Steering wheel vibrates when breaking?

Question

I have a 1999 Mercury Sable, sometimes when I break the steering wheel starts vibrating until the car stops. What is wrong with my car? How much could they charge me to fix this?

Answer 1

It's your front brake rotors out of round, they need to meet a certain specification or they can go below the specs. If you can have them resurfaced figure an hours labor at a shop, where I am it's 90 dollars for both, if they are below the specs and need to be replaced, I would estimate 150-175 dollars for both installed.

Answer 2

Your front brake rotors are warped and/or badly rusted. The minimum thickness specifications for the brake rotors on your 1999 Mercury Sable are 24.75mm exactly(as per Ford Workshop Manual Specifications). If the thickness goes below that, AFTER resurfacing, they will need to be replaced, along with a new set of brake pads. The cost of this job should be around 1.5 hours of labour (x whatever the hourly labour rate is for the shop in your area), plus $72.19US (brake pads), plus $83.26 x 2 (front brake rotors). So, if the hourly labour rate is $90.00 per hour, the total cost would be $135.00 for labour, and $238.71US (for brake parts from www.fordparts.com) for a grand total of $373.71US. That should give you and idea as to the cost. Hope this helps.

EDIT: Prices for the parts in my answer are for original FORD parts. Aftermarket parts will be less expensive, but quality may be an issue depending on the brand of parts used. I have personally heard of complaints of brake squeel noises, or other funny noises after using "white box" parts.

Answer 3

If 'Ford Girl' checked around she would find that brake pads are a lot cheaper at the local O'Reillys or Auto Zone than they are on line. Also, if you've had new tires installed recently, the tire may have overtightened your lug nuts. That will warp the rotors and cause the problem you have. If that is the scenario, then use a wrench and loosen and retighten each lug nut by hand. I've been able to clear the same problem that way on several vehicles.

Answer 4

It sounds like you need new brake rotors, they get warped or out of round due to the heat of the brake system, sometmes they can be turned or resurfaced if they're not below specs. the mechanic will check them. If the brake pads are worn down you may need to have them replaced also. I wouldn't want to guess on a price it really varies with the grade of pads you would get and whether you need to buy new rotors

Answer 5

warped brake rotors. very common. usually any tire store or jiffy lube will for 150.00. price around cause this is a simple an easy repair. i did a 97 sable myself last year and the parts only cost bout 100.00. its a easy fix.

Answer 6

the brakes may have a non parallel condition, or you may have a warped rotor. get the brakes checked out by a pro and ask them to check for a non parallel rotor.

Answer 7

check few things both things fixed mine at seperate time brake pads/rotors warped or rim bent, well, rim be cheapest i guess brakes vary car make and model then mechanic cost varies to but make sure u check mechanic out first my mechanic wont put semi metallic on ceramic costs more though but my first fix be cheapest first my guess but i think brakes warped

Answer 8

if the brake pedal vibrates or if you hear a squeek or grinding noise also, you probably need new brakes and /or rotors

Answer 9

will do have a point there but you also might wanna get yout tires checked out to makr sure there isnt a buldge( belt split in tire pressure buliding around the broken belt)