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Front tires vibrate at brake 200 1982

While driving above 40 MPH, a sudden brake causes the front tires to vibrate and chatter. May I please have a tip from someone

Thank you-Habib








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    Re: Front tires vibrate at brake 200 1982

    Habib-

    240's had a problem with the rear bushing on the control arm causing a shimmy under braking. Volvo addressed this problem by spec'ing different bushings for the left and right sides. These are located at the rear of the 'wishbone' in the 'bucket' retained by three bolts. If you have the original bushings, they have holes surrounding the center. Replacement bushings are solid, and as I mentioned, left and right are different part numbers but appear identical with solid rubber. (no holes)








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      Re: Front tires vibrate at brake 200 1982

      Dave,

      Can these bushings be replaced on the vehicle without removing the arm?








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        Re: Front tires vibrate at brake 200 1982

        Larry-

        To replace these bushings you need to remove the bucket (three 14mm hex bolts) and the 19mm nut on the rear of the control arm. I think you can do the job on jack stands, but the front suspension needs to be unloaded. Align the bucket level in relation to the control arm before tightening the 19mm so you don't preload the bushing and stress it during normal suspension travel.








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    Re: Front tires vibrate at brake 200 1982

    /// The other posts are correct but vibration on braking is usually warped rotors. Rotors warp from heat. Heat comes with sticking calipers. What brand calipers do you have? Have you already replaced the master cylinder? Did you check the brake fluid if you replaced it.

    If you have Girling calipers and master cylinder you chould check for Dot 3 contamination. There is a chemical reaction between American Dot 3 brake fluid and Girling hydraulic rubber. One of the possible results is sticking calipers. This is possible only if you have Girling calipers. Raybestos makes test strips that will indicate if Dot 3 fluid is present. Since they cost $20 the safe course is to rebuild the calipers if the rotors are warped and use only Dot 4 fluid.

    There are other cause of sticking calipers. If the rotors are warped rebuild the calipers.








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      Re: Front tires vibrate at brake 200 1982

      Since there are several suggestions in replies here, I would like to tell you that I totally agree with LK Tucker. Since you donīt feel any vibration initially when braking at low speed, your rotors canīt be very much warped when cold. Thus, it is likely that they warp when heated up (during driving) from a pad lying against the rotor. And as Tucker says, this comes from bad calipers. In my experience the parts you have to buy to renovate them are very expensive, and it is more economical to buy a renovated caliper. There are xchange programs, where you pay a deposit, which you get back, when you return your used one. Try changing the most offending one (the side which is vibrating the most). Also change pads. If vibration is much less, but does not go away totally within a few 100 kms driving, then change rotor(s) as well. If you, already now, find that they are very worn, change them already now. Good preventative measure, and they are a safety part.

      Remember that it is very difficult, just by looking at the caliper or moving the pistons, tell whether the return action in the piston seals is sufficient to bring them back far enough from the rotors.

      This work is fairly simple, and good advise is in the FAqs and in manuals like the Haynes. And you will enjoy the feeling of fixing this yourself.








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        Re: Front tires vibrate at brake 200 1982

        /// I have to own up that I had not considered the rotors flexing during driving and returning to a less warped state when cool as your post explains. That would explain the origionoal post's problem completely.

        My concern is that the calipers are Girling with nitril seals. In experiments I have demonstrated that nitril sloughs when immersed in Dot 3 fluid. This means that the pistons advance with each stroke as much as they are allowed.








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    Re: Front tires vibrate at brake 200 1987

    Could be bad ball joints too. My car has a bad passenger side ball joint and when you hit the brakes, there's a bit of side-to-side play in the steering wheel, and occasionally on a gradual turn while accelerating, there's a vibration/wobble from the front wheel. Best thing to do is put the front end up on jackstands and then check for play in the tie rods and pull down on the wheel and see if the ball joint clunks. That should tell you where your problem is. I wouldn't say it was brake rotors unless your brake pedal vibrates up and down as you apply the brakes.

    Matt Campbell '87 245DL








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    Re: Front tires vibrate at brake 200 1982

    another thing to consider are the rotors. how long has it been since they've been replaced??? if it's been a while or you don't know, change them but remember:

    USE ONLY VOLVO, IPD OR GERMAN MADE ROTORS!!!

    you'll enjoy life and your car more if you do.








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    Re: Front tires vibrate at brake 200 1982

    I would say bad tie rods (the joint at the place it screws into the rack) or tie rod ends (at the wheel. Grab the wheels and twist them to move the steering. You should be able to see the slop, where movement in the tie rod occurs at the inboard or outboard end. Common problem and very easily fixed.







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