steering wheel shake

[mikester328]

hey, just wondering if anyone knows what might be causing the steering wheel to shake when I put on the brakes. It occurs mainly when I'm pressing the brakes lightly. Does it have to do with the rotors or tire balance? I have a 318i '96. Thanks.
-Mike

[Kevin325i]

Could be one of about a thousand things, most commonly your rotors may be warped. But to really give you an answer we'll need more details like how fast are you driving? Is it only from highspeeds? Around town?

Kevin

[PilotPhil]

I had the same problem. Ordered a new set of rotors, pads and (just in case) sensor for the front axle, and the problem's solved. It's about a 45 minutes job that I was able to successfully accomplish in two hours.

[Furious]

usually a rotor is warped

[Eggrolled211]

yeah warp rotor...when braking etc. lightly....steering shakes at 65+.....tires aren't balance...or could be aligment?

[Scarface]

Just had mine done a couple weeks ago and it feels like another car!

[dutchbmw]

A warped rotor because it is only shaking when breaking! :P

[Aggieland81]

I just had my mechanic replace my rotors and pads about 5k miles ago, should i have take my car back in and have him look at, or since there new is it not a warped rotor, mine only shakes when braking from speeds higher than 55+ if im going 80 it will shake till 55 unless i slam on them then it wont shake, My wheel also shakes at about 40-50 mph just driving around town. THanks

[mikester328]

Thanks for all your replies.
The other day I had about 250 pounds of stuff I was needing to take home in my car and when I was going about 50 mph it shook probably the worst... that was when braking fairly easily, but the harder I pressed at that moment, the faster it shook but the shaking wasn't as wild... I think that could be the warped rotors... It happens all the time even though there isn't any extra weight in the car. Thanks for the help.

Btw, I think it's amazing that I'm member 4000... right on the money with the number... hahah.

Mike

[CiscoKid]

how hard it is to change your rotors?

[El Presidente]

not very. I changed mine about a year or two ago. Take off wheel, take off anti clip, undo allen bolts holding on caliper, remove caliper, remove pads, remove allen bolt holding rotor, install is reverse.

[CiscoKid]

thanx

[Kevin325i]

Get yourself a ruber mallet. Usually they're pretty rusted to the hub, when you get everything off just give it a good wack a few times.

Kevin

[thinair]

If it's shaking when you brake lightly if might not be your rotors...

Do you feel it in the brake pedal, or just the steering wheel?

Check your lower control arm bushings, tie rods, and ball joints for excess play.

[leibniz]

That's right. I believe the '96 model still had the plastic control arm bushings; which tend to be problematic.