I have this problem with my E46.

[GreenGhost]

Hi guys!Recently, i have been having this problem, whereby when i brake to slow down from high speed, my steering wheel begins to shake in out in out. And lately i notice that this is also happening at lower speeds. I am not sure why?It is not consistent though, it only occurs sometimes maybe a few times a week. Could someone tell me what is wrong please.....Thank you very much for any input.Thanks again, jOn

 

[E46Fanatic]

Sounds like your front brake discs are warped. Quite rare if its original rotors and brake pads, but the E46 discs (and pads) wear out very quickly 25k kms for the pads and you can stretch to about 60k kms for the discs I think, depending on your driving style. Better to get new rotors instead of skimming them if its already high mileage.

 

[Mikeong]

Originally posted by GreenGhost@Jul 24 2005, 11:30 PM
Hi guys!

Recently, i have been having this problem, whereby when i brake to slow down from high speed, my steering wheel begins to shake in out in out. And lately i notice that this is also happening at lower speeds. I am not sure why?

It is not consistent though, it only occurs sometimes maybe a few times a week. Could someone tell me what is wrong please.....

Thank you very much for any input.

Thanks again,

jOn

Check your tyres too are they about to botak and get all four wheel balance. Good Luck.

 

[c-square]

Originally posted by GreenGhost@Jul 24 2005, 11:30 PM
Hi guys!

Recently, i have been having this problem, whereby when i brake to slow down from high speed, my steering wheel begins to shake in out in out. And lately i notice that this is also happening at lower speeds. I am not sure why?

It is not consistent though, it only occurs sometimes maybe a few times a week. Could someone tell me what is wrong please.....

Thank you very much for any input.

Thanks again,

jOn

Had similar problems on my e36 and mine was due to warped rotors.
When you glide slowly and ease lightly on the brake pedal, do you experience some slight "jerky" movements (as opposed to smooth gradual stop), as if some part of the brake are more clammy than the others?

 

[GreenGhost]

Hi guys , thanks for the inputs so far!

I did suspect that the discs were warped before, but when i went to a mechanic he said that they were fine. But he was only looking at it and saying it was fine. Are there any other ways to determine if they are indeed warped?
I was explaining to him about the shaking in-out symptom and he said that it was possibly the ABS kicking in.

It does somewhat feel like the ABS kicking in and then not really. hahahahh im not sure! so confusing when you dont know what is wrong but something IS wrong.

Mikeong, the tyres are still good.

E46fanatic,
I have changed my pads beginning of the year so i hope that isnt the problem. And my car is approaching 60k soon its about 50++k at the moment.
Yes the mechanic also advised me against skimming because for the discs there is actually a groove in the middle therefore skimming it would make it dangerous.

C-square,
Im not sure about the feeling when i press on the brakes, i cant be certain because it only comes once in a while and goes. Though lately it is happening more consistently.

Okok.. is there any way i can do a better check to ensure that it is the brake discs and not another part?

Thanks guys!

jOn

 

[E46Fanatic]

Originally posted by GreenGhost@Jul 25 2005, 10:13 PM


It does somewhat feel like the ABS kicking in and then not really. hahahahh im not sure! so confusing when you dont know what is wrong but something IS wrong.

Mikeong, the tyres are still good.

ABS kicking in should only be felt on brake pedal and not steering. Ya, mechanic wont be able to tell by looking at discs if its warped. They should have test driven the car as well IMHO.

Did you change to orig pads or aftermarket ones in your last change? If its orig pads, and discs, it should be quite resistant to warping IMHO.

 

[GreenGhost]

E46Fanatic,

Yes you are right. I should only feel the ABS vibs*sss on the brake pedal and not the steering.

I changed to Jurid pads in late January. I thought they were considered quite ori. Is that right? Cant remember, someone told me from the forum.

Any recommendations for me to start researching for a new set of brake discs? Any particular brands?

To the guys who have done the upgrade to better braking systems, do i just have to change the brake discs alone? What bout the calipers, do they need to be changed too?

Thanks heaps heaps heaps in advance...................

* jOn

 

[E46Fanatic]

Yea, the warping is probably caused by the aftermarket pads as suspected. BMW has done extensive research in their braking systems esp on the late model lineup which should not have warped easilly (based on articles I read). They have a test bench where they run the tests with the braking system till components glow red like in an F1 car under harsh simulated braking to ensure that the braking system passes with flying colors. As long as you use orig BMW discs and pads you should be OK. I suspect the Jurid pads are more abrasive and of a harder compound (maybe lasting longer as well), and does not have the same characteristics with the OEM ones which caused the stock rotors to warp. Too bad the original pads and rotors wear fast and are so dusty sigh.. :cry:

 

[3er]

Anyone can warp their brake disks easily but splashing some water on hot brakes. This could be intentional (like spraying cold water onto hot brakes when washing the car) or accidental (like unknowingly splashing through puddles of water when driving). You can also warp your rotors by standing on your brakes while stationary/parked when the brakes are still hot (esp from hot laps on a circuit).

Solution: new rotors.

 

[GreenGhost]

3er whats new rotors?

thanks.

 

[c-square]

rotors = disks.... some called it rotors, while others call it disk

 

[c-square]

Originally posted by GreenGhost@Jul 25 2005, 10:13 PM
Hi guys , thanks for the inputs so far!

I did suspect that the discs were warped before, but when i went to a mechanic he said that they were fine. But he was only looking at it and saying it was fine. Are there any other ways to determine if they are indeed warped?
I was explaining to him about the shaking in-out symptom and he said that it was possibly the ABS kicking in.

It does somewhat feel like the ABS kicking in and then not really. hahahahh im not sure! so confusing when you dont know what is wrong but something IS wrong.

Mikeong, the tyres are still good.

E46fanatic,
I have changed my pads beginning of the year so i hope that isnt the problem. And my car is approaching 60k soon its about 50++k at the moment.
Yes the mechanic also advised me against skimming because for the discs there is actually a groove in the middle therefore skimming it would make it dangerous.

C-square,
Im not sure about the feeling when i press on the brakes, i cant be certain because it only comes once in a while and goes. Though lately it is happening more consistently.

Okok.. is there any way i can do a better check to ensure that it is the brake discs and not another part?

Thanks guys!

jOn

ABS only kicks in (and generate that kind of shaking, albeit only a brief moment) when you jam on the brakes

 

[GreenGhost]

Oh okies rotors = discs
thanks.....

 

[GreenGhost]

Man man man!

This just happpened last night. The Bilstein absorber on my rear right hand side got dislocated! So it was just dangling there and hitting my rim on the inside whenever i passed a bump.


It just slipped its way out even passing the bolt. I just wonder if that was the reason for some of the shaking action? I was just slowly slowly slowly getting less support on my rear right side.

Has this happened to anyone here before? The mechanic said it was a Bilstein failure......