Steering Wheel Shaking When Braking

Hi Everyone,

New 2007 Tacoma owner here with a question.

I just had all shocks and struts replaced. After getting my truck back, upon braking when going 55 miles an hour, my steering wheel started seriously shaking. At slower speeds while braking, no shaking.

Called the auto shop and the mechanic told me that it could be a warped brake.

My question….could the shock/struts replacement work have caused this issue? This was the first time taking the truck out on the road at higher speeds and braking, so I never felt that before.

I don’t feel that I should have to pay for any corrective work required due to possible faulty auto shop repair.

Thoughts?

 

Not likely that your shocks would cause the issue unless your shocks were so bad before that you just never noticed. Did you get an alignment done when you got the shocks and struts done?

 

That sounds like the symptom of a warped rotor.

I'm sure you'd feel an issue when you're not braking if it was the shocks.

 

Warped rotors would be my guess as well...

 

Nothing the shop did created the shaking, the rotors are warped. Depending on the equipment the shop has they could turn(true) the rotors or just replace them. Due to labor rates many shops just replace rotors nowadays, unless you are in the rustbelt its not particularly difficult to do yourself, you can also replace the brake pads while your at it.

 

As a general rule, the symptoms you’re experiencing is a warped brake rotor. If it’s slight you might feel nothing until you hit the brakes. If it badly warped it might shake slightly, then worse when you brake.

The shop you took it to, you've used them previously? Feel they’re trustworthy? It’s unfortunate, unscrupulous shops sling their bs at everyone. Being female, young, by yourself are all strikes against you and they’ll lay it on thick.

 

Alignment was performed during same shock/strut repair

 

This is a local auto shop that I just started taking the truck to after purchase. So far they’ve replaced the starter/battery and then shocks/struts. Now looks like brakes/rotors. Cha ching……

 

If it's any relief. There's nothing the shop can do that would warp the rotors. (I mean they could drop them in a forge and beat them with a hammer) so if it's warped rotors, it's a legit issue, not a fabricated one.

Now's a good time to upgrade. Look at power stop or look for rotor recommendations on here. Better rotors would be less likely to develop that issue. Replace your pads at the same time.

 

I’ve got the same issue oddly enough after getting my truck aligned. Drove the truck to the shop and had no shake (did the alignment myself after installing new LCAs) drove it off and it shakes when braking doing ~40mph+.

I highly doubt I have a warped rotor because it didn’t do it before doing just an alignment.

curious to see what you come up with. I was planning on realigning it and see if that helps but I think my issue is somewhere in the steering. ( my truck is lifted and running around 3.9 degrees on caster)

 

You could go power stop upgrade. I just put all new OE rotors, pads and shim kit on mine. The rotors, pads, shim kit and the spreader springs which I do top and bottom cost $215 and that was from the dealer.

 

This is reassuring to know. The truck is older and has 137,700 miles on it. It’s not my primary vehicle and I truly love having it. It’s just been hit with a fair number of issues right off the bat and I just purchased it. So I’d like a little brake, I mean break! I also love this forum for advice. Thanks, Everyone for your responses

 

I don’t know enough about suspension quirks. So l wonder if the issue is in the tires, and getting them balanced would help.

 

That would be constant, and present itself more at certain speeds. Braking wouldn't be the only time the wheels out of balance

 

Oem brakes are fine if you don’t tow or haul heavy. Exception maybe living near long grades where engine braking isn’t enough(6%, a good indicator is it has emergency exits). I’m close to 100,000 miles since purchase with only a pad change. No towing but always moderately loaded.

 

Could also be a symptom of a worn bushing or tie rod. Easy enough for a shop to diagnose.

 

The rotors may not be warped - lots of info out there how the perception of "warped rotors" are actually pad deposits embedded in the rotor due to improper bed in with new rotors and/or pads. It's usually not noticeable initially, but over time the embedded particles do not wear at the same rate as the rotor material, so eventually, "humps" or "bumps" develop on the surface.

You can try getting them turned, but depending on the condition/age, a lot of times it's just cheaper and/or easier to just replace it (and do a proper bed in procedure).

 

I ended up doing some maintenance today and seem to have fixed my steering shake and figured might be worth passing along.

what’s the state of your power steering fluid?

My fluid was down to the “min when cold” line so I decided to get it changed out. after now sucking up what was in the reservoir twice my steering shake has gone away. Might be worth looking at if you don’t have a warped rotor.

this is what my fluid looked like.

 

Thanks Rockfish, I’ll definitely ask that question if it’s not a brakes/rotor problem!

 

Is it fair to consider that would be the case unless they were heated up under some sort of aggressive driving? I’ve seen valets drive customer cars like rally cars