Chrysler Repair: wobbling steering wheel, disc brake rotor, brake calipers


Question
My car is a 2001 Chrysler 300m and ever since I' have had my brakes replaced my cars steering wheel wobbles. Originally this happened just before the brakes needed to be changed but that was not the case this happends every time I apply the brakes.  

Answer
Hi Jeanne,
Usually this sort of wobble in the steering wheel and maybe also pulsing of the brake pedal when you apply the brakes is due to the disc brake rotor(s) being slightly warped. The brake shop repair person should have inspected the rotors at the time the pads were changed and at that time removed the rotor(s) and had them machined (turned) so as to be flat on a lathe. Look at your receipt and see if that service was charged to you or not. In any case, I believe that is the source of pulsations/wobbles in the front end, particularly if the frequency of wobble seems to be once for each full rotation of the road wheels. The rotors are rubbing on the new pads (maybe even when you aren't using your brakes) due to their not being "true" (flat).
Let me know if you have any questions and also tell me what happens with pursuing this resolution if you choose to follow it. If the mechanic didn't find the rotor problem and didn't suggest that the rotors be "turned" on a lathe, then they should do it now and only charge you for doing the "turning", and not charge you for the labor of taking off the brake calipers again, because they should have done it right the first time.
Roland