Steering wheel shake during braking

TSEIELSTAD

MEMBER
FORD MUSTANG

I have a 1998 Ford Mustang 3.8L with 115,000 miles and when I brake I have a pretty good shake in the steering wheel. I also feel it in the brake pedal and the shake gets stronger the harder I apply the brakes. What I have done.I checked the rotors to make sure they weren't warped, they're not. (The rotors are just under 1", they've been turned before and my caliper shows that there is about a.005 to.008 difference all the way around the brake pad surface when spinning the rotors, so they are smooth.) I have just put on new front brake pads since they needed to be replaced anyhow, this didn't help. I have checked and rotated the tires, front to back and this didn't change anything. The tires show good wear patterns so I don't believe it's out of alignment. There isn't any play in the rotors, I couldn't move them so the bearings should be good still. The ball joints at the ends of the rack and pinion don't show signs of wear and aren't loose. I'm out of ideas and looking for help.
Thanks

1 Reply

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

If you find that the pulsation is typically worse when braking from higher speeds, then replace the rotors. While you run out is measured when the brake rotor isn't screaming hot, the warpage will not show. You would have to measure them when the pulsation is happening, but that's not possible. The fact that you machined them adds credibility to the agruement, as the thinner they are, the less they remain stable. IF you have drum brakes, plan on cleaning and adjusting them at the same time that you replace the rotors. As a rule of thumb, I put new pads on when I replace the rotors.