Warped rotor?

[stefan]

My steering wheel shakes when i'm on the brakes... that means I have a warped rotor, right?

[Damkid]

usually if you have warped rotors the brake pedal will feel like it wants to move up and down as you press on it

[Levitan]

I think I'd be doing a thorough suspension check. I would think even a tie rod end would do what you are describing Stefan. Look at your tires. Any uneven wear or chopped?

[stefan]

hummm... that makes more sense... I wonder what the shaky steering wheel means then?

[Unicornasaurus]

I know my rotors are warped. If I'm trying to slow down quickly from say..100km/h..I get some pretty bad shaking. Also when I'm just creeping up to the light I can feel the brake pedal sort of 'pulsing' as I come to a stop.

If that's what yours are doing, then I'd say you have warped rotors..and you could probably get them machined down.

[rancheeto]

my book says it could be the wheel bearings or the tie rod ends as levitan said.

[stefan]

I think I'd be doing a thorough suspension check. I would think even a tie rod end would do what you are describing Stefan. Look at your tires. Any uneven wear or chopped?

Tires, tie rods, tie rod ends, LCAs, all new abut 6 months ago...
I'll have to get the car in the shop and check everything over.

One thing I KNOW is blown in the front is my struts.

[Mike McKown]

If you park your car with the brakes very hot, sometimes the pad linings will "track" onto the rotor and leave a slight deposit. When you apply the brakes, everytime the pads pass this spot on the rotor, it will transfer a shake into the steering wheel.

[gdawgs]

Sounds like rotors to me.

[elcamino1]

If it is your rotors don't replace them with those cheap china made ones or you'll have the same problem again once you get them heated up,go for some of the best,Bendix or Rabesto,cost a little more but last a lot longer.

[jglutz]

Rotor Test

Ride the brakes down a long...long...hill.
If the throbing, in the steering wheels get worse as you descend the hill its the rotors.
Typically, the hotter the rotors, the more severe the throbing in the steering column.

Tie rods....wheel bearings.....missing wheel weights...usually do not need the brakes applied to rear their ugly heads.