steering wheel shakes

[nyk4life]

hey guys when im going around 75-80 plus and try to slow down quickly my steering wheel shakes, im thinkin its my ball joints but i do need an alignment pretty bad, what do you guys think it could be? thanks

 

[mhuffman]

hey guys when im going around 75-80 plus and try to slow down quickly my steering wheel shakes, im thinkin its my ball joints but i do need an alignment pretty bad, what do you guys think it could be? thanks

If the vibration only occurs when you hit the brakes, it sounds like your brake rotors are out of round. That causes 'shuddering' and vibration in the front end and comes thru the steering wheels. You can probably have your rotors 'turned' (repaired) at a local gas station for around $15/each.

 

[1g_tsi_awd]

Warped rotors possibly.

 

[Cs4g63]

Its better to just replace the rotors instead of getting them machined. The more material you take off of the rotor the easier it will be to warp them.

 

[tyger1]

exactly what he said^^^^^^ if it only does it when you press your brakes it is your rotors if you accelerate and the wheels shake at or around 45-55mph then your wheels are out of balance. Also you should get that alignment problem fixed ASAP. spend a few dollars to get it aligned now than a couple of hundred geting you tires replaced

 

[Cs4g63]

The shaking is going to be caused by the rotors. Otherwise it would happen at other times than just braking.

 

[wret]

Its better to just replace the rotors instead of getting them machined. The more material you take off of the rotor the easier it will be to warp them.

You are assuming that most "warping" comes from heat buildup, which it does not. If you use $20 dollar rotors, I would agree, just replace them.

 

[cbrfrenzie]

Here is a quick tie rod and ball joint test:

Lock steering wheel with wheels as close to straight as possible.
Apply emergency brake.
Block rear wheels.
Jack up driver front wheel until it is off the ground.
Grasp wheel on the horizontal axis with your hands 180 degrees from one another, ie.
<- and ->. Go back and forth pushing with one hand while pulling with the other hand to try to feel any "slop" in the tie rod ends.
Grasp the wheel on the vertical axis with your hands 180 degrees from one another, ie.
up and down. Go back and forth using the same method as above to try to feel any "slop" in the ball joint(s).
Repeat for passenger side front wheel.

That could possibly cause some shuddering while braking due to the loading of the front wheels, but 99.9% of the time shuddering under braking is due to warped rotors. Just thought I would share this quick test with all.

Chad

 

[danny_l_2005]

Shaking steering wheel at high speeds can also come from unbalanced wheels. Try getting your wheels balanced

 

[mhuffman]

Shaking steering wheel at high speeds can also come from unbalanced wheels. Try getting your wheels balanced

This is very true too, mine wheels are most likely unbalanced and i get consistant vibration at higher speeds. However, i think the original post was concerned with vibration during braking only, which sounds like warped rotors.

 

[roadrunner2176]

Agree with warped rotors, replacement would'nt be much more than having them turned, if theres anything there to be turned.

Could also be bent rim, loose lugnut, loose bolt on caliper or caliper mount, brake pad broke-- surface seperated, rotor has a deep groove on it.

If it were your ball joints, when braking your car would want to pull or sway from side to side and you would hear a knocking or thumping sound while turning sharply.

 

[plymubishi]

Here is a quick tie rod and ball joint test:

Lock steering wheel with wheels as close to straight as possible.
Apply emergency brake.
Block rear wheels.
Jack up driver front wheel until it is off the ground.
Grasp wheel on the horizontal axis with your hands 180 degrees from one another, ie.
<- and ->. Go back and forth pushing with one hand while pulling with the other hand to try to feel any "slop" in the tie rod ends.


Chad

you actually do not want to lock the steering wheel, when wiggling the wheel the steering wheel tends to bounce off of its lock giving a clunk that gimmiks the clunk you normally get out of a bad tie rod end with play in it.
as for the shake if its when braking only i agree with the warped rotors

if its when acelerating or coasting id start with getting your tires balanced. depending on how far they are off will cause issuse at different speeds-not one set speed-plus its cheap

if that doesnt help then i would go with your allignment-and rotate the tires because i bet they dont look nicely worn after driving on them with your front end being wrong. and a strange worn tire can cause irritation as well

 

[MyÜberFastGSX]

Go to an auto shop and have your rotors turned. And have them check your pads, ### if they were warped bad enough it could ruin the pads as well.

 

[roadrunner2176]

You could spend 20 to have the warped rotors turned or spend 40 and have two new rotors that have never been overheated. Most rotors today are one and done, theres not alot of surface left to be turned, it might not be worth turning.

Either way, I agree with MyÜberFastGSX to have your pads checked. Either replace them, or if their fairly new, and look good, use some 100 grit sandpaper and rub the pad over the paper in a circular motion until the groves are gone.