A Total Guide To The Shaky Steering Wheel: What Causes It, How To Stop It

It seems easy to ignore the pervading problems when you think it is nothing but a ‘sound’ or a ‘squeak’ but nothing is ever the composition of its own subject. The squeak, the shaking of the wheels, the sounds of the brake are not anything as they imply more than that. In this article, we will discuss the problem of your steering wheel and why your car shakes when braking. Hopefully, we will be able to clear your confusion regarding this.

Why does my steering wheel shake?

There are many reasons why your steering could shake whenever you drive your car or when you try to apply the brake. Here we will discuss the matter on the length and will discuss how to make the issue go away too. It is very problematic as well as a worrisome reason too. Anyone can get afraid of shaking steering even being driven at a low speed so we will discuss each and every reason why it could happen.

• Worn up brake pads:

Your braking pads could be the reason why your steer shakes or gives a jerk whenever you take the wheel. The technicality of the brake pads reacting up the steering wheel is not that tough. What happens is when you try to apply the brakes on the car, a number of things happen in the motor that is reactive. The rapid events take place as a result of the application of the brake as the caliper creates pressure on the brake pads when you try to apply the brakes to make it stop.

The caliper then creates a reaction on the rotors which makes your car stop. So it is the rotors, brake pads, caliber, and the pins along with some other elements in the braking pads that make the ‘brake’ affectable. Now if there is anything wrong with the braking pads then steering wheel shakes when braking will become a normal event. How to spot bad braking pads? Mainly it has to do with the following.

• Worn braking pads
• Worn caliper
• Bad rotors
• Less lubricated parts etc.

All of these could create an effect on the braking pads and if something is off with it then you will feel even your steering jerk.

• Bad guide pins:

Not only the braking pad could affect the steering wheel and make it shake the reason sometimes may lie with the bad guide pins too which could cause the car to shake whenever you try to make it stop. The guide pins are in an integral part of the callers that goes in the making of the brakes. So if the pins are not lubricated well enough then it cannot function properly.

The pins are connected with that of the rotors and the brakes through the calipers. It is what is the bridge that makes the car cease working, in other words, it is the pins that are the connecting bridge between the car and the brake. From time to time the pins have to be properly cleaned and lubricated so that it doesn’t get stuck while working.

If they are not properly cleaned and properly lubricated then it might cause the vibration in the steering wheel. What happens if they are left dry? Well, it could cause the brake to be pressed in a wrong angle or it could even cause the caliper to stick. Hence the jerk.

• Bad rotors:

The rotors might be another of the reasons which could cause the steering wheel shaking. The rotors might be the bad seed in the braking system which may lead the whole thing astray. If you see your braking pads wobbling and making noises, one of the reasons could be the rotors. If the pads are not in the right condition then it might affect your steering wheels too.

As time goes, the rotor may become warped. Getting pressed down by the braking pads may make it worn out as too much heat that is created by the pressure can make it nonfunctional. If that happens, then it can cause your steering wheel to shake when you are trying to apply the brakes.

What to do if you see the steering wheel shakes low speeds?

We have already discussed the reasons why it can cause disturbance for you. So in order to be not affected by the whole thing, you have to deal with the problem first. Let us discuss what could be done to remove the problem.

• Replace the brake pads: The brake pads are the main problem of the steering wheel shaking. So you have to replace it. Many times if the brake pads are cheap and have become worn out needs to be replaced. Many factors lie in it. The rotors and the calipers too. The pads which are used for a long time may cause the problem to appear so you might have to change the brake pads.
• Oil the pins: We have discovered how the pins can become a problem for the brakes and the steering wheels too. So we have to clean the pins and then lubricate them from time to time so that they do not get stuck or dirty. If the dirt gets stuck and doesn’t get cleaned off or lubricated so that they can function properly then it will continue to happen. Use the machine oil to lubricate the pins.
• Replace the rotors: The rotors may get pressured by the braking pads and if you see it happening then it might cause a problematic thing for the steering wheel. So you have to get it replaced. You can do it yourself or you can have it done someplace else.

What will happen if you continue to drive your car even if the steering wheel shakes over 50mph?

Driving a car that has the wheels which are shaking like anything is very dangerous. If the car is shaking sometimes whenever you are driving then it might not be a big of a problem as you can continue to drive the car like that for a week or so. But even if you see the signs such as the bad rotors, or worn-out calipers or worn out braking pads then you know these are the reasons which are causing the wheel to shake.

