Steering wheel shaking uncontrollably when hitting brakes
10-18-2011, 06:09 PM
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Steering wheel shaking uncontrollably when hitting brakes
My 2000 Cherokee's steering wheel shakes bigtime "between 10:00 and 2:00" when brakes applied and going over 30 mph. It feels like its "hopping" back and forth on the road... I checked brakes/calipers...Right front caliper closing unevenly, pads wearing in center of rotor... I know a brake job is needed for sure: ordered new rotors/calipers/pads.... BUT: is it normal for such shaking just from a hung up caliper or possible warped rotor? the pad is pretty low also...but Never felt brakes do this before...even with severely worn compnents....Any ideas??? 
10-18-2011, 06:32 PM
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Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 H.O.
Either warped rotors or death wobble. If you do a search on here for Death Wobble you will find all the info you need. Good Luck!!
10-18-2011, 10:58 PM
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Year: 90,84
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Engine: 4.0,2.5
Yea, I think you are on the right track. A rotor will shake like heck breaking. I'd finish that and take it from there. maybe poke around while you have it up, look for play. Have fun!
10-19-2011, 10:24 AM
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Year: 2000
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Engine: 4.0
Just so it's clear, "warped" rotor is a misleading term.
It's not like, say, a CD, where you and flex the CD and get a wavy surface. The rotor doesn't get wavy like that.
What happens if that the braking surface on the rotor can become uneven due to rust or other factors, causing the brakes to grab hard on certain parts of the rotor and not grab hard on others, so it's like BRAKE brake BRAKE brake BRAKE brake, and if it's the front wheels doing it, it'll jerk the steering wheel.
It's not like, say, a CD, where you and flex the CD and get a wavy surface. The rotor doesn't get wavy like that.
What happens if that the braking surface on the rotor can become uneven due to rust or other factors, causing the brakes to grab hard on certain parts of the rotor and not grab hard on others, so it's like BRAKE brake BRAKE brake BRAKE brake, and if it's the front wheels doing it, it'll jerk the steering wheel.
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10-19-2011, 09:41 PM
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Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
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Just so it's clear, "warped" rotor is a misleading term.
It's not like, say, a CD, where you and flex the CD and get a wavy surface. The rotor doesn't get wavy like that.
What happens if that the braking surface on the rotor can become uneven due to rust or other factors, causing the brakes to grab hard on certain parts of the rotor and not grab hard on others, so it's like BRAKE brake BRAKE brake BRAKE brake, and if it's the front wheels doing it, it'll jerk the steering wheel.
It's not like, say, a CD, where you and flex the CD and get a wavy surface. The rotor doesn't get wavy like that.
What happens if that the braking surface on the rotor can become uneven due to rust or other factors, causing the brakes to grab hard on certain parts of the rotor and not grab hard on others, so it's like BRAKE brake BRAKE brake BRAKE brake, and if it's the front wheels doing it, it'll jerk the steering wheel.
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