parked car for a month and now steering shakes while braking!!?

[Ps3alltheway]

My brakes where perfect before i left for a month and now , when I drive at high speeds the steering wheel shakes ... the ****
I know about warped Rotors , but why would my Rotors be Warped !!!! Is it normal or what??

[m_bisson]

wait a minute... does it shake at high speeds or while braking?

[Ps3alltheway]

wait a minute... does it shake at high speeds or while braking?

Sorry , I mean it shakes when I brake at high speed !

[stevenma188]

U had the ebrake on the whole time?

[Ps3alltheway]

U had the ebrake on the whole time?

yes... but a month aint that long , and its all disc brakes so how could it possibly affect anything!

[maz06]

that happened to me too. Went on vacay had the e-brake on and bam there goes a few hundred bucks, its mostly your rear disks.

[mounir]

So lesson of the day is, when going on vacation... leave it parked in first gear/park.

[McGuyver_3]

parking brake will not warp the rotors.
how did you park the car? did you just get off the highway and then park it?

[mazda_looza]

parkin break is in the rear if the steering wheel shakes means either the front rotors are warped or rust on pads/shims, either new pads/rotors or new pads/brake service will get rid of shaking....easy fix

[mazda_looza]

side note..... if it was the parking break that messed up the rotor/pads u would feel vibration in break pedal

[RTEnthusiast]

So stupid question, I park my Mini for a few days at a time while I'm driving press cars or the BMW. I usually put it in 1st and leave the handbrake on. To avoid this, should I just leave it in gear and no e-brake? I know there's no harm leaving it in gear, but somehow I just don't trust that. I don't think it'd roll at all in neutral, so it's on a pretty flat grade (underground parking garage at my condo).

Should I just put a brick or something behind the wheels?

[maz06]

So lesson of the day is, when going on vacation... leave it parked in first gear/park.
Oh ya I did that on my second vacation


So stupid question, I park my Mini for a few days at a time while I'm driving press cars or the BMW. I usually put it in 1st and leave the handbrake on. To avoid this, should I just leave it in gear and no e-brake? I know there's no harm leaving it in gear, but somehow I just don't trust that. I don't think it'd roll at all in neutral, so it's on a pretty flat grade (underground parking garage at my condo).

you should be good i would love to have a flat surface to park in, if you're worried put it in 3rd gear (harder for it to roll)

Should I just put a brick or something behind the wheels?

[McGuyver_3]

I park my car with the handbrake all day every day and have never had a problem with warping rotors. I leave the car in neutral and rely solely on the handbrake. Never had an issue with it. If you park the car after comming from a spirited drive then you would want to cool the brakes to prevent warpage from happening.
As for servicing not that simple you would need to have the rotors machined and at that point spend the money and get new rotors will be cheaper and less headaches in the long run.

[Ps3alltheway]

Oh ya I did that on my second vacation


I read some more on internet and a lot of people say that it is just rust that is doing that and daily driving the car for a few weeks will get rid of this .

[TheMAN]

parking brake will not warp the rotors.
how did you park the car? did you just get off the highway and then park it?

exactly
my protege gets parked for weeks at a time... sometimes over a month!
never any problems

and steering wheel shaking while braking is from the FRONT brakes, not the rears, which is what the e-brakes uses

[McGuyver_3]

exactly
my protege gets parked for weeks at a time... sometimes over a month!
never any problems

and steering wheel shaking while braking is from the FRONT brakes, not the rears, which is what the e-brakes uses

I shoulda mentioned that about the handbrake is onmly for the rear. I work on cars all day long and sometimes I forget people may not be as well educated on the subject. Same goes for the shake in the wheel. My bad

[Ps3alltheway]

I shoulda mentioned that about the handbrake is onmly for the rear. I work on cars all day long and sometimes I forget people may not be as well educated on the subject. Same goes for the shake in the wheel. My bad


Just an Update for those interested , I called a mechanic shop and he told me I needed my front disc replaced because they rusted out while the car being parked ... I said ohhh ok I'l call you back for an appointment , you know what I did? Nothing.

Drove the car and after 2 weeks there is NO MORE SHAKING ! Wow I can't believe how untrusty mechanic shops are , and I called one that was recommend to me by a lot of people !

