Steering Wheel Shaking
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
From: Schaumburg, IL
Steering Wheel Shaking I replaced the front rotors and pads this weekend and the car now stops fine, but has other issues. The rotors were almost frozen on the hubs and required the jaws of life to remove...a really BFH and propane torch. Not sure if that could have messed up the tie rods or wheel bearing???
The steering wheel now shakes while driving at all speeds above 30mph, not when braking, just driving. The front wheels were also hard to spin after I reassembled everything, but I didn't think too much of it. Now when driving I can feel this causing a drag, like something is slightly holding the car back. The car isn't making any noises either.
I'm going to take a look at things tonight but wanted some opinions on what I could have messed up. The car has 99K on it BTW.
The steering wheel now shakes while driving at all speeds above 30mph, not when braking, just driving. The front wheels were also hard to spin after I reassembled everything, but I didn't think too much of it. Now when driving I can feel this causing a drag, like something is slightly holding the car back. The car isn't making any noises either.
I'm going to take a look at things tonight but wanted some opinions on what I could have messed up. The car has 99K on it BTW.
the drag is probably from all of the new brake hardware being put on and not quite aligned perfectly. I would think that has probably corrected itself by now.
You could possibly have distorted the hub, you could try taking a dial caliper and check for runout on the hub which would entail taking the whole thing apart again. As a note, sometimes it is easier to cut the rotor off with a cutoff wheel and then you only need a little hammer. I suppose you might end up needing to replace the front wheel hubs, but I haven't ever actually heard of screwing them up by pounding on them. First time for me, I guess.
Sorry for not being a ton of help, just throwing ideas out there for you to think about.
You could possibly have distorted the hub, you could try taking a dial caliper and check for runout on the hub which would entail taking the whole thing apart again. As a note, sometimes it is easier to cut the rotor off with a cutoff wheel and then you only need a little hammer. I suppose you might end up needing to replace the front wheel hubs, but I haven't ever actually heard of screwing them up by pounding on them. First time for me, I guess.
Sorry for not being a ton of help, just throwing ideas out there for you to think about.
if i had to make a suggestion i would say it would either be a number of things. i have never heard of just one thing causing that. as far as the wheel shaking i would check the rotors, hubs, and wheels. easiest way to check the wheels is put em on a speed balancer and look for a snake wobble. as far as the drag it kind of sounds like the dual pistons in ur caliper isnt lined up just right the have to be perfectly in line. also i dont no on our car but i am sure on other vehicles if you heat up the rotors (or anything attached to axle) you may have melted the grease on the wheel bearings, but u would get some noise. it may be ever so slight and it may just pop ever so often. best way to check if its wheels bearings gone bad jack car up and grab top and bottom of tire and push and pull as to movetire.if it moves u gotta prob. most likely bearings if no noticable damage done to ball joints. hope this helps. good luck.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 517
Likes: 1
If you used a BFH, you could've damaged the hub. Before you go buying stuff, though, jack the car back up, remove the lugnuts, and torque them all to 100lb-ft. An over- or under-tightened lugnut may cause this problem as well.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
From: Schaumburg, IL
Well the verdict is in. Frozen calipers on both sides. 1 of 2 pins on each caliper is literally fused inside the caliper bracket and cannot be removed. Now I just need to find where to buy a front caliper bracket, as it seems everyone only sells a rear...unless they are the same?
you may be able to remove the brackets and heat the bracket to remove the pins(working them back and forth). Be careful though when they do end up moving sometimes the grease inside will explode.
Trending Topics
i just went ahead and replaced my calipers along with the mounting brackets. at o reillys you ca buy a fully loaded caliper which comes with the caliper, mounting bracket, and decent pads. the rear are diff unfortunatly. also they are diff from side to side. i picked em up for i think $83.88 a peice plus tax. my caliper went bad on my left and the mounting bracket went bad on my right so i just did all new. dont buy one at The Chevrolet Dealership they want over a 100 dollars for just one mounting bracket.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?
Pouria Savadkouei
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Well the verdict is in. Frozen calipers on both sides. 1 of 2 pins on each caliper is literally fused inside the caliper bracket and cannot be removed. Now I just need to find where to buy a front caliper bracket, as it seems everyone only sells a rear...unless they are the same?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
From: Schaumburg, IL
I ended up buying a set of caliper brackets from a board memeber for $20. He shipped them out the same day for me and will be here tomorrow. Dealership was a joke, they wanted $98 each. Thanks for the help guys, glad I got this figured out.
