Loose rotor?

[cKGunslinger]

OK, my front end has been having a rather "heavy" rattle on bumps, etc. I was thinking it might by my ancient struts, and was going to get them replaced soon.

In the meantime, I changed my brake pads today and while the front passenger assembly seemed normal, I noticed that on my driver's front, the rotor seems "loose. That is, it moved back and forth freely, only stopped from begin able to slide off completely by the caliper assembly, etc.

With the tire off, I can move the rotor side-to-side, such that the lugs hit on either side of their holes through the rotor. That seems like every time I accelerate or brake, the lugs would come in contact with the rotor and put pressure on them.

Is this normal? Is there something that normally holds the rotor in place, such that it shouldn't be able to move so freely?

 

[SpeedEng66]

it's normal

usually on a new car when your doing the first brake job there's this thin washer like retainer that is on the wheel stud to hold the rotor in place.
but it's nothing to worry about once you put the rim/wheel and tighten the lug nut it's on there good.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: SpeedEng66
it's normal

usually on a new car when your doing the first brake job there's this thin washer like retainer that is on the wheel stud to hold the rotor in place.
but it's nothing to worry about once you put the rim/wheel and tighten the lug nut it's on there good.

That's what I was thinking, but the earlier rattling was worrying me. Probably just the struts, then. :thumbsup:

 

[SpeedEng66]

the rattle could be anything it could be as simple as the muffler is off to the isde on the bushings so it's rubbing/bumping something under there

or it could be struts, bushing, rear swaybar loose ect.. ect ...

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: SpeedEng66
the rattle could be anything it could be as simple as the muffler is off to the isde on the bushings so it's rubbing/bumping something under there

or it could be struts, bushing, rear swaybar loose ect.. ect ...

Well, I can sorta isolate the sound to the vicinity of the driver front wheel (or maybe because I drive with that window down to listen, everything seem to originate from there.)

I can bounce the car when it's stationary and not hear it, only when I'm driving and hit a pothole or dip in the road. A very metallic and somewhat heavy-sounding rattle.

The last 2 times I heard a similar sound was once when the rubber gasket that sat between the bottom of the radiator and the frame moved and the radiator was bouncing directly on the frame. The second when the bearings in the front axle needed replacing.

I checked the first and it's not that again. I had the latter replaced about 12-18 month ago, so surely it's not that. I do need an alignment, however. My tires are wearing very unevenly on the driver's side, and I sometimes feel a slight tug when turning.

 

[SpeedEng66]

do you feel it through the steering wheel? when it tugs? any clanks when you are in a turn?

it's sounds like the steering rack is loose (to me)

(sorry about the answer before I read wrong and thought you said the rear)

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: SpeedEng66
do you feel it through the steering wheel? when it tugs? any clanks when you are in a turn?

it's sounds like the steering rack is loose (to me)

(sorry about the answer before I read wrong and thought you said the rear)

Hmm.. not really. I feel it more in the car, not the wheel - although my wheel has enough slop in it, I'm not sure I would notice. If you've every turned on loose gravel and felt the tire kind of dig in and slosh a bit, that's sorta what it feels like, but on solid asphalt. And only occasionally, certainly not all the time.

Also, if I make any hard turn where I really have to crank the wheel, I get these nice grinding/groaning/creaking sounds.

 

[SpeedEng66]

ok if the p/s is not making the grind noise (kinda hard to tell over the net lol )

try this out (if you have a jack and jack stand)

lift the front support with jackstands (come on ppl always use jack stands!!)

now with both wheels off the ground
see if there is play by moving the wheel/tire

if yes wheel bearings if no back to AT forums heh

 

[Bartman39]

Could be the struts but something that is overlooked is the strut mount on top... Most have a bearing to allow the assembly to turn with the steering... When that bearing gets loose or has some play you get a strange knocking and new struts will not always fix it... Change both... :thumbsup:

 

[Painman]

Originally posted by: Bartman39
the strut mount on top...

I'm with this - that bearing sits perpendicular to the wheel axis, and a good couple of pothole hits will wreck it and cause it to clunk with suspension travel.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

how old is your car? if the car feels like its running on mush, its probly the springs/shocks, old ones obviously dont have as much spring rate to it and it wont return as quickly as it would new.


edit: there's one method to check if your shocks are shot, you push down on a corner of the car or go over bumps, if the car bounces, then its the shocks, if it just kinda sags like you said, it might be the springs themselves. or if it just bounces back quickly without sagging or bouncing excessively to the original position, then its fine.