Vibration in the steering wheel or pedal when braking: causes and the faults that trigger it

1. 1. Warped brake disc

   Common cause

   RACE says a deformed or worn disc is the most common cause of shuddering when braking; excess heat deforms it and the pads stop touching it evenly. Highmotor adds that sudden temperature changes, such as in stop-start traffic or with your foot resting on the brake, favour it.^[1][2][3]

   Faults with with brake calipers and discs

2. 2. Scored or unevenly worn disc

   Common cause

   RACE describes how a worn or scored disc brakes worse and lengthens the braking distance; if the pad reaches the backing plate, the noise is intense. It recommends looking at the wheel with it removed: circular lines mean a scored disc.^[2]

   Faults with with brake calipers and discs

3. 3. Brake caliper that stays on

   Possible cause

   RACE explains that a cracked dust boot, poor maintenance when changing pads or old fluid that clogs the brake hose can leave the caliper closed; with light rubbing it heats up and the wheel brakes less on one side.^[4]

   Faults with with brake calipers and discsFaults with with the brake system

4. 4. Disc hubs or bell with rust or dirt

   Possible cause

   Highmotor cites worn or rusty hubs, knocks from kerbs or faulty fitting that stop the disc from turning properly.^[3]

   Faults with with brake calipers and discs

5. 5. Faulty wheel bearing

   Possible cause

   Highmotor points to it as a cause that is hard to diagnose because the fault is not constant; it can make noise when entering a corner or under hard braking.^[3]

   Faults with with the wheel bearings

6. 6. Tyres, wheels or suspension

   Uncommon

   Highmotor mentions unbalanced tyres, worn ball joints, suspension mounts, deformed wheels and worn shock absorbers as less likely causes; RACE talks about worn or unbalanced tyres and deteriorated suspension for vibrations in general.^[1][3]

   Faults with with tyres and wheelsFaults with with the shock absorbersFaults with with control arms, ball joints and bushes

7. 7. Normal ABS pulsing

   Uncommon

   RACE clarifies that the pulse in the pedal when the ABS acts is normal and not a fault.^[1]

   Faults with with the ABS and ESP

1. Note whether the vibration only appears when braking, whether it is in the pedal or the steering wheel and whether it also appears without braking: Highmotor points out that, if it happens while rolling, the probable cause is in the wheels or suspension.^[3]
2. With the wheel removed, look to see whether the disc has circular lines or deformation, or whether the pads are badly worn.^[2][3]
3. Check that no wheel brakes more than the others or gets very hot, a sign of a caliper that stays on.^[4]
4. Ask the garage to check the bearings, hubs, ball joints and wheel balance if the discs are fine.^[3]
5. If the discs need changing, do it in pairs on the same axle and with new pads, and avoid hard braking for about 500 km.^[2][3]

Urgency: Garage soon

RACE calls a warped disc a "serious fault" because braking loses effectiveness and will get worse, and advises fixing it as soon as possible. If the braking distance also increases, the car pulls to one side, the wheel gets very hot or there are metallic noises, the sources ask you to go to a garage without delay. No source states how many kilometres you can drive with a slight vibration.^[1][2][4]

1. • Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Zafira Tourer CRecall over insufficient contact between the rear disc and the hubThe profile cites no prior symptom.

   Source for the symptom in the Opel Zafira Tourer C^[5]

2. • High severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase E W213Brake piston retention that may work looseA loose piston retention may be felt as vibration, noise or an irregular response when pressing the brake pedal.

   Source for the symptom in the Mercedes-Benz Clase E W213^[6]

3. • Medium severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen T-CrossPremature wear and vibration in the brake discsVibration in the pedal or steering wheel when braking, with disc wear that in one documented case required replacement at 11,000 km and again at 25,000 km.

   Source for the symptom in the Volkswagen T-Cross^[7]

4. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 3 E36Wear of the front suspension arm bushes and ball jointsVibration when braking from high speed when the front lower arm bushes are worn, according to the British guide.

   Source for the symptom in the BMW Serie 3 E36^[8]

5. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C4 IScored and rusted brake discsGrooves in the discs, which can be felt as vibration or noise under braking; the source does not detail this.

   Source for the symptom in the Citroën C4 I^[9]

6. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalDacia Sandero IIWear and accelerated corrosion of the front brakesVibration through the pedal if the discs wear unevenly.

   Source for the symptom in the Dacia Sandero II^[10]

7. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalDS DS 5Steering wheel vibration when brakingVibration in the steering wheel when braking above 90 km/h.

   Source for the symptom in the DS DS 5^[11]

8. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Santa Fe IIPremature warping of the brake discsVibration in the pedal or steering wheel when braking, which points to warped discs.

   Source for the symptom in the Hyundai Santa Fe II^[12]

9. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda CX-5 IIPremature wear and warping of the brake discsVibration through the steering wheel or pedal when braking, especially from medium or high speeds, once the disc has warped.

