Shaky steering wheel when braking, despite «new» Bosch brake discs

Svaen · 01-11-2019, 02:12 PM

Hi all. About 10000 miles ago, I noticed vibration in the steering wheel when braking, so I replaced the brake discs and pads with new Bosch pads and discs. So about 5000 miles ago, the same problem occoured again. Same procedure, I replaced the brakes with new Bosch pads and discs. And now, the problem is back again.
So over to my question; Are Bosch brake parts crap? Of course, they are cheaper than OEM, but not as cheap as China parts. I can’t say that something obvious with my driving could cause the discs to get wobbly.
Pretty tired of changing front brake parts now.

X5 MAN · 01-12-2019, 01:53 PM

It could be bad tires, bad wheel alignment, poor wheel balancing

omgboost · 01-12-2019, 02:45 PM

Did it temporarily did the problem and then came back again?

ryansbmw · 01-12-2019, 06:35 PM

Could be the calipers themselves or suspension components as well. Have you gotten the car up on a lift to take a look at it?

racermp · 01-12-2019, 09:06 PM

Thrust arm bushings. Try centric rotors

Svaen · 01-13-2019, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omgboost

Did it temporarily did the problem and then came back again?

Everytime I change the discs and pads, everything works perfectly for 4-5000 miles, and then the problem is back. So something is obviously messing with my brake discs.

X5 MAN · 01-13-2019, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Svaen

Everytime I change the discs and pads, everything works perfectly for 4-5000 miles, and then the problem is back. So something is obviously messing with my brake discs.

wheel alignment. It is warping your discs prematurely.

Poppyboy · 01-13-2019, 08:32 AM

Are all bolts and lugs torqued to spec? Overtorqued bolts and lugs can warp rotors and cause other problems. Also, were the pads bedded-in according to procedure? That’s often still a thing.

ryansbmw · 01-13-2019, 08:44 AM

Are your calipers sliding freely? If one is frozen, that very well can cause warped rotors. Ask me how I know

Svaen · 01-13-2019, 09:44 AM

I had both front lower arms replaced in the suspension for about 9000 miles ago, and had the wheel alignment checked in this case. So that shouldn’t be the reason. (?)

The gliders and pistons on both calipers are sliding like a hot knife in butter, and I always clean the hub accurately before installing new rotors. Both times, I bolted the caliper and brake rotor screw back on with correct torque. The new brakes also got a gentle use the first miles, before normal use.

TwinSnailz · 01-13-2019, 10:14 AM

Whats the brake pad material(metallic,semi-metallic,ceramic,etc)?

Svaen · 01-13-2019, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinSnailz

Whats the brake pad material(metallic,semi-metallic,ceramic,etc)?

They are low-metallic.

TwinSnailz · 01-13-2019, 10:56 AM

Try jacking up the front wheels and turning it. If you hear uneven scraping noise then your rotors are warped. Or if you can see your rotors have a section of unshiny area which is where the pads have no contact with rotors.

The old saying” being gentle to the brakes at first” has been reverse nowadays. You need to do multiple aggressive braking to bed the pads in.

smass · 01-13-2019, 07:44 PM

I had that happen to my last set of OE brakes. I had created hot spots on the rotors by keeping the disks clamped at stops when they were hot. I was towing a boat back then. After some spirited driving the rotors are now fine with 50k miles on them. I now inch forward at stops when I know things are hot.

X5 MAN · 01-14-2019, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smassey321

I had that happen to my last set of OE brakes. I had created hot spots on the rotors by keeping the disks clamped at stops when they were hot. I was towing a boat back then. After some spirited driving the rotors are now fine with 50k miles on them. I now inch forward at stops when I know things are hot.

Also when when you step on the brakes hard at the time of the sharp turns, it could warp the rotors.

Better driving tactics advise to brake before going into a sharp turn and not keep braking during the actual turns.

omgboost · 01-14-2019, 09:26 AM

Maybe try non Bosch brake rotors? I've been using Zimmermann rotors for a few thousand miles now and haven't noticed any issues.

Svaen · 01-14-2019, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omgboost

Maybe try non Bosch brake rotors? I've been using Zimmermann rotors for a few thousand miles now and haven't noticed any issues.

Yeah, I’m gonna go for something else than Bosch this time, hopefully that’ll do the trick. Are the Zimmermann disc’s hub coated? I don’t want discs with hubs that get rusty.

POS_BMW · 01-14-2019, 12:24 PM

I had vibration at 50 and shakes when lightly on the brake. It turned out to be sticky caliper. I rebuilt it using 12 bucks kit from FCP.

One way to find out if you have sticky caliper is to measure the temperature of the rotors.

X5 MAN · 01-14-2019, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Svaen

Yeah, I’m gonna go for something else than Bosch this time, hopefully that’ll do the trick. Are the Zimmermann disc’s hub coated? I don’t want discs with hubs that get rusty.

No

If you wanted black coated rotors look for Stop Tech or Brakenetic. And use EBC brake pads, non-metallic. Made of Aramid

Google it.

Not sure if they ship to Norway

ryansbmw · 01-14-2019, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5 MAN

No

If you wanted black coated rotors look for Stop Tech or Brakenetic. And use EBC brake pads, non-metallic. Made of Aramid

Google it.

Not sure if they ship to Norway

Zimmerman rotors are definitely coated. Ive used Zimmerman on my E39 and my dads E60 and haven't experienced any rust on the hubs.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...nn-34116886478

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...nn-34216793247

omgboost · 01-14-2019, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Svaen

Yeah, I’m gonna go for something else than Bosch this time, hopefully that’ll do the trick. Are the Zimmermann disc’s hub coated? I don’t want discs with hubs that get rusty.

Yes, they are coated, with zinc I think.

This is the break in procedure I used when I installed the pads and rotors
https://www.zeckhausen.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=6446_6443&fbclid=IwAR1Ly-T3_YEfr_DkNDBtYG0zAvmX2Hs7W78I_OGGn2bSQgmQgOzkUnb2 WK0

Svaen · 01-14-2019, 04:12 PM

Thanks to all for your input! I have now ordered EBC Red stuff c pads and Zimmermann rotors, together with repair kits for both calipers.
Gonna let my local BMW workshop do the work, and make them check the front suspension components and the wheel alignment at the same time, just to be on the safe side.

