steering wheel shaky shaky.....

[vwbuge]

Someone else posted this at another site and I was kind of having the same problems.
At highway speeds when I apply the brake the front end will shake. It doesn't happen all the time. At highway speeds if I apply light to medium pressure it will happen. But if I dive on the brakes really hard while it is doing it, it will stop. Corners seem to have an effect on this condition also. Since I have owned the car I replaced nearly every front end component. the rotors are like brand new. The wheels are balanced properly. The fact that I can get it to go away with a heavy stab at the brakes makes me think it is suspension related.
help

[JHZR2]

I think the rotors on these cars are very suceptible to warping. I replaced all four last fall, broke them in very easily, with light stopping, then some 40-10, then 50-10 then 60-10mph stops. Still now a year and 30K later, when I step on the brakes at ay moderate pressure, I get a pulsation in the brake pedal, almost as if the braking improves then decreases. They stop really well and strongly, but it is noted. This causes a slight shake in the wheel, as the brakes grab and have different amounts of friction.

DOnt know if its related though

JMH

[BIGRED]

Rotors are the primary cause, but other suspension parts will add to or pass the shake on. I know because my front end had the shake for which I was planning to do brakes after my front end rebuild. Since the rebulid the shake is not noticeable. I would check out the suspension with attention to wheel bearings and ball joints. (my experience)

Don

[MarkM]

In my own recent experience, I replaced all four rotors, because they were seriously worn, and had pulsing brakes. I also put in new pads. To my dismay, after the job was completed, I still had serious brake pulsing, for example when slowing from highway speeds to get off an exit. Interestingly though, when I put on my four snow tires, mounted on their own steel wheels, braking was beautiful with no pulsing whatsoever. So, the pulsing was either caused by one of the following:

1) Alloy rims causing distortion of the front rotors.....very unlikely as the wheels are mounted to the hubs, which are very heavy thick pieces, and unlikely to distort and in turn cause distortion of the rotors....or,

2) Bad tires....most likely. I had called a tire company and inquired about this, and they agreed saying that bad unevenly worn tires can cause pulsing of the brakes, and that it would feel just like warped rotors. In further support of this possibility, I had not planned on using those tires again, as they were 4 years old and unevenly worn due to alignment problems after rebuilding suspension (another story in itself!!!)

Mark

If you cross a railroad and the steering wheel want's to jump out your hand but stop if you stop the car and start back up. Check or just replace your steering dampner. This is a shock in the suspension system that dampens vibration.
Charles

[vwbuge]

Steering dampner is OEM MB replaced.