Steering Wheel Vibrates When Braking at High Speeds

[srana]

Passat B5 1998 1.8 SE.

Sudden braking at high speeds (60 mph +) cuases the steering wheel to vibrate.

This used to happen at all speeds, until the delaer repalced rear brakes, which helpd but didn't entirely solve the problem. The the fornt pads were replaced and that seemed to have solved iit, but now, some 2000 miles later, the problem is back, though it's intermittant. Also, there is a knockimng noise when the brakes are applied - this is expecially noticeable at slow speeds, say in traffic when jabbing the brakes.


Any ideas?

[Jabez]

Hi
I would firstly suggest that you check all you front suspension joints for wear, there are lots of joints and any one could give you knocking at low speeds. In my experience the shacking from the wheel when braking would usually come from your front disc's being slightly warped, and it does sound as though that they are the only bits that you've not yet had replaced in your braking system. But get the joints checked out first, I recently bought a 99T A4-B5 and although it'd only been Mot'd the previous week I still needed to change the 2 anti-roll bar links and 3 of the 8 suspension arms. Hope you get the car sorted.
Cheers
mcc

[colb666]

The knocking noise can be caused by fitting non VW pads as they may be slightly small and are moving when you apply the brakes,the vibration is almost certainly warped discs on the front.

[Fettler]

What that man said

[M4YTY]

yep. The front discs will be warped dude.