Balancing or Brakes?

jamieh

Hi all,

I got a new tyre on the front passenger side yesterday.

Since then, the steering wheel is shaking (fairly violently at times). It's not constant but can happen every 10-15 minutes, had to pull over a few times it was so bad.

I also noticed that the wheel is getting really really hot.

So I'm wondering is it a balancing issue (even though the guy in the tyre place balanced it) or could it be a seized brake calliper? (thinking that's what it could be as there is quite a lot of heat there)

furtzy

Warped disc or unevenly worn brake pad perhaps. Any rubbing noise when braking lightly?

Also make sure the guy who balanced the wheel removed the old balance weights before re balancing it. Some clueless tyre people just add extra weights to balance the wheel resulting in an over weighted wheel resulting in a shuddering at speed...happened to me

gyppo

If the wheel is getting hot, it points to a sticking brake caliper.
Get it sorted, as you could boil your brake fluid, and then you'll have no brakes.

jamieh

gyppo wrote: »

If the wheel is getting hot, it points to a sticking brake caliper.
Get it sorted, as you could boil your brake fluid, and then you'll have no brakes.

I just rang my mechanic and that's exactly what he said.

Waiting on a price from Otto - would a calliper generally be an expensive part?

problemchimp

I have to get my callipers done on a Kia Carens, about 800euro incl. V.A.T. from a main dealer. Nearly fainted. Luckily I found a breakers yard with a 2008 carens in Lancashire and they arrived yesterday for 154 euro including postage. Hills-motors.co.uk/
Great service and had part within 2 days.
Worth checking out.

jamieh

problemchimp wrote: »

I have to get my callipers done on a Kia Carens, about 800euro incl. V.A.T. from a main dealer. Nearly fainted. Luckily I found a breakers yard with a 2008 carens in Lancashire and they arrived yesterday for 154 euro including postage. Hills-motors.co.uk/
Great service and had part within 2 days.
Worth checking out.

Jesus got a fright there when I saw 800 quid, ha!

Just picked up a calliper from Otto for €135 and my mechanic will do it for me for €50.

Hopefully it fixes the problem - I'll keep ye posted.

swhyte027

I hope ur mechanic is putting new brake pads on it as well.u never mention that in your post but any ways add around another 30e for brake pads

jamieh

swhyte027 wrote: »

I hope ur mechanic is putting new brake pads on it as well.u never mention that in your post but any ways add around another 30e for brake pads

Will I need to get new pads aswell?

Only got new pads installed 6 weeks ago

swhyte027

Well if the caliper is seized yes you will need new pads as the will be wore a lot more on the side the caliper is seized compaired to the other side.now that u mention u only got ur pads changed 6weeks ago???was it a mechanic who changed the pads?? Maybe they tore the seal around the piston on the caliper or maybe the slides are seized.either way when your pads were changed 6weeks ago this should of all being greased up. But yes you will defo need new pads.dont do things by halfs for the sake of 30e

Andrew33

Maybe I'm taking this up wrong but first post would indicate that this is only happening since you got a new tyre fitted?
Why jump straight to the conclusion that it's the brake caliper that's seized and changing that without investigating the wheel/tyre balance first?
A very easy test would be to swap one of your rear wheels with the new one and see if this changes how things feel.
Rears might not be balanced either but you should still notice a difference if it's just a tyre balance issue.

spockety

Tyre balancing wouldn't explain the heat or violent juddering surely.

I had a similar issue a short while back, exactly as described by the OP, it was a seized caliper. €135 from Otto, fitted it myself for free, only took about an hour all in taking it handy.

problemchimp

spockety wrote: »

Tyre balancing wouldn't explain the heat or violent juddering surely.

I had a similar issue a short while back, exactly as described by the OP, it was a seized caliper. €135 from Otto, fitted it myself for free, only took about an hour all in taking it handy.

Would I be right in saying Otto only do German car parts and if so, do you know anywhere that does parts for Kia, appart from main dealers? Thanks

Andrew33

spockety wrote: »

Tyre balancing wouldn't explain the heat or violent juddering surely.

I had a similar issue a short while back, exactly as described by the OP, it was a seized caliper. €135 from Otto, fitted it myself for free, only took about an hour all in taking it handy.

If a tyre is unbalanced/badly balanced it will give quite a lot of vibration.
I'm not saying it's not the caliper, just seems strange that it has only happened immediately after getting a new tyre fitted.
It would seem logical to investigate the easy stuff first before venturing down the more complex routes.

thewintermute

Doubt if this is the same problem but one of my front wheels squeaks a bit, especially if I'm turning slightly to the left. The Brake discs don't seems to get any hotter on one as opposed to the other, but the noise does go away under braking, so I'm guessing something is rubbing somewhere. Anything else I should be checking? It's a W124 Merc Estate. Any opinions welcome.

Henry Ford III

thewintermute wrote: »

Doubt if this is the same problem but one of my front wheels squeaks a bit, especially if I'm turning slightly to the left. The Brake discs don't seems to get any hotter on one as opposed to the other, but the noise does go away under braking, so I'm guessing something is rubbing somewhere. Anything else I should be checking? It's a W124 Merc Estate. Any opinions welcome.

2 suggestions:

1/. Anti rattle clips not fitted/fitted incorrectly.

2/. Lack of a dab of copper grease on the backs of the pads.

Achtung! Bono

problemchimp wrote: »

Would I be right in saying Otto only do German car parts and if so, do you know anywhere that does parts for Kia, appart from main dealers? Thanks

Try here

http://www.247spares.co.uk/kia

jamieh

Hi all,

New calliper and pads fitted and she's working perfectly again.

Seized calliper was causing the problem.

Thanks for all the replies and advice!