[Kev335is]

SOLUTION AT THE END

Hey guys I have a 335is (E92) and when I braking hard my steering wheel has a tendency to start shaking. I've searched up it a couple times in e90post and never really found a solution to my issue. I've recently replaced my control arms w/ m3 arms (http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-12...t-e82-e9x.aspx) and that did not fix the issue. Also today I jacked my car up and rotated the wheels and there was no resistance so Im at a loss right now, any ideas?

[SeanS54]

if only happens when braking it's most likely warped brake rotors... when was the last time you did your brakes?

[Kev335is]

Originally Posted by CalBear_335i

if only happens when braking it's most likely warped brake rotors... when was the last time you did your brakes?

I just jacked my car up today to check out the rotors and they seem fine and if its rotors wouldn't my steering wheel always shake when braking? Because for me it only happens if I brake pretty hard. For example if im slowly braking from 20-0 my steering wheel wont shake at all but if im braking from 60-0 quickly my steering wheel will shake a lot.

[Stream]

Originally Posted by Kev335is

if its rotors wouldn't my steering wheel always shake when braking?

No.
It wil shake hard in 50-70 and only a bit in 30-50.

What brake disk and pads are you using? I have the same problem every spring. I use ATE disk + EBC Red pads.

[Kev335is]

Originally Posted by Stream

No.
It wil shake hard in 50-70 and only a bit in 30-50.

What brake disk and pads are you using? I have the same problem every spring. I use ATE disk + EBC Red pads.

OEM brake disk & pads.

[CALWATERBOY]

Originally Posted by Kev335is

Hey guys I have a 335is (E92) and when I braking hard my steering wheel has a tendency to start shaking. I've searched up it a couple times in e90post and never really found a solution to my issue. I've recently replaced my control arms w/ m3 arms (http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-12...t-e82-e9x.aspx) and that did not fix the issue. Also today I jacked my car up and rotated the wheels and there was no resistance so Im at a loss right now, any ideas?

Uneven lug nut torque'll do that - try loosening all; tighten to spec in star pattern little by little. 89 ft lb or 120 nm.

Also try a few strong stops from, say, 60+ mph. Sa-mooth after?

Other possibles: Bad tire - rotor/pad issue.

[wdeerfield]

this just started happening to me as well. about two weeks ago i noticed that around 60+ mph, braking firmly will cause vibration but anything below that is absolutely fine. could it be worn front control arm bushings? Im going to torque my wheels tonight.

Also thought it may be the tires or a balance issue. They are winter tires on their last leg.

[Kev335is]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

this just started happening to me as well. about two weeks ago i noticed that around 60+ mph, braking firmly will cause vibration but anything below that is absolutely fine. could it be worn front control arm bushings? Im going to torque my wheels tonight.

Also thought it may be the tires or a balance issue. They are winter tires on their last leg.

It could be bushings but I just changed mine months ago while it was still happening and it didnt fix anything. I havent gotten to torquing my wheels yet let me know if its help!

[vwetish]

Originally Posted by Kev335is

It could be bushings but I just changed mine months ago while it was still happening and it didnt fix anything. I havent gotten to torquing my wheels yet let me know if its help!

Uneven brake pad deposit on rotors and worn out bushing/slide pins on calipers.
I highly doubt warp rotors, control arms or unevenly torqued lug bolts are the possible cause.
Also wheel bearing...

[chau]

+1 for brake deposit on your rotors. I also have the same issue and my front rotors are nasty.

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by vwetish

Uneven brake pad deposit on rotors and worn out bushing/slide pins on calipers.
I highly doubt warp rotors, control arms or unevenly torqued lug bolts are the possible cause.
Also wheel bearing...

even if i wash the car regularly? I'm thinking i may need to clean the calipers and check the pads. Im swapping to summer wheels and will see if that changes anything

[vwetish]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

even if i wash the car regularly? I'm thinking i may need to clean the calipers and check the pads. Im swapping to summer wheels and will see if that changes anything

I'm struggling to see link between regular washing and brake issues...

