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Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2019 10:06 am
by celica
Steering shake and wobble when braking, but mostly at about 55-45mph range

Doesn’t really happen other speed

Any thoughts on causing this?

Re: Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2019 10:14 am
by X5Sport
In my case it was a sticking caliper. Check if any one wheel is hotter than another. If it is then the chances are that caliper is not releasing when the brakes are off. It will be a case of repair or replace depending on your technical abilities, tools and courage :) Not a difficult job.

Alternatively it could well be a warped disc.

I had this issue last year and changed the front right caliper and both front discs & pads. My front right wheel was very much warmer than the opposite side.

Re: Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2019 10:54 pm
by celica
I had a sticking calliper repaired last year
Along with new discs and pads

But why would it only be at certain speed ?

Re: Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2019 10:37 am
by X5Sport
Could be the other, or it is doing it again? It does happen. Others on here have changed the same parts to have the issue occur again some months later and been the same cause.

Mine only showed up at certain speeds as well - assuming you haven’t lost a wheel weight - as there are certain combinations of vibration that ‘couple’ and amplify with the vehicle’s natural resonant frequency so feel worse, coupled with speed also generating enough heat to set the whole process off. Lower speed, less heat, higher (or lower) speed and it changes the vibration frequency so it doesn’t hit a sweet spot.

I had nothing at all until on a 70mph section of road and then it would suddenly start and became far worse when braking, especially light braking. I could clear it temporarily by using hard braking for a couple of seconds. It only worked for a few minutes though.

Is a wheel warmer than the others? If it isn’t then it could be a warped disc or just a wheel weight, or even a loose wheel. You could also check that the suspension joints don’t have any free play.

Re: Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:30 pm
by celica
Thanks

Hopefully it’s something trivial

I don’t think the wheel(s) get hot like last time witja sticky calliper

I’ll check and get it booked in when back off holiday

The front pads and discs were done not long ago
Front suspension springs also changed
So will get check out nothing suspension related

Could it be a wheel weight if only affecting braking?

Re: Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:59 pm
by X5Sport
It was just something to eliminate. If everything is tight and not getting hot then a warped disc is a real possibility. It did happen to me a long time ago after braking to a stop coming off a motorway and leaving the foot brake on a bit too hard. Only took a few seconds but that was that. :o

Unlikely, but worth also looking at is a loose disc (should not happen if the wheel nuts are tight, or contamination behind the disc at the interface with the hub so it isn’t sitting flat on the hub.

It might be a dodgy tyre (damage/bulge/defective) but I’m running out of things to check :dizzy: :scratchhead:

Re: Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2019 9:17 am
by Scomo4
I’m also currently having this issue. Round town braking is fine. When coming off a slip road or upto a roundabout from 70mph applying the brake I’m getting a judder/shake through the steering wheel. Will keep an eye on this post :thumbsup:

Re: Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 7:37 pm
by H4MP
I had the same issue and it was to an extent the suspension arms.

These cars are very sensitive to wheel balancing. Chances are its not the discs

Re: Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 9:37 am
by Scomo4
Any update on this thread?

Re: Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 5:47 pm
by Leslie
I have noticed my drivers front wheel gets black with brake dust much quicker than the left front and is starting to groove the disc already whereas the left is still like new , only had discs and pads about 7k ago and getting some vibration at certain speeds too so I suspect a sticky caliper .
Must check the wheels after a run and see if its warmer or not too .

Re: Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 7:03 am
by marti
Leslie wrote: Wed Sep 25, 2019 5:47 pm I have noticed my drivers front wheel gets black with brake dust much quicker than the left front and is starting to groove the disc already whereas the left is still like new , only had discs and pads about 7k ago and getting some vibration at certain speeds too so I suspect a sticky caliper .
Must check the wheels after a run and see if its warmer or not too .
Youve answered your own question....sticky caliper, as you have a disc one side which is grooved thats a sign the pad has worn right down and will soon be metal to metal.

Re: Steering shake and wobble when braking

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 1:55 pm
by Leslie
Marti the pads are not worn down but there is some light grooving on drivers side whereas passenger side Is like new .it's not bad yet but there seems to be an issue so will need to make further checks. :thumbsup: