Thank you so much

1998 Honda Accord 4cyl with 117K miles.

I changed the front rotor and pads brakes two years ago. I purchase brembo new parts. My wife drives hills everyday to UCLA and back home.

When I press the brakes, I see and feel the steering wheel shaking. I can feel it on the brake pedal as well. The brake pedals are not squishy and I changed the fluids a year ago.

Can the rotors be warped? If so, how can I tell? Can it be the calipers not releasing and making the rotors warp?

Many thanks...love to learn.

 

I'd just replace the rotors. as far as i know there is no way to check for warped rotors....at home or by simple eye inspection.

And im pretty sure if the calipers were sticking, your steering wheel would be pulling to one side or another. OR check the brake pads for uneven wear.

 

More than likely the rotor's got warped. Take them and have them turned or have the runout checked on them to see. Turning them is fairly cheap, id just go with that and see if it makes a difference, if not you got refreshed rotors and youi can start looking elsewhere, more than likely 99% chances are its the problem though.

 

warped rotors forsure!

 

Thanks everyone for your diagnosis. I'm in at Las Vegas visiting family today.

I'm honestly surprised the rotors can be warped. I thought I purchased the best rotors out in the market. These are brembos and I did not think it would warp so easily. With the wife driving the hills, Im not sure what brand to get in order to avoid this from happening as so quickly. Meanwhile, I asked her to keep her driving style. She drives a stick. I asked her not to downshift, but instead use her brakes. It is cheaper and easier to replace brakes that a clutch and an engine.

If you have any advise how we can avoid this, I would love to hear it. Better brand rotors? Many thanks again.

 

Rotors don't really warp. Read this, it explains what actually happens: http://www.babcox.com/editorial/bf/bf100326.htm

Sorry, but geting the best rotors that money can buy doesn't mean you will not have break problems -- there is more to it than just rotors... For example you might have hit a large enought pothole at high enough speed, and now your hub has a runout which is small enough to not affect the drivability in any way, yet large enought to cause an unvenen rotor wear and eventual break problems. Read the article.

 

on accords, dont you have to turn the rotor on the hub?

Also, could be your tie rod ends or rack&pinion, not only your brake rotors. lift the car off the ground, grab the tire at 9 and 3 oclock, and push in and out. See if the wheel shakes or has any play.