ninjakev Posted May 31, 2007 Report Posted May 31, 2007 Recently the Galaxy has been suffering from a bad dose of the shakes when braking steadily from 70 mph - the steering wheel shimmies and the whole car feels like it's made of jelly. More recently travelling at a constant 70 mph has the steering wheel shimmying too. There is no pulsing coming back through the brake pedal, and all front and rear discs and pads were changed about a year ago - they have covered about 8000 miles in that time. Below about 40 mph the wobble when braking is barely detectable. I know my drop links are probably needing renewed - there is a creak coming from the front when pulling away, and the car was only serviced last month (50,000 mile service) but what are the chances the source of the wobble is bush-related? Surely my front disks can't be warped already? Quote
burundi Posted May 31, 2007 Report Posted May 31, 2007 Warped disks usually result from periods of heavy braking followed by keeping your foot on the brake pedal, the heat warps the disks and can happen quite quickly I have been told. Mine did the same, I had the front disks changed and it cured the problem. Quote
Stevoo Posted June 3, 2007 Report Posted June 3, 2007 I had this prob on a non galaxy, i changed disc and didnt fix it, change ball joint as was losse that didnt fix it. found out it was a slightly warp alloy which caused it..... so pop down to a garage and get them to check your frontend out. Quote
ninjakev Posted June 3, 2007 Author Report Posted June 3, 2007 I had this prob on a non galaxy, i changed disc and didnt fix it, change ball joint as was losse that didnt fix it. found out it was a slightly warp alloy which caused it..... so pop down to a garage and get them to check your frontend out. Will take it to the garage after I get home from offshore on Tuesday - the wife reports the wobble has become far worse in the 2 weeks I have been away. It can't be the brakes, the wife is not a hard-braker and the speed at which this has worsened leads me to think bushes or something joint-related. Quote
Dave-G Posted June 3, 2007 Report Posted June 3, 2007 I'd say stop the wife from driving it for now - and maybe check ya wheel bolts before moving it again... just in case like. It does sound like warped discs - but the Galaxy wheel bolts hold the disc in place. Quote
Sher Posted June 4, 2007 Report Posted June 4, 2007 Wheel nuts may be a problem that can produce the same effect but the most likely problem is worn brake discs which are thin. On a Mondeo just after its MOT, which works the brakes hard, I developed a shimmering problem when the brakes were applied. It felt like cadence braking and a bit similar to the ABS working wiyhout the clicking off noise. I eventually found that one of the front ventilated discs was thinner on one side at one of the ventilated sections where some ( a lot) of rust had spalled off at the inside of the ventilation slot. Both were a bit thin but within spec. I presume the MOT testing had resulted in this. Once changed back to normal. Discs And Pads are not that expensive and are one of the most easy DIY jobs provided you have the correct sockets, spanners, hexagonal bits, slave cylinder retractors (if required), brake grease etc. Read the Manuals! Quote
raymac Posted June 4, 2007 Report Posted June 4, 2007 Possibly needs the wheels re-balancing :rolleyes: worth a try first and won't cost to much Quote
Chris Jones Posted June 4, 2007 Report Posted June 4, 2007 I'd say stop the wife from driving it for now - and maybe check ya wheel bolts before moving it again... just in case like. It does sound like warped disc's - but the Galaxy wheel bolts hold the disc in place. This is very good advice DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL YOU HAVE CHECKED ALL THE WHEEL NUTS. Also if the wheels have been off recently (service?) and the retaining screws aren't used on the disk a bit of crap my have got in behind the disks giving the same symptoms as warped disks. Also not cleaning properly behind the disks when fitting new ones can cause premature warping of them. Quote
