FORD CAPRI VIBRATION
Q
I have an annoying vibration on my 1972 Ford Capri 2.0 (Mk1 facelift). This is present at around 50- 60mph, but I also have a heavy vibration when braking which can be felt through the steering wheel. I have recently had the front tyres replaced and balanced, and when doing this the garage informed me that the front brake calipers were sticking. I then had these overhauled to cure the sticking, but this has not rectified the vibration problems. Can you help? Stephen Howes
A I would first say that although you have had the front wheels balanced, a vibration can also be the result of the rear wheels being out of balance, and so if you have not already done so, you should consider getting these balanced too. The vibration could also be the result of a propshaft joint which may be seizing, but this would be less likely to cause the vibration which you can feel when braking.
You have mentioned that the front brake calipers were sticking, and my concern is that when they were sticking they have caused the brake discs to overheat. The warped brake discs this would have created could well be the cause of the vibration when braking. I would check for any run out on the front brake discs using a dial test indicator to ensure that the run out is minimal – it should be up to 0.1mm only, and anything greater will be indicating that the discs should be replaced. If you do replace the brake discs, you should ensure that the mating surfaces on the flanges are perfectly clean to prevent further braking problems.