So yeah , had some rust on the discs and normal braking for a few weeks and got rid of the problem !
Another shop in my black list

[McGuyver_3]

I wouldnt be so quick to black list them. Reason being is when it comes to brakes and you have a vibration like you explain the shop can give you 3 options.
Option 1: replace the rotors as said. Reason being you are complaining about the vibration the problem is currently present, You explained that the car had been sitting. When some people say the car was sitting for a month it can mean anything. People tend to lie for whatever reason I do not know but I hae seen itmany times before.
Option 2: Machine the rotors. This is becomming an extinct repair. aftermarket rotors are so cheap that paying someone for the labor to machine your existing ones is just not worth it. When you machine them you are scraping off quite a bit of life making the discs more vulnerable to premature wear and warpage going back to your original problem.
Option 3: live with the problem and see if driving it will fix it.

I agree that they should have given you the choices but at the same time I understand that they want to make you happy now. This is one of those situations were you have to look at both sides and kind of asess it from your POV

[Flagrum_3]

^^^ What he said :thumbsup



_3

[Ps3alltheway]

I don`t agree at all , he could`of told me that it is normal or to drive it a few weeks and if it doesn`t stop there is a problem , but no , instead he told me that I need them to be changed .

It is that easy .

[Gloomfrost]

I don`t agree at all , he could`of told me that it is normal or to drive it a few weeks and if it doesn`t stop there is a problem , but no , instead he told me that I need them to be changed .

It is that easy .

He'd rather make sure to fix any POSSIBLE braking issues ASAP before you die from a serious accident, than take chances by basically saying 'walk it off'.

[Gloomfrost]

Really wish I could edit posts but just another thing you should consider; tire pressure. Check it. You might have been running on already low pressure ~25 or less, and the shaking at high speeds is just one tire going up in pressure quicker than the other.

Not sure if related, but I had a shaky wheel after having my front tires slide in a bad case of understeer. It went away within minutes. Don't remember if I stepped hard on brakes or not, if I did, it could have been the brakes, and the subsequent cooling.

[Flagrum_3]

Really wish I could edit posts but just another thing you should consider; tire pressure. Check it. You might have been running on already low pressure ~25 or less, and the shaking at high speeds is just one tire going up in pressure quicker than the other.

Not sure if related, but I had a shaky wheel after having my front tires slide in a bad case of understeer. It went away within minutes. Don't remember if I stepped hard on brakes or not, if I did, it could have been the brakes, and the subsequent cooling.

Good point!


_3

[Ps3alltheway]

no It was the brakes , I've talked to a few people and looked it up on internet .
Wheels shaking from low tire pressure? I've never seen that !
I've had 2 flats in my life , and was going 120 with a tire that was almost totally out of air and the car would never shake .
And anyways the tires would had been shaking the whole time , not only when I apply the brakes at high speeds .

And for the other people that are backing up the mechanic that almost screw me over of 300 $ , I don't understand the way you guys think , It's obvious what was the problem with the car and still the guy told me that the rotors HAD to be replaced and they didn't !
Do you like to be bullshit by mechanics and dealerships? I hope not ... how many times my girlfriend got told to replace stuff on her car , after that I Would check it out and nothing was wrong with it .

[Flagrum_3]

It's absolutely possible to experience shaking while braking at high speeds due to a very low tire pressure. Especially if it's just one front tire. So it turns out your brakes were just rusty, FINE, don't get all pissy at everyone. The mechanic you took it too; did you have him diagnose the issue or you just asked him? Mechanics are not magicians, sure maybe he could have mentioned that rusted brakes could cause that, but only if he was aware of the whole situation. You never gave complete details as to what conspired at the shop. In defence of this mechanic you must realize they are left responsible for customer safety, maybe he needed the work but you must also respect he may have felt in your safety the best bet was to change out the rotors for safety sake....Anyways, a lesson learned, now you know brakes can rust-up from extended non-use.....move on.

_3

[Ps3alltheway]

It's absolutely possible to experience shaking while braking at high speeds due to a very low tire pressure. Especially if it's just one front tire. So it turns out your brakes were just rusty, FINE, don't get all pissy at everyone. The mechanic you took it too; did you have him diagnose the issue or you just asked him? Mechanics are not magicians, sure maybe he could have mentioned that rusted brakes could cause that, but only if he was aware of the whole situation. You never gave complete details as to what conspired at the shop. In defence of this mechanic you must realize they are left responsible for customer safety, maybe he needed the work but you must also respect he may have felt in your safety the best bet was to change out the rotors for safety sake....Anyways, a lesson learned, now you know brakes can rust-up from extended non-use.....move on.

_3

agreed

[McGuyver_3]

no It was the brakes , I've talked to a few people and looked it up on internet .
Wheels shaking from low tire pressure? I've never seen that !
I've had 2 flats in my life , and was going 120 with a tire that was almost totally out of air and the car would never shake .
And anyways the tires would had been shaking the whole time , not only when I apply the brakes at high speeds .

And for the other people that are backing up the mechanic that almost screw me over of 300 $ , I don't understand the way you guys think , It's obvious what was the problem with the car and still the guy told me that the rotors HAD to be replaced and they didn't !
Do you like to be bullshit by mechanics and dealerships? I hope not ... how many times my girlfriend got told to replace stuff on her car , after that I Would check it out and nothing was wrong with it .

I like to think that mechanics are honest people, but you do have a few that are greedy and want it all. I agree with you on that but for the most part they will recomend things to you for a reason. For example the tech has the car on the hoist and sees the axle boot is cracking, not open yet but could open any time. I rather have the option to replace at that time then come back 3 months later because my axle is making noise. Could also end up costing a lot more then the initial repair. All you have to do is ask why they want to replace it. I work in a shop which will remain nameless and I have had customers come in the shop to see and ask why I recomend something. So instead of bitching out techs might as well start asking questions

[Ps3alltheway]

I like to think that mechanics are honest people, but you do have a few that are greedy and want it all. I agree with you on that but for the most part they will recomend things to you for a reason. For example the tech has the car on the hoist and sees the axle boot is cracking, not open yet but could open any time. I rather have the option to replace at that time then come back 3 months later because my axle is making noise. Could also end up costing a lot more then the initial repair. All you have to do is ask why they want to replace it. I work in a shop which will remain nameless and I have had customers come in the shop to see and ask why I recomend something. So instead of bitching out techs might as well start asking questions


Ya but the thing is , I'm not stupid , when I go to the dealership and they tell me they going to charge me 250 $ to check my fluid levels , lubrificate my doors and inspect the front end I will NEVER SAY YES for a job I can do myself in half of the time it is going to take them , between a smoke and a coffee and when I know my car is only a year old .

Or Charge me 85 bucks to replace the cabin air filters
Or when I call 3 different mechanics and the prices for a maintenance job differs of 150 $ between all three
Or when I go to the dealership and he try's to tell me that the noise I hear is normal and I should not worry about it and in the end it comes out as a Loose transmission mount
Or when the tech behind the desk's try's to fool me around and takes me for a moron that doesn't know shit

[Reddie1337]

Ya but the thing is , I'm not stupid , when I go to the dealership and they tell me they going to charge me 250 $ to check my fluid levels , lubrificate my doors and inspect the front end I will NEVER SAY YES for a job I can do myself in half of the time it is going to take them , between a smoke and a coffee and when I know my car is only a year old .

Or Charge me 85 bucks to replace the cabin air filters
Or when I call 3 different mechanics and the prices for a maintenance job differs of 150 $ between all three
Or when I go to the dealership and he try's to tell me that the noise I hear is normal and I should not worry about it and in the end it comes out as a Loose transmission mount
Or when the tech behind the desk's try's to fool me around and takes me for a moron that doesn't know shit

It sounds like you have had really bad experiences with mechanic shops. I am sorry for that. But I also work at a shop, and we won't replace anything that doesn't need to be replaced. We will show you why it needs to be replaced, or we will tell you that it could become a problem. I personally repair my own vehicle and many of my friends come to me because they know we don't feed anyone bull on stuff they need. As for the brakes, I would have told you to drive it if it sat for a while. Surface rust on rotor's are such a common problem, your car can have it after a day or two. Most cars on a car lot will get it because they will sit there for a day or two, then you just need to drive it for it to disappear.

[Olestra]

Other possibility is you could have had a flat spot in the tire that sorted itself out after you drove for a couple weeks but unlikely since you said it only happens when you brake.
Maybe you did get rust on the rotors and some of it got on your brake pads. You probably just needed to bed your brakes again. Sounds like you may have done that at least partially from driving normally.