Why does the steering wheel shake when braking?

Steering wheel vibration when braking: main reasons

The safety of the driver and passengers depends on the technical condition of the car. Minor structural damage that causes vibrations in the steering wheel when braking can lead to serious consequences. In most cases, the driver diagnoses the breakdown on his own or goes to a car service center.

The most likely cause of vibration is the condition of the brake discs. But this is not always the case. The culprit may be deformation of the steering racks or the formation of a hernia on one of the wheels.

Why does the steering wheel vibrate when braking?

Before self-diagnosis, you should think about what preceded the appearance of the beating. Has the chassis system been repaired or brake pads replaced? It is worth starting to identify the breakdown with replaced parts. They may be made from low quality materials.

It is also important to consider the experience of the technician who performed the repair. Failure to comply with installation technology leads to increased loads. Not only the replaced part suffers, but also the system as a whole.

Did the steering wheel wobble after driving through puddles or fresh snow? Pay attention to the condition of the brake discs. Temperature changes lead to surface deformation.

Does the steering wheel exhibit a large range of motion and become difficult to hold? With a 99% probability, the problem lies in broken brake discs or improper bleeding of the system. In such a situation, urgent repairs are necessary. The wheels react differently when you press the brake pedal. The likelihood of getting into an accident increases, and driving the car becomes uncomfortable even for an experienced driver.

Reasons for vibrations in the steering wheel:

• Wear of brake discs.
• Technical condition of the running system.
• Hernia or deformation of the wheels.
• Nuts not tightened tightly.

Before detecting deformation of the steering rod or wear of the brake disc, you should pay attention to the fastening of the wheels. In most cases, the cause of wobbling is not that they are poorly secured. But if the problem is just one loose nut, then it will be unpleasant to find out after a full repair.

How to detect wear on brake discs?

Before repairing, it is necessary to diagnose the breakdown. Is it just the steering wheel that vibrates? The likely cause is wear of the front brake discs or the system as a whole. Has the brake pedal also changed its behavior? Pay attention to the rear braking system.

The handbrake can be used to determine the malfunction. If the vibration stops when using it, then you should look for a problem in the front brake system. Is there any beat left? Examine the technical condition of the rear brake discs and the system as a whole. The procedure allows you to determine the location of deformed parts.

Next, you should test the wheels or study the appearance of the brake discs. Raise the car on a jack and remove it from gear. If the rear axle is suspected, then the handbrake must be lowered. Spin the wheel. Is the rotation uneven and changing intensity in the same place? The problem has been identified. If the test result is negative, move on to the next wheel.

The appearance of the brake disc says a lot about its technical condition. Noticed cracks, unevenness or chips? Replacement or grooving is required, depending on the situation. The presence of a bluish tint on the surface is a sign of overheating.

When inspecting, pay attention to the brake calipers. It's unlikely, but they can also cause vibrations in the steering wheel.

Read also : Steering wheel vibration at speeds of 100-120 km/h.

How to determine wear of the chassis and other breakdowns?

Is the failure at the front, but the tested discs are in perfect condition? A visual inspection of the chassis system allows you to find a breakdown. Tie rods and ends are likely causes of steering wheel wobble.

It will be difficult for an inexperienced person to notice the deformation of the structure. But if you notice unnatural bends, then the reason for the vibrations becomes clear. In less severe cases, it is necessary to rely on inspection and evaluation of the system as a whole.

A herniated or deformed tire is easily detected visually even by an inexperienced driver. There shouldn't be any problems with this. If there is no visible damage, it will be useful to remove the wheel and examine the surface from the inside.

How to solve the problem with vibrations in the steering wheel?

When brake discs wear out, there are 2 ways to solve the problem. Grooving and replacement. By changing an element of the system, you can forget about the steering wheel beating for a long time. Grooving allows you to get rid of vibrations and keep your budget safe. But the working life of the disk will decrease and a repeat procedure may soon be required.

It is recommended to replace on both sides at the same time. This way you will achieve the best effect and eliminate steering wheel beating.

Deformation of the steering rod, ends, brake calipers - replacement of the part that has become unusable is mandatory. Actions to give the spare part its original technical characteristics are doomed to failure. The effectiveness of such measures is extremely low.

