Steering wheel shimmies when braking.

[Graphfixz]

hi guys,

what do I have to do to keep my car from 'shimmieing/wobbling/bouncing when I brake? The car goes on a straight line and doesn't wobble at any speeds but when I brake.

Thanks in advance.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

get your rotors turned, and while your at it, replace your pads. Since its only happening during braking, you probably dont have out of round wheels, or out of balance wheels.

[hybrid_flyer]

its your rotors for sure, when the contact surface is not completly flat it causes the pads to grab hard at the high spot, and the pads to travel in when it reaches the low spot. just get them turned and check your pad wear.

[Graphfixz]

well, I know my Jeep needs the roters fixed because that one does what you guys are talking about. When I am breaking it kind of stutters??? comes and goes.

But the nissan has an even brake speed... but the during the slowdown the steering wheel wobbles.

Is this still the roters?

[skydragoness]

Rotors/ Pads need to be replaced. You can't *see* the warpage but you can feel it through the wheel. Get it fixed quick

[Grip Gambler]

could be shot tension rod bushings as well

[drifter_for_life06]

def a brake pad/rotor problem

i doubt its the rod bushings but you never know

[Drift]

could be shot tension rod bushings as well

I second that maybe just to check ...

[w1ngzer0]

could be shot tension rod bushings as well

yep. I replaced my tension rods and no more steering wheel shake. You get petal pulse with warped rotors.

[240SicknessX]

have a friend stand outside the car, and while your rollin at 10mph check and see if the wheel moves front to back when you tap on the brakes, do it lightly at first and progressivly get harder on the brakes unless your getting the pulsing sensation with light brake power...... i doubt its your tc rods/bushings, but its a check, otherwise have your rotors resurfaced, and new pads bought, just like an unbalenced wheel, the shaking when you apply the brakes isnt good for the car or ur saftey

if wheel moves front to back then get new tc rods/ bushings, (i dont know if you can replace just the bushings by maybe pressing them out and in with new?)

[^xero^]

I had the exact same problem on my mitsubishi and it turned out to be the rack and pinion.

[240SicknessX]

I had the exact same problem on my mitsubishi and it turned out to be the rack and pinion.

ok so your rack n pinion was screws on the mitsu, graphicxz i wouldnt consider a problem with your rack and pinion a popular item to cause your condition, from the imput of this thread, i would trouble shoot the possibly warped rotors and pads first, tc rods/bushings, then last but not least if that hasnt fixed the problem you could entertain the idea of inspecting/rebuilding/replacing the rack and pinion.

xero- did you rack and pinion leak powersteering fluid at all when you were getting these pulses in teh steering wheel? or what exactly was causeing the shaking, somthing loose?

[96240SX41]

warped rotors, mine was doing it too lol. . .and whatever you do (if your on a tight budget like me) dont get the slotted kind. I know alot of people have different opinions, but making 5.50 an hour doing highschool, no sir, eats up the pads, and i always try to get the good pads, the dustless. . .but yeah, i just did it last week, 2 hour job MAX