Changes in your car’s performance are never something you should ignore. If you notice your steering wheel beginning to shake when you apply the brakes, it could be indicative of a serious issue with your braking or suspension system. Problems that can cause a steering wheel to shake when brakes are applied include:

• Your brake rotors may have warped unevenly from usage over time. This uneven wear results in unequal application of braking power, which in turn makes the steering wheel vibrate.
• Brake pads can also wear out unevenly due to friction and heat. Just like brake rotors, unevenly worn brake pads will cause a steering wheel to shake whenever the brake pedal is used.
• There may be a problem with various suspension components of your car, such as the bushings, tie rods or ball joints. The suspension system is intended to keep your car’s wheels stable so, when components wear out, it can result in instability that makes the steering wheel shake when braking.
• Your wheels might be misaligned. Misalignment of a car’s wheels will cause tires to wear out unevenly, which can ultimately result in the steering wheel shaking whenever brakes are applied.
• One or more of the tires on your car may have been excessively worn out or leaking air. This can cause vibrations which reverberate through the steering wheel when braking.

When you notice your steering wheel shaking when braking, it’s time to connect with Arvu Auto to make a brake inspection appointment at our shop in the West Minneapolis metro!