ABS issues

Q My vehicle is a 2008 Renault Laguna MKIII 2.0 DTI. A couple of weeks ago I had to brake heavily from 60mph and the ABS kicked in to stop me from skidding before I came to a stop. Ever since, my steering wheel wobbles when braking between 30-40mph. This has gradually started to ease a little, but at first I thought I had lost a balance weight from a front wheel or warped the discs. Could I have damaged the ABS pump by braking hard? If the wobble goes away by itself, do you think I need to get anything checked out? Alan Poole

A It is difficult to say what may have occurred, but I would not expect any damage to have been done to the ABS pump or system – after all, that is exactly what it is designed for.

As the wobble has started to ease, it may well have been the case that the surface of the brake pad was affected by the hard braking and this is now wearing away. It is also possible the discs were affected, perhaps by a hot spot where the pads were applied when the disc was at rest. Another scenario is that ageing brake fluid, which may contain a high percentage of moisture, has boiled under the heavy braking and higher than normal working temperatures.

Although I do not suspect any serious damage has resulted, brake problems should not be disregarded and I would bleed out the front brakes and visually check the pads for your peace of mind.