Honda Car Forum

I have a 1995 Honda Accord with 117,000 miles on it. The car tracks
beautifully at highway speeds, but the steering wheel shudders when I
apply my brakes at highway speeeds. I checked the rotor runout on
both sides of both front wheels and it was +/- 0.001", well within the
specs. I measured this about 1/2" in from the outer edge of the
rotors (recommended by Haynes). What else should I be looking at, or
could it still be the rotors? I bought new rotors and pads (but have
not installed them yet), but I do not want to go to all the trouble of
replacing the rotors if the rotors are not the problem. Any ideas?

On 5 Jan 2004 19:12:40 -0800, jsilva1@nycap.rr.com (James Silva)
wrote:

>I have a 1995 Honda Accord with 117,000 miles on it. The car tracks
>beautifully at highway speeds, but the steering wheel shudders when I
>apply my brakes at highway speeeds. I checked the rotor runout on
>both sides of both front wheels and it was +/- 0.001", well within the
>specs. I measured this about 1/2" in from the outer edge of the
>rotors (recommended by Haynes). What else should I be looking at, or
>could it still be the rotors? I bought new rotors and pads (but have
>not installed them yet), but I do not want to go to all the trouble of
>replacing the rotors if the rotors are not the problem. Any ideas?

I would try rebalancing the tires. If that doesn't solve the problem
start looking at ball joints and tie rods.

On 5 Jan 2004 19:12:40 -0800, jsilva1@nycap.rr.com (James Silva)
wrote:

>I have a 1995 Honda Accord with 117,000 miles on it. The car tracks
>beautifully at highway speeds, but the steering wheel shudders when I
>apply my brakes at highway speeeds. I checked the rotor runout on
>both sides of both front wheels and it was +/- 0.001", well within the
>specs. I measured this about 1/2" in from the outer edge of the
>rotors (recommended by Haynes). What else should I be looking at, or
>could it still be the rotors? I bought new rotors and pads (but have
>not installed them yet), but I do not want to go to all the trouble of
>replacing the rotors if the rotors are not the problem. Any ideas?

Here is the URL of absolutely the best dissertation on the subject
I've ever encountered.
http://www.babcox.com/editorial/bf/bf100326.htm

On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 02:42:59 -0800, John Ings <nodamned@spam.org>
wrote:

>On 5 Jan 2004 19:12:40 -0800, jsilva1@nycap.rr.com (James Silva)
>wrote:
>
>>I have a 1995 Honda Accord with 117,000 miles on it. The car tracks
>>beautifully at highway speeds, but the steering wheel shudders when I
>>apply my brakes at highway speeeds. I checked the rotor runout on
>>both sides of both front wheels and it was +/- 0.001", well within the
>>specs. I measured this about 1/2" in from the outer edge of the
>>rotors (recommended by Haynes). What else should I be looking at, or
>>could it still be the rotors? I bought new rotors and pads (but have
>>not installed them yet), but I do not want to go to all the trouble of
>>replacing the rotors if the rotors are not the problem. Any ideas?
>
>Here is the URL of absolutely the best dissertation on the subject
>I've ever encountered.
>http://www.babcox.com/editorial/bf/bf100326.htm
>

Great find! Thanks.

James,
I just replaced the rotors on my 97 accord and it was
no fun. I did not have a dial indicator to check runout;
so I just forged ahead and replaced them. As you have
a 95 accord, it seems that the same removal procedure
applies. I had the following document for reference.

http://www.federal-mogul.com/fmeconn...loads/3501.pdf

It took a lot of hammering with a 2 lb. sledge to remove them,
but they finally came off. IMHO, a bad design to require the
hub and bearing to come off just to remove the rotor.

chuck smoko

In your case, just 1/1000th of runout seems small.

James Silva wrote:

> I have a 1995 Honda Accord with 117,000 miles on it. The car tracks
> beautifully at highway speeds, but the steering wheel shudders when I
> apply my brakes at highway speeeds. I checked the rotor runout on
> both sides of both front wheels and it was +/- 0.001", well within the
> specs. I measured this about 1/2" in from the outer edge of the
> rotors (recommended by Haynes). What else should I be looking at, or
> could it still be the rotors? I bought new rotors and pads (but have
> not installed them yet), but I do not want to go to all the trouble of
> replacing the rotors if the rotors are not the problem. Any ideas?

Except for this small error:
"If the lug nuts are tightened in the proper sequence and to the correct
torque, runout can be induced."

Of course it should read "If the lug nuts are NOT tightened, etc.."

I sure would like to know the address of the shop that follows these
procedures-my Civic Si has pedal pulsing about 8k after a dealer brake job.