why is my BMW 3 Series F30/F31 (2012-2019) steering wheel shaking when I brake?

Solution

1. Preparation

• Gather tools and parts needed for the repair.
• Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
• Disconnect the battery for safety.

2. Remove Wheel

• Sub-steps:
  1. Loosen lug nuts slightly while the vehicle is on the ground.
  2. Raise the vehicle with a jack and secure it with jack stands.
  3. Completely remove the lug nuts and wheel.

3. Inspect and Replace Brake Rotors (if warped)

• Sub-steps:
  1. Remove the caliper by unscrewing the caliper bolts with a socket wrench.
  2. Hang the caliper using a bungee cord or similar to avoid straining the brake line.
  3. Remove the brake pads from the caliper bracket.
  4. Remove the caliper bracket by unscrewing the bracket bolts.
  5. Measure rotor runout using a dial indicator; if warping is detected, remove the rotor.
  6. Replace with new rotors, ensuring proper torque (typically 70-90 ft-lbs) on the rotor screws.

4. Replace Brake Pads

• Sub-steps:
  1. Install new brake pads into the caliper bracket.
  2. Compress the brake caliper piston using a brake caliper tool to allow for new pad thickness.
  3. Reattach the caliper over the new pads and secure it with caliper bolts (torque to manufacturer specification).

5. Reassemble Wheel

• Sub-steps:
  1. Reattach the wheel and hand-tighten lug nuts.
  2. Lower the vehicle from the jack stands.
  3. Torque the lug nuts to the specified value (typically 80-100 ft-lbs).

6. Final Checks

• Reconnect the battery and perform a test drive to ensure the shaking has been resolved.