I'm getting steering wheel vibration under braking. It's not really noticeable during city driving but is pretty bad braking from highway speeds. i would not think it was safe to drive if it got any worse. Please read list of repairs belw before saying warped rotors it does feel similar to warped rotors. No vibration felt durian acceleration or at speed only during deceleration. No noticeable pull left or right braking. maybe extremely slight pull left while driving

Early 2006 r53 ~95000mi started issue around 85k to 90k mi? Hard to tell as it was gradual I think. And don't do much highway the last few year so wouldn't see the problem often. No accident. Don't think it's getting worse

What I've replaced to fix issue in order

1) installed ebc red pads and ebc stock replacement rotors (not cheap off brand stuff) at the same time swapped winter tires and wheels for summer wheels and tires.
*no noticeable reduction in vibration maybe worse (think the 16" winters masked it a little more then 17" summers)

2) replaced front wheel bearings (hubs)
*no noticeable reduction in vibration

3) added m7 strut bar, do believe there is minor mushrooming
*no noticeable reduction in vibration (didn't really expect this to help)

4) replaced upper motor mount (again) it was gushing oil
*no noticeable reduction in vibration (including engine vibe)

5) replaced both rear brake calipers and rear pads (right ebrake mechanism was sticking, bleeder was frozen solid on left).
*no noticeable reduction in vibration (Ebrake works a lot better now, think it was stuck open, pads showed minimal wear, car still has very slight pull left driving)

At risk of tainting results I'm thinking :
A) sticky caliper was warping rotor but it seems unlikely because I think it was sticking open. Should replace rear rotors again
B) front end is getting loaded during braking causing vibe in steering or suspension component?
Of course everything else I've tried has been wrong

 

Vibration when braking could be pads, but more likely warped rotors.

 

While under the car did you look at all the front end bushings to make sure they aren't worn out and causing the shimmy under braking..

 

do your lower control arm bushings... my mini was doing nearly the same thing; had a pulsing / vibration under braking at high speed.

put on powerflex LCAs, and it instantly went away. (this was shortly after a wheel balance, new rotors and pads as well, thought i had crappy rotors (ECS), fortunately it was just the LCA bushings)

 

I did the 'kick test' and a arm bushings are looking bad,,,
Might be why I thought the bearings were bad when I shook the wheel

 

Replacing the bushing looks like quite the undertaking. One YouTube video the shop recomended torching them out for 'easiest' removal
I heard some cars it's easier to replace entire arm. I don't have fancy pullers or presses. Is this a job for the pros or diy

 

Pads or rotors

 

You said you swapped to winter wheels and tires. By chance are they aftermarket wheels and the hi centric ring is missing or not installed ?

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And..............

What have you discovered?

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