steering wheel vibration and brake shimmy
 

I ran over a curb recently with my left wheels. I wasn't paying attention and ran over an island basically.

I got a wheel alignment and it showed that everything was within range except for the caster angle for the front left wheel. It was at 0.1 instead of some negative angle.

Lately, I've been noticing some brake pulsation when I brake (usually at higher speeds 40+mph) and
an accompanying steering wheel vibration. However, it seems to bounce rather than rotate back and forth
as in the case of a rotor warpage.

I've looked under the car and I didn't see anything unusual. Any ideas about what may be wrong?

John

RE: steering wheel vibration and brake shimmy
 

When they did the alignment, did they balance the tires? If not, that might fix it. Or your tire could be damaged to the point that it needs to be replaced.

RE: steering wheel vibration and brake shimmy
 

Yeah steering vibration is a sure sign of your tires being off balance. or you are just an idiot and put the wheel spacers on backwards... not that I've done that before or anything...

RE: steering wheel vibration and brake shimmy
 

rim could be bent...thats what happened to me when i hit a pothole once, but i put the bent one on the back and it went to running smoothe again...

RE: steering wheel vibration and brake shimmy
 

If the wheels were not balanced, I should feel the steering wheel vibrate by rotating right/left/etc. Also
it should vibrate like this regardless of braking or not.

This only happens while braking. Also, I put the affect wheel in the back and put the good wheel in the front.
I'm still getting the vibration while braking.

RE: steering wheel vibration and brake shimmy
 

Sounds like a warped rotor to me.

RE: steering wheel vibration and brake shimmy
 

I agree..had the same problem w/ my infiniti, only i didnt hit anything, and the steering wheel would pulsate or vibrate only on deceleration from highway speeds. Turned out to be a warped rotor and a good excuse to buy some new cross-drilled rotors. If you dont have the cash, you can go have your rotors tunred at like oreiley's or autozone. G/L...Jeff

RE: steering wheel vibration and brake shimmy
 

if it only happens while braking --brake rotors are warped

RE: steering wheel vibration and brake shimmy
 

id say get your wheels balanced and then go from there, your rim could also be bent

RE: steering wheel vibration and brake shimmy
 

I agree with the warped brake rotors...