Why Does My Steering Wheel Shake When I Press the Brakes?

Have you ever driven down the road and felt shaking in the steering wheel as you slow down or come to a stop?  This is a very common problem regardless of the type of vehicle that you drive.  The causes can range from a minor nuisance to a serious safety concern.  Regardless of what is causing your steering wheel to shake it is something that you should get looked at by a professional repair shop because it is not something that is just going to go away and will most certainly get worse as time goes on.

Understanding Why Your Steering Wheel Shakes

The first thing we need to understand is exactly under what conditions that you can duplicate the issue.  

• Does it only happen when you are braking, or all the time?
• How does the steering wheel shake?  
• Are you feeling more of a shake or is it a vibration?  
• Do you feel anything through the brake pedal like a pulsation?
• How hard are you pressing the brake pedal when it shakes; regular, light pressure when slowing down, hard braking?
• What vehicle speed are you traveling at when the symptoms are present?
• Does the shaking stop as you slow down?
• Are there any noises you hear in addition to the shaking?
• Are there any lights on your dash?

There are a lot of different things to consider as we try and understand the possible causes of your shaking steering wheel.

Common Causes

As we consider the questions above, we can start looking at common causes for a shaking steering wheel while braking.

Brake Issues

The most common cause of a shaking wheel while braking is an issue with the brake system itself.  However, there is not just a single item within your brake system that can cause a shaking steering wheel.

Worn-out brake pads can cause a shaking of the steering wheel, sometimes combined with a pulsation in the brake pedal while braking.  Depending on the severity of the brake wear it can happen at all times, under heavy, regular or light braking.  The reason you are getting shaking while braking is that the wear in your brake pads it causes the brake pads to have an irregular surface against the brake disc causing the harmonics to transmit through to your steering wheel and/or brake pedal.

If you have worn or damaged brake discs this can also cause a shaking or pulsation of the steering wheel.  For much of the same reason, worn brake pads cause a shaking the irregular brake disc transmits this to your steering wheel and brake pedal.  This can be caused by regular wear due to mileage, warped or cracked brake discs, or defective new parts.

If the shaking is from more than just normal wear and tear on your brake system it could be caused by warped or cracked brake discs.  Oftentimes this is the result of repeated heavy braking that overheats the brake discs and either warps them or causes cracks in them that create an uneven surface for the brake pads to touch results in shaking and vibration.

While not common we do occasionally see brake discs that come new out of the box that have an uneven surface.  This is typically caused by either cheap materials of improper storage and shipping from the manufacturer.

Uneven brake pad wear from side to side of your vehicle can also cause shaking issues.  If you are seeing a difference in brake pad thickness between the driver and passenger side of your vehicle then you may have an issue with a faulty brake caliper or the slides that the pad moves along within the caliper.

While not common, but still possible, you could be having shaking under braking due to issues with the ABS, or Anti-Lock Braking System, of your vehicle.  Modern brake systems use computers to modulate brake pressure for your safety.  If this system is malfunctioning it can cause odd things to happen while you are braking.

Many times you will have a light on the dash if you are experiencing shaking due to the brake system.  The lights you could see could include a break wear light, ABS light, or warning message within your vehicle information center.  However, this is not always the case and you should not rely on a light on your dash to tell you the shaking is caused by your brakes.  There is no substitute for a thorough inspection and diagnosis by the certified technicians at Red Rock Repair.  

Once the inspection and diagnosis is complete then the determination can be made which components need to be replaced.

Suspension and Steering Issues

Issues with your vehicle’s suspension are another very common cause of shaking in your steering wheel.  The suspension in your vehicle includes many rubber bushings to help absorb road noise and vibrations to provide you with a comfortable ride as you drive down the road.  Over time these bushings can wear out causing shaking and vibrations.  Typically, if the issue is caused by your suspension you will notice it on rough driving surfaces or when you are slowing down.  

Often when you are slowing down you will notice the steering wheel shakes as you initially press the brake pedal, but the shaking will become less severe (or completely gone) as the vehicle slows down and the suspension settles.  Since we are not asking the suspension to work as hard once the vehicle slows the vibrations due to the worn bushings are not being transmitted to the driver.

Some of the worn steering and suspension components that can cause issues and need to be replaced are control arms, steering stabilizers, and very worn shocks and struts. Worn components may have other symptoms including noises that may be present to help pinpoint the source.  If you notice noises or shaking at times other than braking that is a good thing to communicate to your Service Advisor so we can help pinpoint your issue and ensure that we are addressing your concern and getting your vehicle repaired right the first time.

Wheel and Tire Issues

Sometimes wheel and tire issues can cause vibrations and shaking in the steering wheel.  The shaking can be a result of a tire being out of balance, normal tire wear, irregular tire wear, low tire pressure, or severe wheel alignment issues.  

It is very uncommon for shaking to happen only during braking; however, you may notice the shaking at certain speeds and that may coincide with a pressing of the brake pedal.  If you can maintain a constant speed without touching your pedals then this is a good indication that you have a tire problem and it is time to visit a tire shop that can inspect your wheels and tires.

Tire Services in Summerlin, Las Vegas

There are multiple causes for a shaking steering wheel while braking and some of them can pose a significant safety risk that warrants immediate attention.  Bringing your vehicle to Red Rock Repair in Summerlin will ensure that you get an accurate diagnosis the first time and have confidence in a safe car.  If you feel any shaking in your steering wheel don’t hesitate to give us a call at (702) 385-7887 to schedule an appointment and we are happy to help resolve your car troubles.