This morning my steering wheel started shaking pretty bad while I was going about 45mph. It stopped, and I noticed one of my front wheels had a very strong brake smell coming from it. My brakes are working fine and aren't squeaking, they were replaced about two years ago. Any thoughts?
2007-12-11 05:46:18 · 18 answers · asked by Tin Can 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
my brother had the same problem its when the brake pads do not release from the wheel and cause the car to shake, once finaly released the car stops shaking get your brakes checked out
2007-12-11 05:50:34 · answer #1 · answered by cv 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It could be any number of things - you don't give much detail.
If the shaking came on suddenly, stop and check quickly to see if the lugnuts are all on and tight.
If you hit a curb hard recently, you may have bent a steering or support component.
If it snowed in your area, and you drove through some deep snow, you may have some packed inside the rim, which would throw the wheel way out of balance.
The best thing to do would be to go to a wheel and suspension shop, or at least a general mechanic, and have someone look at it. Diagnosing this over the web is a little difficult. The fact that you say you can smell brakes, though, makes me think that you better have this done VERY soon, or the fix could get a whole lot more expensive, very quickly. If it was my car, I'd stop at the first place I found on the way home.
2007-12-11 05:52:33 · answer #2 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you call a brake smell could be any metal components getting extremely warm. If the vibration varies with speed or comes and goes with speed it is most likely wheel and tire related. if the vibration just gets worse as speed increases it could be brakes or a bearing. the easiest way to tell is to feel what components are heating up. Touch around when you smell that "brake smell' but be careful- THINGS CAN BE EXTREMELY HOT. if it is brakes sticking in the front the vehicle would also have a pull in the direction of the sticky brake.
2007-12-11 07:10:28 · answer #3 · answered by amy m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brakes? alignment? Thats crazy talk. Who listens to anyone on here anyways? From your description I'd guess that you have this vibration under acceleration or braking, so it's not the brakes. Good guess though. Since were there, I have to mention that if you have one or more pads worn down to the wear indicator, it's time for new pads. Thats why they're there. Wheel bearing or balljoints would be suspect, but rotating your tires would probably be a good first step. If rotating or replacing your crappy old tires doesn't change anything look at bearings and ball joints. And don't listen to these other people.... they're misguided
2016-04-08 08:37:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check the tire for bubbles. Make sure to look on the inside(under the car.) The smell is probably from the stress of the tire not being aligned.
It could be a from a couple of reasons - you hitting holes in the roads or the belts in your tires are slipped in an odd way - either way that tires will need to be replaced because it is now a safety hazard to you.
Good Luck!
2007-12-11 05:51:04 · answer #5 · answered by feeddaneed 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
have your brakes checked as I think one of your front brake calipers has frozen up and causing the pads on that side to drag and your brake rotor is warped causing the shake in your steering wheel.
2007-12-11 12:53:17 · answer #6 · answered by mister ss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be tires out of balance .
It could be faulty steering dampers. This is a shock that crosses from left to right connecting to tie rod ends.
You may also need new CV boots.
Bottom line: Get to a mechanic quick.
2007-12-11 05:51:37 · answer #7 · answered by El Piripiripau 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Brakes need to be replaced every 12000 miles. Maybe once a year if you are living in the city because of constant braking. It also may be that you need an alignment.
2007-12-11 05:49:51 · answer #8 · answered by vidamar 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My steering wheel shook because my tires were old and crappy, but it could be something else. Good luck!
2007-12-11 10:29:01 · answer #9 · answered by Troy G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like your wheels are not aligned.
If you just had your tires rotated and they are not balanced, your wheel will shake too.
2007-12-11 05:49:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