ninjakev Posted June 4, 2007 Author Report Posted June 4, 2007 (edited) Wheel nuts may be a problem that can produce the same effect but the most likely problem is worn brake discs which are thin. On a Mondeo just after its MOT, which works the brakes hard, I developed a shimmering problem when the brakes were applied. It felt like cadence braking and a bit similar to the ABS working wiyhout the clicking off noise. I eventually found that one of the front ventilated discs was thinner on one side at one of the ventilated sections where some ( a lot) of rust had spalled off at the inside of the ventilation slot. Both were a bit thin but within spec. I presume the MOT testing had resulted in this. Once changed back to normal. Discs And Pads are not that expensive and are one of the most easy DIY jobs provided you have the correct sockets, spanners, hexagonal bits, slave cylinder retractors (if required), brake grease etc. Read the Manuals! Thanks for the advice, but the discs and pads are barely a year old and have very little wear on them and show very little signs of rust. I guess I'll be taking them off and checking the mating surfaces. Still find it hard to believe they could warp so soon - they must be made of cheapo iron. Edited June 4, 2007 by ninjakev Quote
El Dingo Posted June 4, 2007 Report Posted June 4, 2007 New discs can warp! I know this from an old Audi - and it doesn't take a year, just a few weeks...Maybe you're right - cheapo steel. :( Quote
bofivefive Posted June 16, 2007 Report Posted June 16, 2007 Recently the Galaxy has been suffering from a bad dose of the shakes when braking steadily from 70 mph - the steering wheel shimmies and the whole car feels like it's made of jelly. More recently travelling at a constant 70 mph has the steering wheel shimmying too. There is no pulsing coming back through the brake pedal, and all front and rear discs and pads were changed about a year ago - they have covered about 8000 miles in that time. Below about 40 mph the wobble when braking is barely detectable. I know my drop links are probably needing renewed - there is a creak coming from the front when pulling away, and the car was only serviced last month (50,000 mile service) but what are the chances the source of the wobble is bush-related? Surely my front disks can't be warped already?i would say 99% warped discs Quote
bramleydawson Posted June 17, 2007 Report Posted June 17, 2007 have same problem on my 98 galaxy, just bought the car, had a reciept saying it had new discs only 7000 ago, i think they may have been made of cheese Quote
El Dingo Posted June 17, 2007 Report Posted June 17, 2007 have same problem on my 98 galaxy, just bought the car, had a reciept saying it had new discs only 7000 ago, i think they may have been made of cheese Made me think...Drilled discs = Emmenthal Can anyone think of any more cheesy allusions? Big Cheese? I mean, Bigjeeze? Quote
ninjakev Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Posted June 19, 2007 Well, I changed the front discs and cleaned the calipers, etc and the brake shake has now gone. Will be interesting to see how long these ones last :lol: Thanks to all who replied with advice. Quote
Dave-G Posted June 19, 2007 Report Posted June 19, 2007 Good - a little known tip... don't wash the car while the discs are very hot as cold water striking a hot disc could be causing it to warp a tad. Quote
mumof4 Posted June 19, 2007 Report Posted June 19, 2007 Since you are talking tips..another i picked up...never put the handbrake on before the car has stopped..or you hear a mighty expensive clunk as things go wrong...Gawd... Quote
Bigjeeze Posted June 19, 2007 Report Posted June 19, 2007 have same problem on my 98 galaxy, just bought the car, had a reciept saying it had new discs only 7000 ago, i think they may have been made of cheese Made me think...Drilled discs = Emmenthal Can anyone think of any more cheesy allusions? Big Cheese? I mean, Bigjeeze? E dam well better fix it soon Holmes - Emmenthal my Dear Watson! Quote
big_kev Posted June 19, 2007 Report Posted June 19, 2007 Since you are talking tips..another i picked up...never put the handbrake on before the car has stopped..or you hear a mighty expensive clunk as things go wrong...Gawd... Is that just in Victory V's Quote
mumof4 Posted June 19, 2007 Report Posted June 19, 2007 well..i did it the other day..didnt sound very healthy when i did... Quote
big_kev Posted June 19, 2007 Report Posted June 19, 2007 (edited) I think it may just be your car........probably never joined the cable very well....you dont have a weld mark running around the car joining the two halfs together do you ? Was this the guy you bought from ? Edited June 19, 2007 by big_kev Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.