Vibrating Steering Wheel

BayRunner

New member
So i was wondering if any of you had this issue, whenever, i brake, my steering wheel shakes and vibrates. If i brake hard, not so much and when going slow not so much, its more when going at highway speeds and then gradually using the brakes to slow is when i feel the vibration? Is it time for new brake pads...bad rotors, something else?
 
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So i was wondering if any of you had this issue, whenever, i brake, my steering wheel shakes and vibrates. If i brake hard, not so much and when going slow not so much, its more when going at highway speeds and then gradually using the brakes to slow is when i feel the vibration? Is it time for new brake pads...bad rotors, something else?

If I had to guess, I'd say your rotors are beginning to warp. Do you feel your brake pedal pulsate as well?
 
i dont really feel it in the brake pedal, only in the steering wheel...

Hm, I still think that it's your rotors if it something that only happens when you brake. I'd say that it's probably not too bad right now, and you can drive on them for a while before replacing/resurfacing.
 
Rotors seldom actually warp... Usually there are uneven deposits of brake pad material on the rotor surface that produce a "warped" feeling. This can be cured by replacing rotors altogether, resurfacing rotors, running a more abrasive pad for a bit, or sometimes simply rebedding your pads. Try rebedding your brake pads first (it's free). Take a look at this link: StopTech : Balanced Brake Upgrades
 
Zeckhausen Racing does not endorse speeding on public roads and takes no responsibility for any injuries or tickets you may receive while following these instructions. Use common sense!

From 60mph, gently apply the brakes a couple of times to bring them up to operating temperature. This prevents you from thermally shocking the rotors and pads in the next steps.

Make eight to ten near-stops from 60mph to about 10-15 mph. Do it HARD by pressing the brakes firmly, but do not lock the wheels or engage ABS. At the end of each slowdown, immediately accelerate back to 60mph and then apply the brakes again. DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP! If you stop completely and sit with your foot on the brake pedal, you will imprint pad material onto the hot rotors, which could lead to vibration and uneven braking.

The brakes may begin to fade after the 7th or 8th near-stop. This fade will stabilize, but not completely go away until the brakes have fully cooled. A strong smell from the brakes, and even some smoke, is normal.

After the last near-stop, accelerate back up to speed and cruise for a while, using the brakes as little as possible. The brakes need only a few minutes to cool down. Try not to become trapped in traffic or come to a complete stop while the brakes are still very hot.

If full race pads, such as Hawk DTC-70 or Performance Friction PFC01 are being used, add four near-stops from 80 to 10 mph.

After the break-in cycle, there should be a slight blue tint and a light gray film on the rotor face. The blue tint tells you the rotor has reached break-in temperature and the gray film is pad material starting to transfer onto the rotor face. This is what you are looking for. The best braking occurs when there is an even layer of of pad material deposited across the rotors. This minimizes squealing, increases braking torque, and maximizes pad and rotor life.

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Thanks for the input guys, one last thing to add, which seems odd to me is that the vibration in the steering wheel is way more pronounced when going downhill at higher speeds...in fact on flat or going uphill...im not sure i notice it vibrating at all...
 
If pads (non-metallic ceramic or asbestos) are properly seated, then the rotor contact surface should not rust...
 

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