Castor Bushes to stop shake

[anonymousmoose]

I'm getting a steering wheel shake when I break. Its not related to my other issue which I've posted about in the past.

I think I need my castor bushes done. Suspension guy I spoke to says this is common on the type of car. Got quoted $375 (thats in WA). I booked it in 2 days from now.

Do you guys think a shake when breaking could be the castor bushes?

[chargedvx6]

Nah, castor bushes will pull the car to a side. Shimmy is usually front rotors being warped. These cars are renowned for it. If they are warped, don't bother machining them because they will warp again after a couple of firm stops. New rotors and pads are the way to go and make sure the rotors are surgically clean when they go in so they don't pick up and sediment

[daniel555]

Rotors may need to be machined.

Fixed me up.

[Villan_au]

I'm getting a steering wheel shake when I break. Its not related to my other issue which I've posted about in the past.

I think I need my castor bushes done. Suspension guy I spoke to says this is common on the type of car. Got quoted $375 (thats in WA). I booked it in 2 days from now.

Do you guys think a shake when breaking could be the castor bushes?

[/I]
Its your rotors and if your getting your castor bushes done get the lower control arms done at the same time would cost about $30 more

[greenacc]

caster rod bushes can also make a load clunk when yo brake hard - caused by the slack in the worn bush.

[anonymousmoose]

I find that I notice it more when I break in a straight line. When I break going around a corner I dont feel the shake [as much]. Also, if I use the breaks frequently, I think its worse when when I dont break much. Example, I notice it more when I am in stand-stop traffice then when I am cruzing and need to break less often.

[dah_man_ben]

Mate that would be the rotors... My VY berlina was doing it, got em machined, no problems. My dads old VY berlina also did it and got machined a couple of times to fix it. My step dads VY exec had it and got machined. Our VT has never done it but iv'e heard its heaps common on VYs and from experience I'd say I beleive that.

[daniel555]

Yeah, Rotors for sure, Get em machined and it'll be all good.

[anonymousmoose]

Getting it checked tomorrow. Holden replace the entire brakes and rotors about 5 months ago. Drove only about 10,000km since then. Do you guys think I can claim it on the service warranty?

Also, is it worth still getting the Castor Bushes done? My suspension guy said its can improve things. I also find handling (steering) the WK is a bitch.

[anonymousmoose]

Well I got the castor bushes replaced with ajustable ones but it didnt fix the problem. I was going to get charged $375 but I got them for $215 because it didnt fix the issue.

He says the breaks are next to look at or the steering rack. We put on a set of rims with tyres he had in the workshop and this didnt have any effect on the problem. So its not the tyres/rims.

[daniel555]

Its the rotors for the 4th time.

[chargedvx6]

Yes the 5th time now and do not get them machined, get new ones. It's simple science, once a metal has been fatigued (read warped rotors) then all the machining in the world won't reverse that fatigue.

New rotors, nothing fancy, just plenty of meat and a lighter foot on the brake pedal. These cars stock brakes can only handle 2-3 heavy short stabs on the brakes befroe even the best condition rotor will warp

[cpbait]

i had my discs machined on my vy and about 5-10,000k later i got a steering wheel wobble, i thought tie rod ends, replaced them, didn't work, it wasn't till i did my sisters brakes and had the same problem bedding in her brakes that i pulled mine of and replaced them, was like brand new again, get a new set of rotors and pads, go back to holden and see what they say, you may have to pay for them as long as there's no big heat spots you might be ok.

my brakes were and are slotted but same thing.

[anonymousmoose]

Its the rotors for the 4th time.

What kinda annoyed me is that I told the guy this could be the problem but he said its the castor bushes. I even offered him to take it for a drive before he started work but he declined. After he did the castors we both took a drive and he said 'oh your steering wheel is shaking... I thought it was the whole car vibrating' How many times did I have to tell him its the steering. Oh well, at least he gave me the trade price and halved his labour fee.

The guys says instead of machining the rotors it better to get new pads rotors etc. He will give me trade pricing and half his labour fee. About $400 for both front ones.

I dont think he is a bad guy and he genuinely was sorry for misunderstanding.

[anonymousmoose]

... as long as there's no big heat spots you might be ok.

my brakes were and are slotted but same thing.

No spots on my breaks. Checked.

[daniel555]

What kinda annoyed me is that I told the guy this could be the problem but he said its the castor bushes. I even offered him to take it for a drive before he started work but he declined. After he did the castors we both took a drive and he said 'oh your steering wheel is shaking... I thought it was the whole car vibrating' How many times did I have to tell him its the steering. Oh well, at least he gave me the trade price and halved his labour fee.

The guys says instead of machining the rotors it better to get new pads rotors etc. He will give me trade pricing and half his labour fee. About $400 for both front ones.

I dont think he is a bad guy and he genuinely was sorry for misunderstanding.

Lol, Annouying.

Oh well, Hope the rotors fix it up mate.

[anonymousmoose]

I got my car serviced this week and the breaks machined. Car no longer shakes when breaking. $130 for the machining by my mechanic in Joondalup (not the same guy I mentioned above).

Still got the shudder at 100km/h when cruzing but I'm used to it now. I will investigate this further when its time for new tyres.

[jazza15]

Did you get the oil filled castor bushes or the urethene ones? I'd hope urethene.
The new castor bushes should have dulled down the shaking. They have in my car, something is causing it at around 100 km/h, but the new urethene castor bushes have dulled it down.
They aren't a waste of money and it's good that he put them in cheap for you, when they weren't completely necessary to replace, but probably still a worthwhile service item.

[TMM]

I don't blame the guy for thinking it was the bushes. I had the exact same problem as you (except it usually only happened on badly cambered/rough roads), replaced my caster/radius rod bushes and that fixed it completely . Plus it's worth replacing them just for the increased steering response.

[danja]

$215 is a good price to get both caster bushes fitted, I wouldn't be too upset with that, even if it didn't solve your shaking problem

[ashbox]

Still got the shudder at 100km/h when cruzing but I'm used to it now. I will investigate this further when its time for new tyres.

that would be a wheel alignment/balance job.

[180sc]

i had the same problem and simply changed pads and it fixed it for another 40,000k untill i replaced all 4 rotors and pads.

[anonymousmoose]

Ok all fixed. I had the pads machined and its smooth now. But getting the castor bushes replaced also didnt hurt. They are now the adjustable ones not the simple crap holden puts in.