Steering wheel shaking when braking. But only intermittent

deesully · 2026-10-10T18:17:49-0500

I’m fairly capable of working on a vehicle. This is my first truck, but I’ve added a lot of Banks improvements myself and have done a lot of work on other vehicles. I’ve noticed a shaking in my steering wheel when I brake, but only sometimes. It feels like a rotor is warped, but if it were, wouldn’t that make the steering wheel shake every time I brake? Thoughts? I don’t want to take it to the dealer and pay for a bullshit diagnostic fee. I understand, they are doing work. lol

Mujwabi · 2026-10-10T20:33:20-0500

Has anyone worked on the front suspsension or taken off wheels and brakes? Only asking because I saw a post the other day where the front rotor have the set screws. There's apparently like 3-4 extra holes in the rotor but not the hub and the set screw only goes into one. They had installed the set screws in the wrong holes so they weren't actually screwed in all the way. So the wheel lug nuts were tight but the wheel would wobble here and there because it wasn't actually flush to the hub.

R467X · 2026-10-10T23:44:55-0500

It's one of two things... Or both:
1. Your rotors are warped
2. Your tires could be out of balance.

Probably go to a discount tire and get your tire balance checked. Otherwise - time for new brakes / rotors they are known not to last.

R467X · 2026-10-10T23:46:20-0500

Mujwabi said:
Has anyone worked on the front suspsension or taken off wheels and brakes? Only asking because I saw a post the other day where the front rotor have the set screws. There's apparently like 3-4 extra holes in the rotor but not the hub and the set screw only goes into one. They had installed the set screws in the wrong holes so they weren't actually screwed in all the way. So the wheel lug nuts were tight but the wheel would wobble here and there because it wasn't actually flush to the hub.

Never heard of this, sounds like someone failed at the installation.

deesully · 2026-10-11T08:18:19-0500

R467X said:
It's one of two things... Or both:
1. Your rotors are warped
2. Your tires could be out of balance.

Probably go to a discount tire and get your tire balance checked. Otherwise - time for new brakes / rotors they are known not to last.

How accurate is the brake life sensor and reading in the dash display? It says I have 64% life left on my front brakes, but I know that’s pads and not the rotor. I have 39500 miles and not an aggressive driver.

Still, I would think if rotors are warped, it would shake every time I brake. Wheel balance should be good. It rides very smooth otherwise.