BMW Repair Portland
MINI Repair Portland

Why Does My Steering Wheel Shake When I Brake? Main Cause of Shaking Steering Wheel The main cause of shaking or shimmying of the steering wheel when braking is warped front brake rotors (also called brake discs). The vibration is caused by the brake pad making inconsistent contact with the rotor, sort of like a warped record spinning on a turntable.  Common Causes of Warped Brake Rotors Brake rotors can warp when they are heated up and then one portion becomes cooled at an uneven rate. A classic example of how this can occur is coming down a long hill or mountain, where repeated long braking is required, causing heat buildup in the rotors. Following this with braking to a stop, like at a stoplight, is where the problem occurs. The portion of the rotor that is clamped under the brake pads retains heat, while the exposed portion can freely dissipate it to the air. There are other circumstances under which rotors can warp, but the aforementioned describes the basic process. Con ... read more

Interior Vehicle Water Leaks - Diagnosing & Repairing One of the vehicle issues that only come up when the problem is present is interior vehicle leaks, as they do not telegraph their impending arrival. Preventive maintenance is therefore seldom in the picture, this is usually a reactive repair. There’s nothing to fix if everything is dry, after all. Water, penetrating through the bodywork, finds its way wherever it wants, and it's relentless; think the Grand Canyon, or any recent hurricane or flood. Unlike a squeaking belt or brakes, simple diagnosis and replacement of obviously broken or worn parts are unlikely to immediately follow. Properly determining the source(s) of all the leaks can be challenging. Active ongoing diagnosis can sometimes take a few hours, and, in the case of trunk leaks, possibly include a person with a flashlight inside looking while the car is being constantly showered. Modern cars are rolling computer networks, with electronic modules s ... read more