Shaking While Braking... - BMW Forum

///Matt · 03-10-2005, 08:46 AM

Recently it has become much more noticeable and the steering wheel now shakes...the force comes with a 1/4-1/2 depression of the brake pedal....is this a warped rotor???

rsn48 · 03-10-2005, 10:07 AM

Doesn't matter what it is, time to take the car in to get its brakes checked. The rotor's can be re-machined.

lino · 03-10-2005, 10:32 AM

Seems like it's the brake rotors. Common symptom. Check it out and let us know. Good Luck.

///Matt · 03-10-2005, 11:59 AM

Will do - the reason i ask is that I'm taking the car into BMW again (for about the 5th time in the last 12 mos) and I could use a heads up on what they may or may not tell me....

jrhaile · 03-10-2005, 12:02 PM

I'm pretty sure BMW rotors can not be machined...

bryan1970 · 03-10-2005, 05:24 PM

in a technical sence the rotors can be machined but BMW does not machine thier rotors they just replace them. it is likely a warped rotor or it could also be loose lower control arms sometimes if the lower balljoint gets too loose it will shake the steering wheel when braking.

bgwoody · 03-10-2005, 08:35 PM

If its a E39 around 100K miles I'd bet the control arm bushings are gone. If its brand new rotors they could be more than 00.5 out from the factory its happened to me. You could lift the front tires one at a time and spin the wheel. If you hear a change in the brake pad pressure on the rotor, its the problem.

October · 03-11-2005, 10:01 PM

Best case scenario is a simple build up of brake dust. BMWs are notorious for this. Seen this same thing happen on a high mileage car. Sprayed EVERYTHING with a can of brake clean and then later blasted them again with a pressure washer... shudder gone.

CosmosBlack · 03-12-2005, 01:02 AM

Other than the rotors, the other possibility could be control arm bushings. Have you at any time had some clear mineral oil leak, not much, just drips, but they disappeared after a while? If you did, that was the hydraulic oil from the control arm bushing. When that casing inside the bushing breaks, the little amount of oil inside leaks out, then it would still go for some time until one of the symptoms show...which is what you described when braking.

So, just be prepared as your dealer might just recommend replacing the rotors, and then find out later that they were not the cause! All at your expense of course! And they'll tell you, "Well, the rotors need to be replaced anyway..."

///Matt · 03-12-2005, 08:57 PM

It was the rotors....

$650 includes new rotors, pads and sensors for both front wheels....

billB · 03-13-2005, 02:47 AM

Why not DIY? easy enough. No?