When braking, if you are experiencing a shaky steering wheel, then you most likely know that something in the car isn’t right.
It’s frightening and annoying to feel like a motorcycle while driving a car. Still, these horizontal tremors are usually a normal sign of an issue that needs to be examined and corrected as soon as possible to drive safely.
In this article, we will describe the causes for the steering wheel shake when braking as well as the solutions to get your car back to smooth, balanced, and controlled stops.
Topic Summary
- Causes of Steering Wheel Shake When Braking
- Solutions for Steering Wheel Shake When Braking
- Is It Safe To Drive with a Shaking Steering Wheel?
- FAQs About Steering Wheel Shake When Braking
- Why Does My Steering Wheel Shake When I Brake?
- Is It Safe To Drive with A Shaking Steering Wheel When Braking?
- Can Uneven Tire Wear Cause My Steering Wheel To Shake When Braking?
- How Can I Prevent My Steering Wheel From Shaking When Braking?
- What Should I Do If My Steering Wheel Shakes When I Brake?
- Conclusion
Causes of Steering Wheel Shake When Braking
The causes of steering wheel shake when braking are:
1. Warped Brake Rotors
Brake rotors are the discs that your brake pads squeeze to stop your car. These rotors can become warped under heat.
That is, they can develop tiny warps over time, often from the heat created by heavy braking or braking for a long time.
When the rotor is less than 100 percent flat, the brake pads cannot encircle it evenly, and your steering wheel will shake with the vibrations.
How To Identify
A pulsing or shaking steering wheel feeling could be a sign of warped rotors that get worse the more brake pressure you add, especially at higher speeds.
2. Worn or Uneven Brake Pads
Brake pads are brake pads that wear out with use. However, if they become unevenly worn, they can cause vibration when they contact the rotors. Low quality pads might do this, too.
How To Identify
If the vibration started after your last replacement of the brake pads or you hear a grinding sound when braking, you might have a gap or worn uneven pads.
3. Wheel Alignment Issues
Wheels getting out of alignment or getting off balance with the vehicle’s suspension parts can cause the steering wheel to vibrate.
This is especially felt during braking, but it can also be experienced while driving at a faster speed.
How To Identify
If it shakes when braking but also when driving, especially at higher speeds, it’s most likely a tire balancing problem or a matter of wheel alignment.
4. Loose or Damaged Suspension Components
The suspension system is what keeps your car stable on the road, and any tie rods, ball joints, or bushings that are loose or damaged can quickly set your steering wheel to vibrate, particularly when braking.
How To Identify
Keep a lookout for other warning signs, such as uneven tire wear, clunking noises when you get over a bump, or your car pulling to one side when you’re driving.
5. Brake Caliper Issues
If a brake caliper sticks or jams, the brakes may apply unevenly when they shouldn’t. That will be one reason why your steering wheel shakes.
A sticking caliper is also possible. However, this example is less common.
How To Identify
If the shaking is or starts to smell of burning after driving, you caliper.
Solutions for Steering Wheel Shake When Braking
After diagnosing, fixing is the only solution to the steering wheel shake when braking.
Resurface or Replace Warped Rotors
If the culprit is warped rotors, they will have to be turned on a lathe (known as ‘resurfacing’) or replaced.
The shop should be able to measure the rotor and evaluate if resurfacing is sufficient or if the rotor must be replaced.
Replace Worn or Uneven Brake Pads
Brake pads that are uneven or worn out should be replaced so that they make even contact with the rotor, and the condition of the rotors should be checked out at the same time to avoid future problems.
Balance Tires and Align Wheels
If the vibrations can be attributed to out of balance tires or to problems with the alignment of the wheels themselves, perhaps you’ll want to have a professional balance of your tires and have the wheels realigned.
Keeping tires in good shape by getting them rotated and wheel aligned regularly could also help avoid these problems.
Inspect and Repair Suspension Components
Loose or worn-out suspension components should be examined, repaired, or replaced accordingly. A good mechanic can diagnose and cure the ills to restore your level of flow.
Repair or Replace Brake Calipers
If the brake calipers are sticking, they need to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced. The truck won’t stop no matter how hard you step on the brake. A mechanic will diagnose the problem and then fix it.
Is It Safe To Drive with a Shaking Steering Wheel?
Shaking the steering wheel usually signifies vehicular problems that must be dealt with immediately. Shaking usually indicates issues with the car’s drivetrain. This includes warped brake rotors, worn brake pads, unbalanced tires, or suspension issues.
Most of these problems can affect how the vehicle handles and its overall road feel, especially when braking. This greatly increases the risk of an accident, particularly if an emergency arises.
It can cause more damage to the car and higher costs to repair later on. If it’s a shaking problem with regard to your brakes, for example, it can negatively affect the control of your car, you may not be able to stop it!
If your steering wheel is shaking, the first thing to do is to have your vehicle checked by an expert mechanic who can fix the problem as soon as possible to avoid a potentially dangerous situation on the road.
FAQs About Steering Wheel Shake When Braking
Why Does My Steering Wheel Shake When I Brake?
Typically, a shaking steering wheel when warped brake rotors, worn brake pads, or suspension problems cause braking. In all these cases, something is wrong with how your brakes connect to your wheels, causing them to vibrate and shake, which is passing through to the steering wheel.
Is It Safe To Drive with A Shaking Steering Wheel When Braking?
When your steering wheel starts to shake, don’t assume the problem solves itself and drive on. There are always very sound reasons, such as damage to your brakes or suspension, why you want to have shimmying solved as soon as possible. In fact, letting the problem linger for just a few more days may put your safety at risk while on the road.
Can Uneven Tire Wear Cause My Steering Wheel To Shake When Braking?
Slightly, to any degree, yes. If it’s related to the tire, such as balance or alignment, then you will indeed get some steering wheel shake at varying speeds, especially braking. But the shaking might also be a bit more noticeable around town at a slower speed.
How Can I Prevent My Steering Wheel From Shaking When Braking?
You should have regular maintenance every 10,000 km or six months, like having your brakes checked, getting new tires, or balancing your wheels, which would prevent it. Have your brake pads replaced when they are worn, and if your suspension needs anything fixed or changed ASAP, do it.
What Should I Do If My Steering Wheel Shakes When I Brake?
If your steering wheel is shaking under braking, have a mechanic look at your vehicle as soon as possible. The problem can generally be diagnosed and repaired, whether the cause is a warped rotor, worn pads, or something else.
Conclusion
When braking, a shaking steering wheel is not something you should ignore. It is a symptom that is often an indicator that something in your brake system, tires, or suspension is not functioning as it should.
So, if you can make the determination of why the shake or vibration is occurring and get it repaired, you can feel confident getting back out on the road knowing what caused the shaking and that it is fixed.
If you are not sure what the cause is or you need help with the repairs, consulting an expert is always an option.