Does your steering wheel shakes when braking? There are a lot of things that can cause your steering wheel to shake when braking, and one of the most common causes is a warped brake rotor.
You might assume there is a problem with the steering system itself if the steering wheel shakes when braking. Nevertheless, a faulty steering system will cause you problems all the time, not just when you hit the brake pedal.
It is crucial to know the main reasons of this issue because of this. Well, in this article, the answers to the following questions will be discussed:
- What are the reasons why your steering wheel shakes when braking?
- Is it safe to drive with a shaking steering wheel?
- What should you do when your car steering wheel shakes when braking?
Read more: Understanding automotive braking system
Ok, Let’s get to it.
Contents
What are the reasons why your steering wheel shakes when braking?
Here are the main reasons why your steering wheel shakes when braking?
- Warped Brake Rotors
- Unbalanced tires
- Tires needs Alignment
- Suspension problems
- A stuck Brake Caliper
Warped Brake Rotors
The most common reason why your steering wheel shakes when braking is a warped brake rotor. Your brake pads contact the smooth, flat surface of your brake rotors to slow down or stop your movement.
The heat produced by the friction of the brake pads against the brake rotors makes the metal of your rotors malleable. Your rotors may eventually bend under this pressure, especially if you don’t maintain regular brake pad replacements.
The steering wheel will shake when your rotors are bent because the brake pads will have to stop against an uneven surface. Fortunately, replacing the brake rotors will take care of this.
If you notice this problem in time, your mechanic might even be able to resurface your rotors to restore their smoothness and evenness. It is unlikely that this repair will work if you have already noticed bending signs, such as the steering wheel shaking.
Read more:car head-up display (HUD)
Unbalanced tires
Your tires should rotate at the same rate, which is made possible by maintaining their balance. However, seasonal changes, erratic driving habits, poor road conditions, changes in inflation, and other factors can cause tires to get out of balance.
Unbalanced tires can have an effect on your suspension and axle, which causes vibrations in the steering wheel. A routine tire balancing service can solve (or avoid) this problem. Your tires should be balanced roughly every 10,000 to 12,000 miles.
Tires needs Alignment
Another reason why your steering wheel shakes when braking is when the tires need to be aligned. The suspension system of your car is made to align your tires so that they contact the pavement of the road evenly.
Road turbulence, reckless driving, as well as other hazards can gradually skew this alignment, resulting in one or more of your wheels coming to rest at an awkward angle.
Vibrations or shaking of the steering wheel can be brought on by even minor alignment issues. Wheel alignment issues, in addition to steering wheel shaking, can result in uneven and accelerated tire wear.
This problem and its symptoms can be quickly resolved with a wheel alignment service. Take your car to a for a quick alignment inspection if you’re unsure whether you need any alignment service.
Suspension problems
Shock absorbers, coils/springs, joints, bushings, and other components are all part of the suspension system that connects your car to its tires.
Any one of these parts may experience a problem that affects how your car handles. As you might have thought, your suspension may be the cause of the shaking in your steering wheel.
If you’ve checked out all other possible causes of steering wheel vibrations, the issue is probably related to the suspension. A professional mechanic’s inspection will probably be necessary to determine the precise nature of this problem.
A stuck Brake Caliper
Stuck brake calipers are another reason why your steering wheel shakes when braking; they are an unusual cause, though. Every time you slow down or stop your car, the brake calipers that hold the brake pads lower them. Brake calipers can seize, even if it is not common.
Seized brake calipers can affect handling, frequently resulting in tugging or shaking of the steering wheel. Unlike warped rotors, you will only notice this problem when driving, not while braking.
Read more: What causes a spongy or soft brake pedal (and how to fix it)
Is it safe to drive with a shaking steering wheel?
Driving with a shaking steering wheel is usually unsafe. Tire imbalance, braking issues, worn steering or suspension problems, among other things, are possible causes of a shaking steering wheel when braking.
It’s best to schedule an appointment with the mechanic because it will likely damage your ability to control your vehicle properly and could quickly get worse.
Read more: Everything you need to know about brake pad thickness
What should you do when your car steering wheel shakes when braking?
If your steering wheel shakes when braking, you should take your car to an auto repair shop as soon as you can, and the technicians will examine it to determine whether your braking system needs servicing, wheels needs replacement, worn suspension needs fixing, etc.
However, if you’re mechanically inclined, here’s a video to guide you on what you should do when your car steering wheel shakes when braking.
Read more: Cheapest places to get brakes done
FAQs
Why does my steering wheel shake when I brake at high speeds?
When you hit the brakes, if your steering wheel shakes a lot, your rotors may not be perfectly round. To put it another way, the rotors have begun to deteriorate, lose their shape, and warp.
Is it safe to drive with a shaking steering wheel when braking?
It is usually dangerous to drive with a shaking steering wheel. A shaking steering wheel when braking could be caused by a variety of things, including tire imbalance, braking problems, broken steering or suspension components, and more.
Why does my steering wheel shake when I slow down?
Your brake rotors may be damaged if your wheel begins to shake as you apply the brakes and slow down. New rotors are smooth, but they can become warped over time, necessitating regular pad replacement. The entire car will start to shake as the rotors start to get uneven.
How much does it cost to fix a shaking steering wheel?
Bearings are likely to be the problem if the steering wheel shakes only when you turn. Usually, a simple cleaning would take care of this issue, but if they are broken, replacement expenses, including labor, might reach $430.
Can a wheel alignment fix vibration?
The incorrect alignment of the wheels is another frequent reason for steering wheel shaking. By ensuring that all wheels are pointed in the same direction, a wheel alignment will typically stop the vibration.
How do I know if my wheel balance is off?
Uneven and quicker tread wear, poor fuel economy, or vibration in the seat, floorboard, and steering wheel that gets worse at higher speeds are all symptoms of out-of-balance tires. The wheel-tire unit will roll smoothly when all parts are as equally balanced as possible.
What are 5 possible causes of a shaking vehicle?
- Tires are the issue.
- Brakes need to be fixed.
- Your suspension system need some maintenance.
- broken or worn parts.
- transmission fluid is low.
What are the symptoms of unbalanced tires?
- When driving, any strand sounds or uneven tire noises may indicate that your tires need to be aligned.
- You may have unbalanced tires if you feel vibrations in your seat, steering wheel, or floorboards.
Is it OK to drive with unbalanced tires?
Unbalanced car tires can harm a variety of components in your car. For instance, driving with unevenly balanced tires puts excessive stress on your wheel assembly, bearings, and shocks. higher fuel costs. Your gas prices could go up if you drive on unbalanced tires.
How do I know if I need an alignment?
Does your car tend to drift to the left or right if you briefly let off of the steering wheel while travelling on a straight, flat surface? Does maintaining a straight line require constant steering in the opposite direction? These are typical signs that the wheels need to be aligned.
What does it sound like when your tires are out of balance?
While driving, tires with uneven tread depths make loud noises. Typically, one tire will make noises due to uneven wear. Tire noises may also be caused by alignment issues. The air chamber makes a low humming or drumming noise as you move through it.
That is all for this article, where we give a detailed explanation on the answers to the following questions.
- What are the reasons why your steering wheel shakes when Braking?
- Is it safe to drive with a shaking steering wheel?
- What should you do when your car steering wheel shakes when Braking?
I hope you learn a lot from the reading. If you do, kindly share it with others. Thanks for reading, see you around!