In situations with tire damage, everything depends on the degree of wear and experience of the technician. Often the problem is resolved quickly and without undue burden on the budget.

Why are vibrations in the steering wheel when braking dangerous?

In most cases, the breakdown does not require immediate repair. By eliminating emergency braking, the car can be used even for several years. But there is an increased load on the chassis system, it is important to realize this.

By refusing to make repairs, you may end up having to spend a lot of money in the future. An important aspect is the pleasure derived from driving a car. The vibration of the steering wheel does not allow you to fully enjoy the trip.

The optimal solution in this situation is to carry out repairs if funds are available. The problem does not require urgent replacement of parts. But by constantly postponing repairs, you reduce your comfort and increase its cost.

Read also : Brakes squeak when braking a car - why and what to do?

Video on the topic

Vibration or shaking of the steering wheel when braking - what could be the reasons?

Vibration in the steering wheel, brake pedal or throughout the car can begin for a number of different reasons, such as broken engine mount brackets, bent wheel rims, poorly balanced wheels, worn CV joints and a number of other reasons. But none of these car problems would cause vibration in the steering wheel only when braking. Vibration or shaking of the steering wheel when braking on disc brakes is almost always only due to deformed brake discs.

The steering wheel, brake pedal, or vibration due to deformation of the brake discs

First of all, what is a brake disc? It is also called a brake rotor. This is that part of your car's chassis system that rotates with the wheel (the wheel is directly attached to the brake disc) and which is clamped by the brake pads when you want to stop the car. In other words, the brake disc is a very important part of the car.

In the picture, an auto mechanic is pressing real brake pads onto a brake rotor. In fact, this work is done by the caliper

Why the deformation of the brake disc may cause vibration or beating on the steering wheel is easier to find out by understanding the principle of operation of the disc. Brake rotors are typically made of metal and come in a specific width depending on the make and model of your car. When applying the brakes, the pads are strongly pressed against the disc, creating enormous pressure and frictional force, causing the brake disc to become very hot. This heating provokes a slight change in the density of the metal of the disk, and this disk should cool evenly over its entire surface. However, this does not always happen, and when a brake disc cools suddenly and unevenly, it tends to warp in certain areas. This deformation takes on a wavy shape. It turns out that when brake pads clamp a deformed disc at high speeds, this disc causes the entire caliper to vibrate left and right, and with it the entire wheel, transmitting vibration to the steering wheel or the entire car.

How exactly an overheated brake disc is cooled sharply, we think, is not necessary to say. Note that the reason for this may be a puddle or snow after prolonged braking.

When the disk is deformed in this way, they say “the disk has led.” Since this happens after the brake disc overheats, usually the second symptom, if the reason that the steering wheel is shaking or vibration appears, is precisely the deformation of the disc - this is a bluish tint, which also appears due to overheating.

If you have the first suspect, then you can check the disk deformation quite simply - lift the suspected wheel on a jack so that it rotates freely (and is not blocked by either the brake or the gearbox - just so that the car does not roll). Next, spin the wheel by weight - it should spin freely. If the wheel rotates normally and easily for part of the described circle, and then stops or slows down significantly, moreover, at the same point, then, most likely, the brake rotor on this wheel has spun.

You can more reliably check whether the brake disc is vibrating in front or behind you by braking with the handbrake - if vibration also appears during such braking, then most likely the reason is in one of the rear rotors.

If the brake disc on the front wheels starts to slip, you will feel that it is the steering wheel that is hitting the steering wheel when braking. And if it’s on one of the rear wheels, then you may not notice the vibration at all, although in cases where the disc has moved quite strongly, the vibration during braking is noticeable at high speeds. But the vibration of the brake pedal will not reliably show which of the rotors has started.

What to do? The reason that the disc started to slip may not be the fact of hypothermia itself, although if you drove down a hill with the brakes on for a long time, and then drove into a puddle or drove through loose snow, then this case can be called the reason. But often it is overheating of the brake disc, and not its cooling, that causes deformation. And it overheats due to a jammed caliper - when the pads are constantly pressed against the disc, preventing the wheel from spinning freely and causing excessive heating. And in this case, it is necessary to eliminate the root cause of overheating.

