2]

1. The tires you bought are junk or not balanced properly.

2. A rim is bent.

3. The drum or rotor is out of round.

4. The driveshaft weight fell off or the U-joint has slop in it.


You can turn OFF the engine while you are driving (place the transmission in N) to eliminate engine vibration. Then, move the tires front to rear to see if it helps. I had a vibration in my 85 Firebird once which turned out to be a drum.

GM dealers have an Electronic Vibration Analyzer. Based on the frequency you can tell if its coming from the engine, transmission, driveline, wheels or some other source like brakes.

[BobTheBiker]

Originally Posted by Triple

I think it may be the caliper after all. Gave the rotor a poke last night through the rim and melted my fingerprints off. The rotor is also unevenly gouged, perhaps beyond the point of resurfacing.

I won't have a chance to take the wheel off until this weekend. Would like to rule out the bearing before purchasing any parts.

I don't think it is rim, driveshaft, or shock-related. A significant drop in fuel mileage has accompanied the vibration; something, somewhere is dragging.

that points to a caliper sticking then.

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by Triple

I think it may be the caliper after all. Gave the rotor a poke last night through the rim and melted my fingerprints off. The rotor is also unevenly gouged, perhaps beyond the point of resurfacing.

I won't have a chance to take the wheel off until this weekend. Would like to rule out the bearing before purchasing any parts.

I don't think it is rim, driveshaft, or shock-related. A significant drop in fuel mileage has accompanied the vibration; something, somewhere is dragging.

Check brake lines for blistering. That can maintain pressre in the caliper when you release the pedal. Really deceptive when it's blistered on the inside and the outside looks fine; worth just replacing them to rule them out if the caliper doesn't appear damaged itself.

[101lifts2]

Originally Posted by Triple

Should have paid more attention to this post before purchasing parts.

Installed new pads, rotor, and caliper only to have it lock right back up again upon application of the brakes. Only other cause that makes sense is an internally blistered brake hose not letting fluid return up the line.

I've been working on cars for 20 years and never heard of "blistering".

Check to make sure the foot brake is adjusted properly in that the stoplamp switch is not adjusted too tightly.

If you bleed the brake caliper, you should have seen if the fluid was moving properly.

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by 101lifts2

I've been working on cars for 20 years and never heard of "blistering".

Funny, it HAPPENED to my car.

It was a GM. Go figure.

ETA: Link for 101. "Basic Hydraulic Components" mentions blistering

http://books.google.com/books?id=sjd...age&q=&f=false

[101lifts2]

Originally Posted by fasternyou929

Funny, it HAPPENED to my car.

It was a GM. Go figure.

ETA: Link for 101. "Basic Hydraulic Components" mentions blistering

http://books.google.com/books?id=sjd...age&q=&f=false

I've heard of what this describes, but it was never referred to as blistering. Usually the hose swells and collapses.

Triple, check to see if the hose collapses or swells when the brake pedal is applied and released. If it doesn't, I would be surprised if this fixes it.

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by Triple

The lining inside the hose collapses. When you press the brake pedal, fluid can rush into the caliper, but when you let up, the lining collapses and fluid can't return up the line, maintaining pressure in the caliper.

I had never heard of that either, but when I spoke with a mechanic in the family last night, he basically restated fasternyou929's suggestion here.

Sucks you have to order parts again, but at least now you know what it is.

Just be glad yours didn't go out the way mine did. I was driving up 441 in Fort Lauderdale and hit the brakes when a pedestrian stepped from the median into the highway. When he saw me and retreated, I released the brake pedal only to have the steering wheel nearly jerked out of my hands. The left caliper maintained pressure, and to this day I'm 100% sure that poor guy things I tried to take him out.

[CrazyKell]

I think naughty thoughts when I see the title of this thread.

[Rangerscott]

Blown wheel bearing. Jack up wheel. Grab at 12 and 6 o clock. Shake well. Now grab at 9 and 3 o clock. Shake well again. Any movement and you need to go ahead and inspect/replace bearing/s.