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Re: Strange Suspension problems
>
> Anyone who could help figure this out???
Of course we can! But first, you have to tell us what tires you
finally bought.
> The next day frame shop adjusted the front end and I then had a 4
> wheel alignment done. The first day out of the shop it seemed great -
> a much smoother ride. Yesterday at 40 mph the car began to vibrate
> again. It continued for 1/8 mile until I stopped for a light. As I
> slowed down, the vibration sounded like a rhythmic thump related to
> the turning of the tire. It seemed to be coming from the left front.
> When I started up again from the light, it was gone.
>
> Doesn't seem to happen at a particular speed and it goes away for no
> apparent reason. It's also very brief in duration. It happened
> before the frame shop touched the car, so I don't think it was
> something they did. The tires were the only change - could it be the
> tires? It never happened before these tires were installed. What
> could cause this that would spontaneously go away?
>
Here's my shot at the problem. This is really pulling stuff out of no where
just like a defense lawyer would do. <end of political comment>
How about the possibility that you have a frozen caliper? Combine that
with improper torque of the lug bolts that could have warped the rotor
and you may experience what you say. I have had a car with this problem
and it was due to a rusted piston in the caliper. Brakes would work fine,
but every now and then the piston would stick and not move back the small
amount needed to release the brakes completely. Then the front end would
get a rythmic thump that had no basis in speed.
With all the discussion here about rotors warping, I'd make sure that all
the shops your car has been in did not over torque the lug bolts. They
should be 80 ft-lbs or one risks warping things in a hurry.
Just my $0.02.
--Bob
BTW: What ever happened to your hydraulic lifter noise problem?