01-11-2019, 02:12 PM	#1
Svaen Enlisted Member 6 Rep 48 Posts Drives: ‘11 X5 30D M-sport Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	Shaky steering wheel when braking, despite «new» Bosch brake discs Hi all. About 10000 miles ago, I noticed vibration in the steering wheel when braking, so I replaced the brake discs and pads with new Bosch pads and discs. So about 5000 miles ago, the same problem occoured again. Same procedure, I replaced the brakes with new Bosch pads and discs. And now, the problem is back again. So over to my question; Are Bosch brake parts crap? Of course, they are cheaper than OEM, but not as cheap as China parts. I can’t say that something obvious with my driving could cause the discs to get wobbly. Pretty tired of changing front brake parts now.
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01-12-2019, 01:53 PM	#2
X5 MAN Lieutenant 78 Rep 491 Posts Drives: 2011X5 50iM-Sport;2016X3 35i M Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	It could be bad tires, bad wheel alignment, poor wheel balancing
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01-12-2019, 02:45 PM	#3
omgboost Lieutenant 56 Rep 415 Posts Drives: 2012 X5 35i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	Did it temporarily did the problem and then came back again?
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01-12-2019, 06:35 PM	#4
ryansbmw Lieutenant 176 Rep 546 Posts Drives: 2013 X5 35i M-Sport, 2010 535x Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	Could be the calipers themselves or suspension components as well. Have you gotten the car up on a lift to take a look at it? __________________ VRSF CP & DP \| BMS Intake \| MHD 2+ Tune \| BavSound Stage 1 \| 20% Tint Need coding or modules reset? PM me
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01-12-2019, 09:06 PM	#5
racermp Major 190 Rep 937 Posts Drives: F30 330i Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (1)	Thrust arm bushings. Try centric rotors
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01-13-2019, 08:32 AM	#8
Poppyboy Captain 194 Rep 828 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 3.5i w/ SA Package Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Lincolnshire, IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 1976 Triumph TR6 [10.00] 1993 Bentley Turbo R [10.00] 2011 X5 [10.00]	Are all bolts and lugs torqued to spec? Overtorqued bolts and lugs can warp rotors and cause other problems. Also, were the pads bedded-in according to procedure? That’s often still a thing. Last edited by Poppyboy; 01-13-2019 at 08:34 AM.. Reason: Typo
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01-13-2019, 08:44 AM	#9
ryansbmw Lieutenant 176 Rep 546 Posts Drives: 2013 X5 35i M-Sport, 2010 535x Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	Are your calipers sliding freely? If one is frozen, that very well can cause warped rotors. Ask me how I know __________________ VRSF CP & DP \| BMS Intake \| MHD 2+ Tune \| BavSound Stage 1 \| 20% Tint Need coding or modules reset? PM me
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01-13-2019, 09:44 AM	#10
Svaen Enlisted Member 6 Rep 48 Posts Drives: ‘11 X5 30D M-sport Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	I had both front lower arms replaced in the suspension for about 9000 miles ago, and had the wheel alignment checked in this case. So that shouldn’t be the reason. (?) The gliders and pistons on both calipers are sliding like a hot knife in butter, and I always clean the hub accurately before installing new rotors. Both times, I bolted the caliper and brake rotor screw back on with correct torque. The new brakes also got a gentle use the first miles, before normal use.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2019, 10:14 AM	#11
TwinSnailz First Lieutenant 75 Rep 357 Posts Drives: 2011 X5//M Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: IL iTrader: (0)	Whats the brake pad material(metallic,semi-metallic,ceramic,etc)?
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01-13-2019, 10:56 AM	#13
TwinSnailz First Lieutenant 75 Rep 357 Posts Drives: 2011 X5//M Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: IL iTrader: (0)	Try jacking up the front wheels and turning it. If you hear uneven scraping noise then your rotors are warped. Or if you can see your rotors have a section of unshiny area which is where the pads have no contact with rotors. The old saying” being gentle to the brakes at first” has been reverse nowadays. You need to do multiple aggressive braking to bed the pads in.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2019, 07:44 PM	#14
smass Lieutenant Colonel 398 Rep 1,578 Posts Drives: 06 325i - 10 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Scottsdale, AZ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 E90 335i [0.00] 2016 F15 35i [0.00] 2003 E53 3.0 [0.00] 2006 E90 325i [0.00]	I had that happen to my last set of OE brakes. I had created hot spots on the rotors by keeping the disks clamped at stops when they were hot. I was towing a boat back then. After some spirited driving the rotors are now fine with 50k miles on them. I now inch forward at stops when I know things are hot.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-14-2019, 09:26 AM	#16
omgboost Lieutenant 56 Rep 415 Posts Drives: 2012 X5 35i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	Maybe try non Bosch brake rotors? I've been using Zimmermann rotors for a few thousand miles now and haven't noticed any issues.
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01-14-2019, 12:24 PM	#18
POS_BMW New Member 3 Rep 5 Posts Drives: X5 35D Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	I had vibration at 50 and shakes when lightly on the brake. It turned out to be sticky caliper. I rebuilt it using 12 bucks kit from FCP. One way to find out if you have sticky caliper is to measure the temperature of the rotors.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-14-2019, 04:12 PM	#22
Svaen Enlisted Member 6 Rep 48 Posts Drives: ‘11 X5 30D M-sport Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	Thanks to all for your input! I have now ordered EBC Red stuff c pads and Zimmermann rotors, together with repair kits for both calipers. Gonna let my local BMW workshop do the work, and make them check the front suspension components and the wheel alignment at the same time, just to be on the safe side.
	Appreciate 0 Quote