Then changing it might do the trick. If you continue to drive the car even after seeing the signs then the cost of changing the rotors which are around $260 will go only higher as the bad rotor will work as an infection which will only spread to the caliper and later to the whole braking system which will cause threefold than the actual amount.

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If you continue to drive a car that has a bad braking system then it might cause the car to lose control. By losing control of the car you might cause an accident that could hurt you. The pressure that is caused in the rotors and the braking system can cause a mini-explosion too which will hamper you and your car. So it is only smart to have your car serviced. If not you can do it yourself by reading the next section.

How to make sure that you don’t feel the steering wheel vibration at high speed:

By following these steps you will be able to make sure that you don’t go through the same problem again. We have already discussed how the loose caliper and rotors can cause your steering wheel to lose control, making your car unstable to drive. If you think the cost of it is very much that you cannot afford then you can read up this section and do it yourself.

The caliper:

• Begin by immersing the emergency brake
• jack up the vehicle,
• place it safely on jack stands.
• Now Open the hood
• remove the lid to the master cylinder reservoir. Make sure you do it otherwise it might collapse.
• Remove the tire.
• Now put a pry bar in between the rotor and brake pad.
• Now put pressure there so that the caliper falls down from the pressure of the piston.

Remove it:

• Discard the upper and lower mounting bolts from the caliper.
• Use fishbone gear to do the job.

Now remove the caliper bracket:

• The caliper brackets have the bolts that are bigger in size so remove it.
• Place it with the thread locker. It will help keep the bolts in place with the bolts.
• Use an impact gun to remove the bolts. If you don’t have it then use the torch to do it.
• This is the time to make sure that you lubricate the bolts and the parts beautifully.
• You can also oil the rotors now with penetrating oils.

Removing the rotors:

• Many times the rotors have a bolt that is securing the hub.
• If you see any there then you might have to remove it. If the rotors don’t get removed at that point in time when you remove the bolts then you have to press it using the bolts.
• You have to use the bolts so that it gets tightened up into the rotor’s threaded holes.
• Now try to wrench it away.

Install new rotors:

• Make sure of the fact that the bolts are clean from any old thread locker. So you have to lubricate it using oil.
• Now use the new thread locker to do it.
• Then you have to re-install the caliper bracket with the manufacturer’s torque specifications. make sure that you follow them to the T.
• Make sure that you’re using a left and a right brake.
• This one will have a low pad indicator.
• It is the pad that will help you install the piston side on the caliper.

Grease the pins:

• Remove the guide pins from its place.
• Now clean them off using a piece of clothing.
• Now you have to apply wheel bearing grease so that it smoothes up.
• Then replace them.

Now replace the caliper:

• First, you have to Spot paper towels around the master cylinder.
• By putting the clothing or towel, you will stop the break of the fluid from overflowing. It will cease the overflowing of the fluid from the reservoir.
• Now you have to Use a C-clamp so that you can completely rescind the pistons into the caliper.
• Now you have to clear off the on exactly in the place where it makes contact with the brake pads.
• Lubricate it beautifully.
• Now you have to tighten the bolts of the calipers according to the manufacturer’s torque specifications.

Final touch-up:

• Fill the master reservoir properly up to the level that is required.
• Now you have to replace the cap.
• Now you have to put the pry bar in between them to lift the tire back onto the lugs.
• Now put the tire back on.

Pump up the brakes:

• You have to make sure that you pump the brakes before you start the vehicle. It is very important to do so. If you do not do it then the steering wheel might not work.

A Total Guide To The Shaky Steering Wheel: What Causes It, How To Stop It	Discussion
Why does my steering wheel shake?	The reason lies with the weary braking pads and many aspects of it. To know what they are, read the article.
What to do if you see the steering wheel shakes low speeds?	The instructions are written in the article. To know them, read up
What will happen if you continue to drive your car even if the steering wheel shakes over 50mph?	It could cause an unstable mode of driving, even an accident. To know more about it. Read above.
How to make sure that you don’t feel the steering wheel vibration at high speed	We have discussed nine steps to ensure how to pull a DIY. Read it to know them.

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Conclusion: Now that you know what is causing your steering wheel to shake like anything, and what you have to do in order to make it stop, and how to do it, what are you waiting for? Start working. Either get your car serviced or pull a DIY.