If the brake disc fails, it can be replaced. It is quite expensive - depending on the car model, the price of a brake disc can range from 2 to 10-15 thousand rubles. But you can also bore it - this is a fairly simple procedure that is carried out in car services, without even removing it from the car. Boring consists of grinding the waves down to a completely flat surface of the disk.

Brake disc boring work

But on drum brakes, drums, similar to the rotor on disc brakes, are rarely deformed due to overheating or hypothermia after overheating.

Steering wheel shakes or vibrates after replacing a brake disc, hub or wheel bearing

But if the beating on the steering wheel or throughout the car was preceded by service work on the chassis of the car, then the root cause should be looked for first here. Most often, vibration when braking can appear after replacing the brake disc, hub or wheel bearing. And the specific cause of vibration and beating can be not only in these defective parts (although more often in them), but also in poor quality work. The brake rotor may have been tightened incorrectly, over-tightened, or not tightened crosswise. The torque to which the brake rotor must be tightened is usually indicated on the disc itself.

If vibration of the steering wheel during braking or the entire car appeared precisely after any work carried out on the chassis, then contact the same mechanic who carried out this work with the problem.

Steering wheel shaking or vibration due to a cracked brake disc or drum

Perhaps the worst thing that can cause vibration is a cracked brake disc or drum in drum brakes. This usually also happens due to overheating or strong mechanical stress on them. Usually this happens rarely and only on worn (thinned) brake rotors or rusted drums.

Crack on the brake disc

Could the vibration be caused by the pads?

Despite the fact that poor-quality or worn pads appear quite often as a possible root cause of vibration in a car or beating in the steering wheel, in our opinion, they cannot in any way cause vibration in the steering wheel or the entire car when braking. This is not a moving part and there cannot be cyclical operation in it, therefore, with a smooth brake disc, the pads and caliper cannot cause such vibration.

What else can cause beating or vibration when braking, but quite rarely:

• problems in the steering rack or worn out ball joints in the chassis;
• worn and improperly functioning shock absorbers (here vibration appears more often when turning in the direction opposite to the side with a worn shock absorber);
• worn or rotted shock absorber strut mounts;
• strong side impacts on curbs during accidents, etc. (usually deformation of the brake system is preceded by deformation of the wheel disc);
• steering tips.

Is it possible to ignore the vibration and beating of the steering wheel when braking, if it does not interfere much?

If your steering wheel shakes when braking or the whole car vibrates, then it is still better to contact a mechanic. But the problem can be ignored for some time - months or even years. But you need to keep in mind that if the problem is caused by improperly tightening the nuts, then it can be quite dangerous. In addition, vibration of the discs puts an increased load on other elements of the chassis - the same hub, shock absorbers, steering system, and this is more serious and expensive.

But vibration on the steering wheel when braking at high speed is also unsafe. In fact, you can easily lose control of your car if the vibration is strong enough. Driving is already one of the most dangerous things we do every day, so saving money on fixing a wobble in your steering wheel shouldn't be a reason to increase that danger. Plus, very few of us can avoid looking funny while gripping a shaky steering wheel—remember that when you're driving your girlfriend on a first date or just giving a ride to a stranger. Believe me, a strongly vibrating steering wheel and no less strongly vibrating hands on it are very noticeable from the outside.

Why does the steering wheel shake when braking and how to fix it?

Vibration of various elements of the car inevitably occurs during operation, when the moving parts of the chassis and transmission gradually wear out. But among such malfunctions, there is one dangerous malfunction - the steering wheel wobbles when braking. The more the steering wheel jerks after pressing the brake pedal sharply, the higher the likelihood of losing control and flying off the road at a decent speed. To avoid the described emergency situation, it is worth studying the nature of the problem and how to solve it.

Where does steering wheel wobble come from?

Steering wheel beating at the moment of braking means spontaneous jerking of the steering wheel in different directions. In especially advanced cases, the vibration is so strong that the driver has to literally catch the car on the road. At speeds above 50 km/h, the phenomenon creates a real danger for vehicle passengers.