   Source for the symptom in the Mazda CX-5 II^[13]

10. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan X-Trail ISeized brake calipers and warped discs on the Nissan X-TrailVibration when braking from warped discs, and uneven braking or drag from seized calipers; the entry cites the faults but not the details of the symptoms.

    Source for the symptom in the Nissan X-Trail I^[14]

11. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan X-Trail IISeized brake calipers and warped discs on the Nissan X-TrailVibrations when braking from warped discs and uneven braking or drag from seized calipers; the page cites the faults but not the details of the symptoms.

    Source for the symptom in the Nissan X-Trail II^[14]

12. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Insignia APremature wear of the front brake discsVibrations in the steering wheel or pedal when braking and the need to replace discs and pads sooner than expected.

    Source for the symptom in the Opel Insignia A^[15]

13. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Mokka ARear brakes that seize and discs that warp on the Mokka AVibration through the pedal and steering wheel when braking.

    Source for the symptom in the Opel Mokka A^[16][17]

14. • Critical severityFrequency: RarePeugeot 3008 IIIBreakage of the bolt securing the ball joint to the front suspension armThe source describes noise and vibration when braking coming from the front end as a possible early warning.

    Source for the symptom in the Peugeot 3008 III^[18]

15. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 308 IPremature wear of brake discs and padsThe car vibrates under braking, especially from 30,000-60,000 km.Appears at around 28,000 km

    Source for the symptom in the Peugeot 308 I^[19]

16. • Critical severityFrequency: RarePeugeot Partner IIICampaign over brake discs with a manufacturing defect and a risk of breakingThe entry describes no symptoms; a defective disc could vibrate or break when braking.

    Source for the symptom in the Peugeot Partner III^[20]

17. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Clio IVAbnormal front brake wear and seized rear drumsSeized rear drums can be felt as uneven braking or more resistance than normal at one wheel.

    Source for the symptom in the Renault Clio IV^[21]

18. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota RAV4 IIIFront brake discs warp and corrode prematurelyVibration in the steering wheel or the pedal when braking, especially at motorway speed, caused by the warped front disc; premature corrosion on the disc surface is also seen.Appears at around 35,000 km

    Source for the symptom in the Toyota RAV4 III^[22]

19. • High severityFrequency: RareVolkswagen ArteonFront brake discs too weak on Arteon models built in January and February 2018The alert does not describe a prior symptom; the risk is a crack or break in the disc under extreme braking.

    Source for the symptom in the Volkswagen Arteon^[23]

20. • High severityFrequency: RareVolkswagen Tiguan IIBrake discs that can crackA cracked or damaged disc can transmit vibration to the brake pedal or steering wheel when braking, similar to a warped disc.Repair: €0

    Source for the symptom in the Volkswagen Tiguan II^[24]

21. • Medium severityFrequency: RareAudi TT IIIWarped front brake discs on the TT RSVibration when braking due to warped front discs, which returns after they are replaced.

    Source for the symptom in the Audi TT III^[25]

22. • Low severityFrequency: OccasionalChrysler 300CWarped brake discs and undersized brakes that wear quicklyWarped brake discs, a common complaint from drivers according to the source.

    Source for the symptom in the Chrysler 300C^[26]

23. • Medium severityFrequency: RarePeugeot 108Warped brake discs causing pedal vibrationsVibrations in the pedal and steering wheel when braking; in one case, an occasional brake lock-up.

    Source for the symptom in the Peugeot 108^[27]

24. • Low severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 406Warped brake discsVibration or an odd feel in the pedal when braking; longer stopping distances in advanced cases.

    Source for the symptom in the Peugeot 406^[28][29]

25. • Low severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Sharan IIPremature wear of the brake discsA testimony on fiches-auto.fr describes vibration when braking that was cured by replacing the rear discs at 90,000 km.

    Source for the symptom in the Volkswagen Sharan II^[30]

26. • Low severityFrequency: RareBMW Z4 G29Brake discs scored by trapped stones on Z4s with upgraded brakesVisible scoring on the disc surface; the source does not describe any symptoms while driving.

    Source for the symptom in the BMW Z4 G29^[31]

• Opel
• Peugeot
• Volkswagen

• Knocks or creaks from the suspension over bumpsUrgency: Garage soon0 faults cause it
• Creaking or clicking when turning the steering wheelUrgency: Garage soon0 faults cause it
• Car pulls to one side or steering wheel is not straightUrgency: Garage soon0 faults cause it
• Squealing or metallic grinding when brakingUrgency: Garage soon0 faults cause it
• Uneven tyre wearUrgency: Monitor0 faults cause it
• Heavy steering or power steering warningUrgency: Garage soon2 faults cause it in 2 engines
• Abnormal play in the steering or noises from the front axleUrgency: As soon as possible0 faults cause it
• Wheel bearing humUrgency: Garage soon0 faults cause it
• Steering wheel vibrates or shakes when drivingUrgency: Garage soon2 faults cause it in 2 engines