So I'm having a bit of an issue with the steering on my b5. Its a 1.8t tiptronic. For starters, I replaced front wheel bearings last week (rears done about 6 months ago), front brakes this past weekend (calipers, pads, rotors), rear brakes last night (pads & rotors), 4 new tires a month ago.

Theres a massive vibration coming from I believe to be the rear pass side, not completely positive tho, to the point where the car car kinda "shimmies" while Im driving. Its not too bad until I get up to about 40mph, but getting there seems to be tough as its almost like something is holding me back. And its almost impossible to keep the car straight at speed, which is why its been sitting in my driveway since last week. The vibration is kinda like a wheel bearing sound, but it doesnt get any higher pitched, just plain louder and it doesnt change with loading either side.

I plan on doing the rear calipers this weekend, they dont seem to be frozen but for peace of mind with ruling out the problems. I can't figure it out.

While I was in there last night, I noticed the upper control arm (?) looked like it may have a shot bushing (or missing one) on the rear pass side.


Never really dealt with control arms before, so I'm not sure if I'm heading in the right direction with this?
Thanks for the help.

Ill attempt to get a video up of the sound either late tonight or tomorrow after work.

 

Almost sounds like stuck brake pads. If the issue is coming from the back of the car, you'll feel it in the driver and passenger seats. If the issue is from the front of the car, you'll feel the steering wheel vibrate.

Did you "turn in" the rear brake pads? I haven't changed rear brake pads on my B5 but every other car required this process. I assume the B5 does too.

 

Ok by that method then its def the rear, nothing from the steering wheel. Rotors are brand spanking new, not even 20 miles on them, pads also...

 

Did you screw in the rear brake pistons as far as they would go before installing the new pads?

 

Until it stopped. Completely in. New calipers should be in tomorrow so I'm gonna replace those too, just trying to get some opinions on it...

 

So the new calipers arrived, will be installing them tonight. Like I said before, I already installed pads/rotors on the rear, have only put about 60 miles on them, and this is what they look like now:

drivers side



passenger side (one with the problem, i believe)



Would a stuck caliper cause the rust/ugliness on the rotor?