I just got back from a road trip, and I noticed when I braked normally at high speeds (usually over 60 mph) my steering wheel would vibrate, like the brakes where grabbing. And I wasn't braking hard enough to engage the ABS. Also, occasionally at lower speeds I hear squeaking when I brake.

Do I need new brakes? I have an '03 WRX sedan with about 55k miles. Thanks.

 

The high speed vibration is a sign of warped rotors that comes from overheating and/or elements. Mine did this for a while and it eventually "wore off," but most people will suggest to get them turned. It just depends how bad it shakes. If it's terrible, I'd turn them or replace them. If not, just drive it...it's not gonna hurt anything.

The low speed squeaking is either your "squeakers," or wear bars, dragging, reminding you to replace your pads, or it may just be foreign material stuck between the pad and the rotor (dust, water, etc.) that will wear off eventually. You can check by running your fingers on the rotor itself, and if you have grooves, both the pads and the rotors will need replacing. If there are no grooves and you still may think that it's your pads, you'll haveto take off the wheel and check it.

 

Hey, one other thing to note is where you were braking at. If you happened to be braking in an area that is not the smoothest ground (some of our freeways like 680 South through Sunol Grade), then while you were braking, it could have been your tires grabbing the road and following grooves in the road while braking.

Like Slvrsubywgn said though, depends on how much vibration you are receiving. If it is a little, probably not bad. I just replaced my stock brakes (have about 54K on my brakes and they still had over half the pad material left on them), so the OEM brakes do last quite a while for the WRX's.



Tim
'03 WRX Sedan WRB