So I have a 2002 Trans Am ws6 and the other day my buddy was following me and said my rear driver side wheel was wobbling like crazy so I took it home and swapped wheels still had wobble. So I replaced both axle shafts, the bearings, and seals, so couldn’t be those now. I also replaced the rotor. I don’t think it could be unevenly wore pads due to the wheel wobbling before you even touch the brakes. But when the wheel is moving if you watch the caliper it shakes on the rotor. After messing with the old set of e-brake shoes thinking it was them when I went to test it next the wheel was hesitant to move, which makes me think it has something to do with it. Could I have a screwed up caliper or bracket? Or is it possible the e-brake shoes are hanging up causing wobble? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

Can you get one of those inexpensive HF dial indicator on a magnetic base and start checking for run-out? Check the rotor w/o the brake caliper installed, and go from there.

 

Brakes can't make the wheel wobble, they are designed to float to accommodate warped rotors. If the axle shaft has been replaced and it is straight, it has to be the wheel or it's mounting to the axle flange (or the rotor's mounting to the axle flange). If there is any FOD that prevents the rotor or wheel from mounting flush against the surface, it will wobble.

 

I understand that. So the previous owner put the car into a curb. When I got it I had to replace axle shafts and bearing because those were obviously bent. I also did all new rotors and pads this was all done this last august so roughly 5-6 months ago. Then about a month ago a real bad brake squeak developed. I assumed it was just a warped rotor as I drive the car pretty hard. But as the month went on my car started squeaking as it was moving not even on the brakes so I tore into it found the axle shaft I replaced a while ago was bent towards the hub. So replaced that along with the bearing and seal again then got a new rotor. Did not get new pads as I knew the pads didn’t cause the squeak as it was moving. My car is on 2 inch hub centric spacers on the back because I’m running c6 base wheels. So I swapped wheels and spacers individually one at a time after swapping them both same result with wobble. Although after swapping the spacers the wobble appeared to go away but soon came back as the test drive continued. Each test drive I had another person behind me to look at the wheel. Is it possible that the caliper bracket is bent? Or when the bracket itself mounts is bent. I’ve had the caliper and the bracket off and they still bolt up fine so i genuinely don’t know. I am at a 100% total loss. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I had a similar event on my 99 Silverado 1500. I hit a patch of ice and spun out and hit a curb. I was lucky I didn't crash. A few weeks later I hear a squealing and I took it to my mechanic. He jacked up the rear and ran it and showed me the wheel wobbled. He had to replace the axle shaft and that was 6 years/100k ago or longer.

Since you already replaced the axle shaft...and it bent again?! Is that I understood? Was that a new axle shaft? Did you get a bad one? Could the axle housing be bent? Not sure how you would check that? Maybe with a 6' level? I have seen axles break at the plug welds into the differential, but that's more like from torsion loading. I think the impact of the wheel on a curb would cause bending stresses on the axle shaft.

Jack up the rear and spin it to see if you can figure out what's bent or out-of-round.

 

Put it on Jack stands and put it in neutral and get spin the wheel and see if you can see what's going on. You should be able to tell when your right there on it like that. Take the wheel off of you have to and repeat.

 

Is the wheel out of balance, or out of round?

 

I’ve checked everything again I’ve spun it and it doesn’t feel like it’s hanging up or anything. I’ve taken the calipers off completely and just spun the rotors by themselves and the driver side still wobbles. No wheel no spacer I even removed the drum shoes on the inside. And just for the bell of it I swapped rotors too passenger side went to driver driver went to passenger and still the driver side was the one the wobbled. Is it possible I got sent a screwed up axle shaft? Or is my housing bent? How could I diagnose that. I’m about to the point of giving up and taking it to a mechanic or a dealer or something because it’s ridiculous. I’ve dropped the rear diff cover like 3-4 times already and I’m just throwing money into it at this point. It’s just ridiculous.

 

Yes, that's what it sounds like to me? Was the axle shaft used? Can it be warrantied?

I understand your frustration. But at this point, I'm going to say just carry on and try to fix it yourself.

 

Maybe check your leaf spring perch, maybe you possibly have a broken weld or something there

 

Besides that I would of guessed axle too

 

I chased a brake noise for far too long after changing the rear axle and bearings and turned out that the brand new Dorman axle I installed had an end plate that was not true. Put in another new axle and fixed the problem.

 

Is there any play when you push and pull on the wheel with the lugs tight when it’s on a stand? I hit a curb which caused the brake pads to rub the rotors. I replaced the axle shaft, bearing/seal, brake baking plates, rotor, caliper and the wheel and it no longer rubs but it’s not fixed. The rotor won’t stay snug against the hub. Prior to noticing the play in the rotor (you have to push & pull hard to get movement) I noticed that even after replacing all of those parts that the rotor wasn’t “spinning true” by placing a tall aerosol can next to the tire and watching for a gap. If memory serves I bought a Dorman axle. I’m at a loss my self as far as what’s next.

 

This one got oblonged