Since the steering wheel is rigidly connected to the front wheel hubs through a rack and ball ends, the source of the problem must be sought in the chassis and braking system of the car. The main causes of strong vibration lie in various defects of the brake disc:

• the working part of the product is deformed and has a wavy surface;
• due to the impact, the disk was damaged and cracked;
• The spare part was originally defective or installed incorrectly.

It is no coincidence that the front brake discs are named as the culprits. As soon as the working surface of the part changes its shape a little or gets a defect, after the pads are activated, the front wheels will begin to wobble, repeating the rotation of the uneven element. The steering wheel hits even harder when braking at high speed, as the speed of the front wheels increases.

How a wave-like deformation appears on a disk:

1. As the car moves, the elements are repeatedly captured by the pads and can become very hot.
2. The temperature is distributed unevenly over the surface; accordingly, the metal in different parts of the part expands more or less.
3. If, at the moment of maximum heating, the wheel falls into a puddle or snow, the metal cools sharply and retains its concave shape.
4. The brake pads grip the disc and force the wheel to follow the path of rotation of the deformed surface. This is why the steering wheel shakes when braking.

Steering wheel runout also appears after the element is incorrectly fastened or in the presence of a manufacturing defect, when the surface of the spare part is initially curved.

Other causes of vibration

Steering wheel vibrations that are not associated with the car jerking in different directions appear for the following reasons:

1. One of the vehicle's process fluids, for example, transmission oil, got on the pads as a result of oil seal wear. Possessing significant viscosity, the lubricant adheres well to any surface and disrupts the normal operation of the brakes when the pedal is pressed sharply.
2. The internal elements of the steering rack have worn out, and significant play has appeared.
3. The steering rod ball pins have become unusable.
4. Inoperability of shock absorbers and front struts. Vibration on the steering wheel is felt when braking sharply and at the same time entering a turn.

Note. Problems associated with wear of ball joints and shock absorbers also appear on the wheels of the rear axle. Most often, brake fluid gets on the pads, the reasons are faulty working cylinders and leaky rubber cuffs.

A strong side impact of any wheel on a high curb (for example, due to ice or an accident) can lead to deformation and subsequent vibration. The main load is taken by the disk, wheel bearing and various suspension joints. Any of the listed parts can become cracked and cause the steering wheel to vibrate during braking.

How is a malfunction diagnosed?

To identify the runout of one of the front wheels, you will need a jack, wheel chocks and a wheel wrench. The diagnostic procedure is as follows:

1. Park the machine on level ground and pull the handbrake all the way. Additionally, secure the car with boots placed under any rear wheel.
2. Jack up the front wheel until it hangs off the ground. On vehicles with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, be sure to move the gearshift lever to neutral.
3. Rotate the suspended rim with your hands. If you feel stuck in a certain position, remove the wheel and check that the uneven disc is rubbing against the pads, causing strong vibration when braking.

The essence of the diagnosis is simple: after operation, the brake pads move back just enough to free the rotating surfaces. The lining must be forced apart to its maximum open position. If the metal working part is bent, then when rotating the part will begin to get stuck between the pads.

Advice. It is not a fact that jerking of the steering wheel in different directions is caused by deformation of one disc. It is likely that the second element is also bent. Therefore, be sure to check both front mechanisms for defects. At the same time, inspect the parts for cracks (especially after a side impact).

If the vibration does not cause the car to deviate from a straight path while driving and does not cause the steering wheel to twitch, check the suspension and chassis components. Drive the vehicle into the inspection ditch and jerk the steering rods to check for play. The performance of shock absorbers is checked by rocking the car up and down with body weight. After applying force, the machine should swing no more than 1 time.

How to eliminate runout?

When your car's steering wheel vibrates slightly during heavy braking, you can simply do nothing and drive on, taking appropriate safety measures. The trick is to avoid decelerating too quickly, otherwise the problem will get worse and you risk losing your vigilance and running off the road.

Recommendation. Before further operation of the car, make sure that the culprit of the steering wheel runout is a defect in the brake disc, and not other reasons.

