steering wheel shakes when braking
09-15-2003, 12:23 PM
#1
Platinum Plus Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: First in line
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
steering wheel shakes when braking
So my steering wheel shakes when braking from high speeds and the harder I press on the brake pedal the more violently is shakes the steering wheel. So what’s going on?
Car alignment is right on, car goes straight, no steering wheel shake when just driving tire pressure looks normal, breaks only a about 5000 miles old
Are my rotors warped?
Car alignment is right on, car goes straight, no steering wheel shake when just driving tire pressure looks normal, breaks only a about 5000 miles old
Are my rotors warped?
09-15-2003, 01:38 PM
#2
Re: steering wheel shakes when braking
Originally posted by Meguel24
Are my rotors warped?
Are my rotors warped?
Actually they don't often warp, technically. Pad material gets stuck when pads are new. That's what brake break-in is all about. Take off the wheels & check out your rotors. You're looking for the surface of the disk being smoother or rougher in spots. You want the smoothness to be very uniform around the disk.
New rotors? If not, did you get them resurfaced? If neither, that might be your problem...
09-15-2003, 02:51 PM
#3
Platinum Plus Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: First in line
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
what can i do at home to solver this? use sand papaer and sand them? or do i have to go to a shop and send $75-$100 for resurfacing them?
09-15-2003, 03:05 PM
#4
Member
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ya, it sounds like your rotors might be warped. I know some Kragen's offers rotor resurfacing for like $5.00 per rotor or something... not too positive, but its relatively cheap. You should look into it, if not try taking in your car to somewhere that does free brake inspections and ask about the condition of your rotors. They should be able to provide you with a definate answer.
09-15-2003, 09:50 PM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One other thing- depending on what model/year you have you probably have 'floating' calipers. Essentially the caliper moves in and out with the rotor- there is a chance that your caliper may just be hanging-up on the pins it uses to float.
If I was you, while you're checking your rotors go ahead and clean the heck out of your mounting pins and the holes they slide into in the caliper. Also pick-up some hi-temp grease and re-lube the pins and rubber boots around them.
If I was you, while you're checking your rotors go ahead and clean the heck out of your mounting pins and the holes they slide into in the caliper. Also pick-up some hi-temp grease and re-lube the pins and rubber boots around them.
09-15-2003, 11:02 PM
#6
CHRISTMASTIME IN IRAQ
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When you say brakes, do you mean just the pads or the pad and rotor?
I had those symptoms with my car, so I had my rotors turned... solved all the brake shuddering for me! :thumbup:
I had those symptoms with my car, so I had my rotors turned... solved all the brake shuddering for me! :thumbup:
09-16-2003, 07:23 AM
#7
I've de-glazed rotors with a belt sander, with mixed success. Resurfacing at a shop is way cheaper than you think - maybe $10 each if you take them off the car? Jeez; brand-new rotors don't even cost $100 each.
09-16-2003, 07:42 AM
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This isn't your prob- but if your rotors just need deglazed, stop by NAPA and pick-up a 3M kit that they have- it's a 3" disk and sanding pads you load into your drill. Then just run the entire surface with the edge of the pad pointing one direction, then run the entire thing again pointing the other direction BUT YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO GROOVE LINES. Just cleaning-up a bit. It will put a heckuva cross-hatch pattern onto the surface that pads just love.
