Re: HELP: 93 Toyota Corolla vibration problem!

"Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote in message 
news:1KKdnfi__tcjSprVnZ2dnUVZ_j-dnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> I had the tires changed out for brand new Yokoham Avid TRZ.  they were
>> under warranty so it didn't cost me anything.  However, the vibration
>> still persisted.  The new additional symptoms are as follows:
>>
>> 1. when the vibration occurs, you can get out of the car and feel the
>> temperature of the steel wheels.  The Passenger Front wheel is hot to
>> the touch and will burn you.  the rest are cool to the touch.
>>
>> 2. the brake pedal has less travel and feels stiffer.
>>
>> 3. more gas pedal effort and reduced gas mileage during periods of
>> vibration.
>>
>> 4. this problem will start randomly and is not dependent on if you are
>> using the brakes.  I was on the highway at 1AM and didn't use the
>> brakes for 30 miles and it still started.
>>
>> Now here is what I think, although i'm not a mechanic... I think it
>> has something to do with the front passenger-side caliper.  It may be
>> locking up somehow.  But i noticed on local roads before the vibration
>> starts, if the pedal is stiff, pump it a few times and it goes away...
>> ie the brakes unlock.  The weird thing is I put brand new calipers in
>> there 3k miles ago.... could one be defective?
>>
>> Any help or insight would be appreciated.  Thanks.
>>
>> -Jon
>>
>
> Replace both front brake hoses, replace the brake fluid, and bleed the 
> brakes.

    That may not get the problem. Most tire places use a "static balance."

system. Okay for some purposes on newer cars, but this car is 15 years
old. 
Wheels on the 93 Toyota were not exactly the strongest. The wheel needs a 
dynamic balance and CLOSE inspection to see how true it is running. On the

older cars potholes can tend to cause the wheels to become bent. I'd start

there. Also the Corolla of the 90's was famous for bad wheel bearings. We 
could assume it has disc brakes on the front wheels. A close inspection of

the spindle and the rotor are next. Not knowing how many miles are on the 
car (generally we can assume over 100,000) at this age as a minimum - you 
have all sorts of culprits along the way as possibles. Maybe even 
combinations. That's without getting to any suspension parts. Look at the 
most likely first.

1. Bent wheel.
2. Bad wheel balance.
3. Bad bearing.
4. Bad rotor or worn spindle.
5. Suspension parts. (there are several high failure parts on the corolla)

    The brake son the Corolla CAN be bad, but have been one of the more 
reliable things about Toyota. The only question here is how many times the

rotors were turned and how accurately. MANY brake shops are butchers. The 
cut rate places often have poorly trained KIDS doing the job. Nobody
should 
be surprised when they screw up. If too much is taken off a rotor when it
is 
turned, they get sort of square after a while. As the too THINK rotor
heats 
up it tends to go our of round.

    Look at the most likely  first. Brake lines are down the list pretty 
far. Since it is only ONE side that seems to be causing the vibration I 
would look for the most likely things first. You MAY wind up with a bad 
brake hose, but I'd look elsewhere first. Besides you can't really tell 
about the hose even when you remove it. Not unless it is obviously 
collapsed. Hardening of the brake hose arteries is not impossible, just 
unlikely.

    You can start to see the problem when you spin up the wheel on the
car. 
Most tire stores will CHECK the wheel balance OFF  the car for free. 
Especially the store where you bought the tires.