If the beating is quite noticeable and really threatens the safety of people (vehicle passengers and pedestrians), the deformed disk should be replaced or restored. The first way is associated with significant financial costs - spare parts for some brands of cars are quite expensive. In addition, the brake discs must be replaced in pairs, otherwise during moments of sharp deceleration the front part of the car will begin to pull to the side.

Disc restoration involves turning on a specialized machine . The equipment of advanced service stations makes it possible to process metal without removing the defective part from the machine. The procedure will be cheaper than purchasing and installing new spare parts.

When the car shakes when braking, regardless of speed, you need to look for and fix the problem elsewhere:

1. Make sure that the linings of the rear and front wheels are not flooded with brake fluid. A secondary symptom is a decrease in its level in the expansion tank.
2. Check the functionality of the brake calipers and wheel cylinders. The cause of vibration is often a jammed piston, and fluid leaks are often caused by a leaky cuff.
3. Sometimes the steering wheel starts to vibrate after replacing the pads. This symptom indicates low quality of installed spare parts.

In some cases, vibration appears due to broken brake pads. The malfunction is accompanied by an extraneous sound of grinding or rubbing against metal.

The main causes of car shaking when braking

What to do if the car shakes when braking

Sometimes cars shake when braking. And while vibration during braking is easy to fix, you must remember that any problem with a vehicle's braking system is a safety issue. Here's what you need to know and do if you notice your car shaking when you press the brake pedal.

Tires could be to blame

One possible cause of your car shaking when you press the brake pedal, especially at high speeds on the highway or when going downhill, is your vehicle's tires. This is the first thing you should investigate if you feel your car shaking while braking. Moreover, we are not talking about wheel alignment (wheel alignment). For example, if the wheel alignment is correct, when the wheel balancing is off, your car may shake not only when braking, but also when driving at a speed of more than 90 km/h.

So don’t forget about wheel balancing and periodically stop by a tire shop to check it. Especially if you recently flew into a deep hole in the road. The fact is that from time to time wheel balancing can go wrong. For example, if you hit a bump, the balancing weight attached to the wheel may fly off. As a result, the rotation of this wheel may be uncentered, which will lead to the steering wheel wobbling at speed, as well as the car shaking on the road when braking.

A tire mechanic can easily and quickly check wheel balancing and fix the problem. A similar problem can also occur when the tire is damaged or worn out. In this case, you will have to buy a new tire.

Brakes may be the culprit behind car wobbling.

Perhaps the main cause of car shaking when braking, especially at highway speeds, is the braking system itself. Most cars today typically have disc brakes on the front. At the rear, in addition to disc brakes, drum brakes are also still often found (on cheap economy class cars).

Disc brakes are connected to the brake caliper where the brake pads are clamped. When you press the brake pedal, the brake caliper presses the pads against the brake rotor (much like how brakes work on a bicycle). As a result, the wheel begins to slow down, which stops the car. But, alas, nothing lasts forever in this world. It is logical that brake pads and brake discs wear out over time due to friction, temperature changes, etc.

This ultimately leads to uneven wear of the brake discs (the surface of the discs will become uneven). Our driving style also affects the wear of brake discs. For example, if you're a fan of jumping off at traffic lights and braking hard at red lights, you're not only causing your brake pads to wear out quickly, but you're also shortening the life of your brake rotors. Sharp and frequent braking on slopes is especially dangerous, as this causes deformation of the brake discs.

As a result, due to the unevenness of the discs when the brake pads contact when pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle may shake, which is mainly felt in the steering wheel.

There are usually two options: replace the brake discs, which will cost a pretty penny, or repair the discs by having them sharpened, if, of course, their remaining thickness allows this. But if it is possible to buy new brake discs, then it is preferable to do so. If you want to save money, it is easier to purchase non-original wheels. Ideally, of course, the brake discs should be replaced with each brake pad replacement. But, alas, not everyone can afford such a luxury.

