sporadic shaky steering . . .

boostjunkie · Post by **boostjunkie** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 3:36 pm

Here are the details. I know I've needed to change the brake pads and rotors since when I'm braking moderately hard, I'm getting that shaky feedback like my rotors are warped. I also need to change out the ps pump, since I've been noticing the power assist fade-in and out every now and then. Anyways. randomly I'll get that annoying feedback from the steering wheel when I'm not braking, or after I brake and then let off and start accelerate again.

It doesn't happen all the time, but I notice it every few days or so . . . Othertimes I drive for hundreds of miles and no sign of the symptoms.

Any ideas?

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:16 pm

Do this......take the belt off that goes to the power steering pump. try to turn the PS pulley. Does it rotate freely and feel smooth, or does it not feel too good.

About the brakes.....where do you feel the shaking/pulsation most, in the steering wheel or the brake pedal itself.

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:24 pm

I'm going throught the whole ps thing now, too, and Josh I'm think I'm gonna side with you here b/c it makes sense to me, but everyone I've talked to says the only way to tell if a ps pump is good or not is to install it and see what happens, that just turning the pulley to see how easy it is tells you nothing...

As for the brakes, boostjunkie, you probably just need your rotors resurfaced. Mine was a more dire situation. The last time I have had my brakes touched (~20k ago) they said I had 2/1000 inch of pads left and that if I had gone 2 more days I would have started ruining rotors. But they also said my rotors weren't even worth resurfacing so they put new ones on there. This was all front brakes btw, my rears were fine, they said. I don't honestly know if I really needed new rotors or not, but my car has been braking excellently for almost 2 years now...

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:26 pm

those people that said just turning the pulley won't tell you anything must have never had a bearing go out.......the pump was making some noise.......when I finally swapped it......the pump pulley was quite hard to turn, like the bearings were just toast!!! and ground to little pieces.

boostjunkie · Post by **boostjunkie** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:53 pm

Legacy777 wrote:About the brakes.....where do you feel the shaking/pulsation most, in the steering wheel or the brake pedal itself.

In the wheel.

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:09 pm

If you feel it in the wheel it's most likely front brakes

boostjunkie · Post by **boostjunkie** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 5:12 pm

I guess I might as well install those brakes that have been sitting in my basement

Weather report for this weekend: VERY COLD, LOTSA SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN . . . . just my luck, huh?

whitemr2 · Post by **whitemr2** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 9:23 pm

Get your alignment checked, and if that doesn't do it, get your tires balanced. If the brakes were causing the shaking, you'd feel it in the brake pedal, not the wheel.

Post by **Legacy777** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 1:21 am

whitemr2 wrote:Get your alignment checked, and if that doesn't do it, get your tires balanced. If the brakes were causing the shaking, you'd feel it in the brake pedal, not the wheel.

Not true. If you feel shudder in the steering wheel under braking it's probably the front brakes.

If you feel it more in the pedal it's the rear brakes.

If you feel shudder under no braking, then it's probably wheels or tires.

kelley · Post by **kelley** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 2:57 am

I agree with josh. sounds like your brakes. I know the sensation quite well. I go through brakes rather quickly. boost junkie gusess it's time to get a brembo gt kit.

boostjunkie · Post by **boostjunkie** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 6:28 pm

Well, on Friday I decided to change out my front brakes and add some stainless lines. What I noticed is that the front passenger side caliper had a piston that couldn't be moved as far back into position as the other. It's a slight discrepancy, but it's different nonetheless. It might be the cause of my infrequent shaking . . . I'm assuming that the piston might be a little slow to ease off pressure sometimes.

Someday I'll have to get to that junkyard . . . . seems like the list of needed parts keeps on growing.

kelly, I'd like to get a bigger brake kit, but I'd also like to retain the use of the stock wheels. Anyone have any ideas?

kelley · Post by **kelley** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 7:37 pm

boostjunkie your on the stock 15 in 5 spokes. I thought you were on gold 16x7 rs wheels.
check some rally sites. I have seen some brake upgrades for 15 in. rally wheels that might work. the wilwood 4 pot kit (what I use on the rear) shoud fit under the stock wheel.

boostjunkie · Post by **boostjunkie** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 8:34 pm

Well, since I'd like some dedicated summer tires and snow tires, I need to keep my 15s . . . I might look into some 16" wrx wheel replacements, though, since alot of those guys are getting rid of their wheels. I might have problems with those as well, since they're only 16x6.5's.

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sporadic shaky steering . . .

sporadic shaky steering . . .