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by vwetish

I'm struggling to see link between regular washing and brake issues...

To remove brake dust and build up on the rotors and calipers, etc.. It was just a thought that if it was depositing on the rotors, would washing the car remove it

[MassBimmer]

It is likely your front traction control strut or wishbone

[still in school]

Originally Posted by vwetish

Uneven brake pad deposit on rotors and worn out bushing/slide pins on calipers.
I highly doubt warp rotors, control arms or unevenly torqued lug bolts are the possible cause.
Also wheel bearing...

what do you mean by the bushing and slide pins?

[fravel]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

this just started happening to me as well. about two weeks ago i noticed that around 60+ mph, braking firmly will cause vibration but anything below that is absolutely fine. could it be worn front control arm bushings? Im going to torque my wheels tonight.

Also thought it may be the tires or a balance issue. They are winter tires on their last leg.

Sounds exactly like my failed control arm bushing.

Originally Posted by still in school

what do you mean by the bushing and slide pins?

The slide pins that the caliper floats on and the rubber bushings that it sits in - they can get gunked up and cause your calipers to stick in place, dragging the pads on the rotors. Common practice is to put some sort of grease on caliper pins but the Bentley manual explicitly says not to use any on our cars. Someone had greased mine before I bought the car and I ended up having premature pad failure on my rear outer pads because the calipers were sticking. I replaced all the bushings and the slide pins and so far so good.

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by fravel

Sounds exactly like my failed control arm bushing.

Im going to replace my upper and lower front control arms this spring. Hopefully that fixes my slight shimmy and braking issue.

[vwetish]

Originally Posted by still in school

what do you mean by the bushing and slide pins?

all sliding style calipers implement rubber bushing and sliding/gliding pin

[still in school]

Thanks guys. Would that be the reason I hear a creaking noise when my car is already at a stop and I'm pressing on the brakes even further?

[AndrewLakes]

OP, have you jacked up the front end and looked for play in either front wheel in 9 and 3 o-clock, or 12 and 6 o-clock?

I've had steering wheel wobble from a couple things other than brake deposits on rotors, for instance 1) a loose inner tie-rod nut, 2) loose hub nut, 3) I forget

[Kev335is]

Originally Posted by AndrewLakes

OP, have you jacked up the front end and looked for play in either front wheel in 9 and 3 o-clock, or 12 and 6 o-clock?

I've had steering wheel wobble from a couple things other than brake deposits on rotors, for instance 1) a loose inner tie-rod nut, 2) loose hub nut, 3) I forget

Hmm, thanks for the advice. I'll definitely check it out will update once I have the time to jack up my car.

[Tallgeese179]

OP, I was having similar problems recently with my car. Looking around on the forum I saw that some people had difficulty with tracking down the reason their wheel was shaking under braking. The culprit was going to be either worn control arm bushings or brake pad deposit on my rotors.

Finding this thread (http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=588035) made me think that I was likely experiencing control arm bushing failure. I thought this was the case because the wheel shaking started towards the end of winter (I live in Pittsburgh so potholes are everywhere and I hit a few big ones). I jacked the front end up and inspected all of the bushings, only to find that none of them were damaged. Even the fluid filled lower control arm bushings (commonly known to fail) were not leaking and were in great shape.

I ended up buying slotted rotors (front and rear) from ECS tuning along with Akebono Euro Ceramic brake pads (front and rear) to try and eliminate the problem while also providing slightly upgraded braking performance. This solved the problem. As it turns out it was likely brake pad deposit on the front rotors that was causing the shaking (the attached picture shows the outline of the brake pad in the rotor). I’m 150 miles in to the new brake set up and the vibration is completely gone.

From my experience I would definitely recommend replacing the rotors and pads before attempting to replace the control arm bushing, as it is quicker and cheaper.