The steering wheel hits: causes and methods of elimination

The steering wheel shakes at speed or when braking - and you understand - that’s it, it’s time to slow down. It’s hard to describe the feelings that arise when driving a car (no matter what brand - be it a domestic VAZ or a foreign car), when the steering wheel of your car begins to twitch intensely and completely uncontrollably in your hands, and most importantly, so suddenly and at the wrong time. I'll tell you a case from my practice. I have a GOLF 2 1.6D car. Not long ago, my steering wheel began to shake at speeds from 70 to 110 km/h, at lower speeds it did not shake, and if the road was in the shape of a washboard, the steering wheel would generally try (and sometimes tear) out of my hands.

The simplest solution would be to send the car to a service station and let the auto mechanics deal with it. But no one will give you any guarantee that they will do it very quickly and at the same time will not rip you off for repairs - replacing your entire steering system, without trying to understand the causes of your problem. Or by replacing each of the components below in turn and ensuring that after that everything will be fine with the car. Which will take you a lot of effort and money, as well as a lot of time.

There can be quite a few reasons leading to the steering wheel wobbling at speed or when braking:

1. wheel imbalance;
2. uneven and severe wear of the brake pads of the front wheels;
3. steering rods;
4. steering rack;
5. spherical bearing;
6. cardan transmission.

For this reason, I took the path of the least financial and time costs - first of all, I checked what could be checked without resorting to the use of complex and expensive equipment. Here is a list of 6 reasons why the steering wheel shakes, as well as methods for solving them:

Wheel imbalance

Front wheel brake pads

Then it was time to check another of the most common causes of steering wheel wobble at speed - wear of the front brake pads. The main symptom of pad wear is the steering wheel wobbling when braking. To do this, I jacked up the car and removed the front wheels one by one. There was wear and tear, of course, but not much. He simply could not cause such a beating.

Steering rods

Next, what most often leads to steering wheel wobble is wear on the tips and wear on the steering rods. I checked the steering rods - there is no shackle in them. In order to check this, I asked my wife to hold the steering wheel firmly in one position, and after jacking up the car, I pulled the steering rods one by one, and there should be no free play. If there is free play or the steering rod is loose, this may be the cause of the steering wheel wobbling, or the steering rod breaking off while driving and a complete loss of vehicle control at speed, respectively. This rod needs to be replaced. It should also be remembered that after replacing the steering rods, it is necessary to perform an alignment of the car wheels.

Steering rack

Severe wear on the steering rack can also cause the steering wheel to wobble at speed. When it wears out, the free play of the steering wheel also increases. To eliminate this problem, I tightened the steering rack clamp adjusting bolt. I tightened the bolt to the point where, while driving, after making a turn, the steering wheel itself does not return to the “zero” position, after which I loosened the bolt to one side. The beating has decreased a little, but still remains. Thus, I found out that the partial runout of the steering wheel was caused by the play on the steering rack.

Spherical bearing

After that, I checked the wheel shank on the ball joint - there was no shackle. To check the shank in the ball joint, it is necessary to jack up the car and place the ball joint on a static support standing on the ground, so that the wheel is completely in the air (you can use a steel cylinder, a wooden ingot, or a hydraulic jack as a support). Then take the upper part of the wheel with one hand, and the lower part of the wheel with the other hand and try to shake the wheel, pulling the upper and lower parts of the wheel towards you and away from you, respectively. If there is a shank, it means that the ball joint is worn and needs to be replaced.

Wheel imbalance No. 2

The moment came when my knowledge, which did not require investment, of the steering mechanism ended, I had to go to a tire shop and balance the wheels - the result was the same - the beating did not disappear.

The last reason is the cardan transmission

The time has come to search for information on the Internet and using folk methods - I started asking auto mechanics and all my friends who have cars and had problems with the steering, what it could be and how to deal with it. There were a lot of assumptions, and completely remove the steering - then see what is there - but this would take a long time and would lead to large temporary losses. One day one of my friends recommended that I look at the small cardan transmission that is in the steering column. It is quite easy to carry out the inspection procedure; to do this, you need to remove the lower casing of the steering column and go down it down to the bend, where the steering column enters the car body, where the driveline is located. Pulling it, I discovered a slight shatter. After that, I removed the cardan transmission and, having disassembled it, discovered a wear there, which, as it turned out, created such a beating at speed. After replacing the cardan transmission, the beating went away - now the ride became comfortable.

Video about the causes of steering wheel vibration: