Brake Repair For Vibrating Steering Wheel

If your steering wheel has started to shake whenever you slow to a stop, you'll likely need to bring your car in for brake repair. Warped rotors usually cause the vibrations in your braking system. While the car can still slow down and stop, over time the warping can worsen, which can lead to several safety issues. You may lose control over the system entirely while driving as well as cause damage to other components of the system such as the calipers.

A rotor is a spinning disc that helps to slow and stop a vehicle. In order stop the motion, a clamping device called the calipers are squeezed against the rotors. You control the amount of pressure applied when you press down on the braking pedal. The force that pinches these calipers together is the braking fluid, which travels through a series of tubes in the car using hydraulic pressure. In order to protect the rotor from damage when the calipers squeeze it, and pads are used as a buffer zone, cutting down on the friction and heat transfer.

Every time that you engage the brakes in your car, you are slowly wearing away the surface of these protective pads, which is not problematic in itself. However, your driving and braking habits may ultimately result in uneven wear. One of the pads may wear down more quickly, and side may cut into the metal, creating a rough, damaged surface. Even with balanced pad wear, rotors are still prone to surface changes. Hard stops, moisture, and cold weather can all contribute to warping.

The vibrations are the result of pad contact with damaged areas. Much like a needle will skip over a scratched record, the uneven surface areas of the rotor will cause a pulse to travel through the pads and calipers. This vibration will in turn be detectable through the steering wheel when applying the brakes, particularly at a full or sudden stop. While it generally won't pose an immediate risk, it is recommended to avoid hard stops and bring the car in for brake repair without too much delay.

There are two methods of brake repair for damaged rotors. The first is to treat the surface of the existing rotor in order to smooth out any inconsistencies, thus restoring it to a proper balance when used. To do this, the mechanic will have to remove a thin layer from the rotor to rid it of any grooves and pits. In order for this method to work properly, there must be a significant thickness to the rotor to ensure safe support when reinstalled. If the rotor is too weak and will not hold up if shaved thinner, it will have to be replaced with a new one. Having them resurfaced will be significantly cheaper, as new rotors will cost in the area of $50 each, not including labor. You should also replace the pads at this time as they likely have uneven wearing patterns.