Expert: Brad Sears - 4/6/2010

Question
QUESTION: My 1957 t-bird vibrates badly when I apply the brake.  Just driving down the road it drives and rides very smootly.  I have balanced the wheels, put on new drums, new brake bands, new spindle on the right side, new bushings.The drums were trued before putting them on.  When you apply the brakes lightly you feel vibration , kind of like brake bands hit intermittently.  When you apply the brakes hard it really vibrates.  It feels like it comes from the front end.  It must have something to do with the brakes but Itrmat can't figure what else to investigate to find the problem.  Can you help?

ANSWER: Did you have the brake drums machined (turned) before you installed them on the car. It was the recommendation to do a fine cut on brake drums in the day as they could have been stacked wrong in shipping and gone egg shaped. Let me know and we will go from there.
Brad

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Brad,  yes the drums were machined before installing.  Also, I drove the car for years before the vibration started and it had the vibration berfore  I had done any of the repairs.  I only did the repairs to try and correct the vibration.  8ef

Answer
Ok, if the problem was there before the brakes were done and it is still there, then I would rule out the brakes and begin to look at the front suspension and steering linkage. Is there any sign of tire wear that could indicate front end alignment? Also have you rotated the tires to see if the vibration changes? You said new bushings, which ones? Let me know.