Brakes locking up
05-15-2010, 08:22 PM
#18
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Man, what a mess! Tomorrow morning is "Get that **** out of the way" Day... Need to put away all the FIAT spare parts....
05-23-2010, 07:24 PM
#19
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Well... first test without tires and nothing locks up... second test with wheels in the air and no lock up...
I am going to replace the boots and the A-arm bushings and raise the car a little to see if that is the problem... When I installed the suspension it ended up lower than it was before, maybe that is the problem. I have been meaning to raise it a little anyway. Will report back.
I am going to replace the boots and the A-arm bushings and raise the car a little to see if that is the problem... When I installed the suspension it ended up lower than it was before, maybe that is the problem. I have been meaning to raise it a little anyway. Will report back.
05-24-2010, 06:15 AM
#20
Three Wheelin'
Hi Jaime!
When you turn your steering wheel all the way, do the brakes actually lock up-like do they make your car skid or does it just slow it down? Your second picture above shows some tire rub (I think) on the wheel well (draw a horizontal line from top of your caliper til you hit the well in front). Smear some white tooth paste evenly on that spot, put your wheels back on, lower your car and drive to reproduce symptom. Then put her back up, take off the tire and see if your tire has scraped the tooth paste off...
Are you sure its the front lockup up and not the back? Maybe you can go to a grassy field and go about 10mph and quickly turn while a friend observes to see the behavior of both front and back wheels....maybe record it on tape and show it here for us to see?
If your brakes actually lock up.... well, I'd have to think about it some more.....
Jaime
When you turn your steering wheel all the way, do the brakes actually lock up-like do they make your car skid or does it just slow it down? Your second picture above shows some tire rub (I think) on the wheel well (draw a horizontal line from top of your caliper til you hit the well in front). Smear some white tooth paste evenly on that spot, put your wheels back on, lower your car and drive to reproduce symptom. Then put her back up, take off the tire and see if your tire has scraped the tooth paste off...
Are you sure its the front lockup up and not the back? Maybe you can go to a grassy field and go about 10mph and quickly turn while a friend observes to see the behavior of both front and back wheels....maybe record it on tape and show it here for us to see?
If your brakes actually lock up.... well, I'd have to think about it some more.....
Jaime
Last edited by ttAmerica RoadsterAWD; 05-24-2010 at 06:51 AM.
05-29-2010, 11:24 PM
#22
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Oh! Look! A Squirrel! Checking shift linkage...
Oh! Look! A Squirrel! Replacing A-arms bushings...
Oh! Look! A Squirrel! Paint the interior of the FIAT with POR15...
Oh! Look! A Squirrel! Take family to the movies...
So nope... nothing yet... new lines are the same so returned those to Pelican Parts in part exchange for engine mounts...
Raising the front of the car to rule out if the problem is because the car is sitting too low.
Oh! Look! A Squirrel! Replacing A-arms bushings...
Oh! Look! A Squirrel! Paint the interior of the FIAT with POR15...
Oh! Look! A Squirrel! Take family to the movies...
So nope... nothing yet... new lines are the same so returned those to Pelican Parts in part exchange for engine mounts...
Raising the front of the car to rule out if the problem is because the car is sitting too low.
05-30-2010, 12:16 AM
#23
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05-30-2010, 10:59 AM
#25
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My Second FIAT - The Runner
Doing that inside as well before I install a new carpet set.
I will check today. What would this prove?
Doing that inside as well before I install a new carpet set.
I will check today. What would this prove?
05-30-2010, 03:13 PM
#27
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More and more I think it is related to ride height... when I took the car out of the lift and drove it out it felt fine... took it for a drive and as soon as the suspension settle down it started acting the same but to a less degree... I will raise it a little bit more to see if that solved the problem once and for all...
05-30-2010, 08:28 PM
#29
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I tried doing what you suggested, but it is very difficult to do by myself. The other suggestions of doing the testing with the suspension loaded is also not easy to do... I will have to wait until my father-in-law is back to test those suggestions.
I am not sure if it is that the wheels are touching, but the car felt normal before the suspension settled... that is why I think it might me height related. It is an easy test that I can do quickly and drop again if that is not the problem.
I am not sure if it is that the wheels are touching, but the car felt normal before the suspension settled... that is why I think it might me height related. It is an easy test that I can do quickly and drop again if that is not the problem.
