Bad Vibrations

[defc0n]

Quick back story....

A few days ago a car decided he wanted to run a stop sign. It was a pretty weird intersection and I couldn't see him until he was in front of me, he was turning to go the opposite way, so I had to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting him. I locked up my tires doing this. Right after stomping on my brakes I felt something under my foot, a small screw...could go to anything, I haven't figured it out yet.

Ever since then I have been getting a bad vibration that seems to be coming from my left front tire area. It only seems to happen, read gets very noticeable, at 50+ mph, gets worse when I turn right, better when I turn left and seems to disappear when I brake. Also seems to be getting worse over time, or it just seems like it because I'm focusing on it now.

I have no idea what could be cause this and without putting it on a lift (no jack stands and I'm not getting under it on a jack only) I can't really get a good look at anything. I guess it could be a damaged mount from slamming on the brakes but I was only going about 25-30 (yes I did push the clutch in as well, didn't kill the engine or anything). I don't know if this mystery screw held something important or not, most likely the latter, but figured it was worth a mention.

If you guys had any input on where to start looking that would be great....

 

[Darth Vader]

I think you might have just overheated and warped a rotor from the extremely hard application of the brakes. Unlikely when they're new but, as the miles rack up, the pads get low and the discs get thinner, it's possible.

Take it in to a a brake shop if you can't look into this yourself. You could take the wheel off and look at the rotor for grooving or and bluing, indicating high temperature. Take a boo and see if you have any pads left while you're in there.

 

[hnda etr]

Maybe a flat spot on your tires from skidding on them for a distance... see if a tire shop can check the balance for you...

 

[defc0n]

Well, for some reason the vibrations have stopped. I'm still probably going to give everything a look and re-balance my tires.

No idea why it would vibrate for a few days, pretty bad vibration as well, and then just stop....