Unsteady Steering Wheel When Braking

dunndarryn

dunndarryn

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Hello, everyone. I've been noticing for a while now (but never posted) that when I'm braking at a red light my steering wheel is shaky. Could this just be that I need an alignment or could it be something else? I plan to get an alignment very soon, but I just wanted to make sure this was the issue. Thanks!
 
You're not very clear about this.

You're just sitting at a red light with your foot on the brake and the steering wheel is shaking? Or when you hit your brakes to slow down, the steering wheel shakes?

It's not an alignment issue. If the wheel is shaking when you press the brakes to slow down, it's typically warped rotors and they (as well as the pads) should be replaced. It's usually the fronts since they do most of the work.
 
It's while I'm braking. Not like when I press my brakes because there's a slow person in front of me, only when braking at red lights. So I need new brakes and rotors?
 
Ok. I have the same thing going on with mine. Mine is in need of front pads and rotors though. Seems like yours is too

Edit
sounds like you brake harder to red lights than slowing down for someone going slower than you, correct? I was confused by post 7
 
Must be because you are riding on 4/5 lug nuts.
 
Like I said make a thread a post your concerns in there. You are asking very basic car maintenance questions not related to the LS.
 
dNyce LS said:
Ok. I have the same thing going on with mine. Mine is in need of front pads and rotors though. Seems like yours is too

Edit
sounds like you brake harder to red lights than slowing down for someone going slower than you, correct? I was confused by post 7
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Yes, I brake harder at red lights than when just slightly braking from someone in front of me. Probably is brakes and rotors. Thanks!
 
M4rk said:
Must be because you are riding on 4/5 lug nuts.
Click to expand...

After a long time can't this cause warped rotors? Was under the impression that having unevenly torqued lug nuts can cause warped rotors, missing a lug nut altogether would have the same affect.
 
Improperly torqued whell nuts can cause warped discs. It is usually caused by uneven torque between the nuts, so yes one nut is at 0 torque while the others are hopefully torqued to spec. If the brakes have not been changed for some time it is more likely they are too thin and this causes them to warp. Brake pads now have a high metallic content causing the disc to wear and gradually get thinner. Also ABS causes a hammering on the discs making thin discs very likely to warp when ABS is invoked.
 
M4rk said:
Must be because you are riding on 4/5 lug nuts.
Click to expand...

I was just going to say that until I read your post. On both sides no less.

The front wheels in OP's other post where covered in old brake dust build up.

Gonna need Stud, Lugnuts, Pads and rotors, stabilizer bushings, end links.

She's a tired old girl, needs some TLC for sure. no wonder she's loose, been ridden hard and put away wet.
 
BigRigLS said:
Gonna need Stud, Lugnuts, Pads and rotors, stabilizer bushings, end links.

She's a tired old girl, needs some TLC for sure. no wonder she's loose, been ridden hard and put away wet.
Click to expand...

Like I said previously a couple times, the studs and lugs are brand new. The only reason there are currently only 4 is because that's all the auto part store had. Yes I need pads & rotors. Sway bar links should be on their way for both sides.

Trust me I have thousandssssss into this car. Just in past month or so I have over a thousand into it, getting her fixed up and running good. About 8 months ago is when I started driving her, before that, she was sitting for a year. So it's a work in progress. I'm also getting a new car soon so I'm balancing my investment into the LS
 
Look i just put new driled and sloted beakes and ebc pads.new bushings and new aliment and still shakes with a hard stop .
Well its realy a shimmy.but stops on a dime.
 
MOSES said:
Look i just put new driled and sloted beakes and ebc pads.new bushings and new aliment and still shakes with a hard stop .
Well its realy a shimmy.but stops on a dime.
Click to expand...

Did you bed the pads in correctly?
 
Yes i always bed the pads, its nice i live on a hw that is clear at night
 
dunndarryn said:
like i said previously a couple times, the studs and lugs are brand new. The only reason there are currently only 4 is because that's all the auto part store had. Yes i need pads & rotors. Sway bar links should be on their way for both sides.

Trust me i have thousandssssss into this car. Just in past month or so i have over a thousand into it, getting her fixed up and running good. About 8 months ago is when i started driving her, before that, she was sitting for a year. So it's a work in progress. I'm also getting a new car soon so i'm balancing my investment into the ls
Click to expand...


10-4
 
It is your motor mounts they are worn out. The vibration you notice from your steering wheel shaking is the vibration from your engine touching metal.:cool:
 
Merk1n_Season said:
It is your motor mounts they are worn out. The vibration you notice from your steering wheel shaking is the vibration from your engine touching metal.:cool:
Click to expand...

I don't think so. That would show up at a different time, and would shake more than the steering wheel. The OP is not talking about shaking, he' talking about the steering wheel turning back and forth slightly.
 
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