Why my steering wheel vibrates when braking at high speed

I do not feel the vibration on the brake pedal though. I do acknowledge that in general it is the rotor that causes this vibration, and my rotors and pads were replaced very recent. I suppose I might have to inspect my tie rods bushings as well as the front end suspension bushings

You don't have to feel it in your brake pedal. If it shakes your steering wheel rhythmically only upon brake application, it is 100% brake rotor related. And, I go back to fluid change and ensuring new brake rotors off the shelf are not out of round in the first place. Because they are often stored wrong at parts warehouses, they can come out of the box slightly warped and require a light resurface. A rhythmic steering shake on brake application is in no way shape or form ever related to steering or suspension components. They are entirely unable to create a rhythmic vibration that is characteristic of a brake rotor issue.

Ok great., now I can reassure myself that it is indeed the rotors that are warped. And it’s odd that I had just replaced them not too long ago. And it is only on this make and model that I had experienced this issue with the rotors being warped so quickly, and I never really thought that to torque the lug nuts or to change the brake fluid every couple of years had mattered. I will do the brake fluid change and torque the lug nuts ., I believe that it’s 100 pounds?...

Torque SEQUENCE is just as important as torque value! Tighten lugs partially in a star pattern - then finish torquing to specs in same manner. ✔️ 100 ft lbs is correct final torque value. (Of course all of this is after rotor runout has been checked / corrected) Good luck with the outcome - whatever it may be!

Thank you

FYI: Improper wheel lug nut torque // torque sequence is the most common cause for disc brakes rotor warpage .. Often the proper methods aren’t used even by personnel with some experience that simply do not take the time to do it right.. Seems everyone is in a hurry.

Although I agree with lug nut torque being important, I respectfully disagree about this being the most common cause. Historically speaking, there is an extreme neglect to brake fluid. Brake fluid simply must be changed every 2-3 years, as being hydroscopic inherently, it attracts moisture lowering the boiling point of the brake fluid and increasing the risk and likelihood of brake system overheating. When overheating occurs, rotors warp. Far more often than lug nut torque issues. Many vehicle manufacturers don't even list brake fluid replacement as a maintenance requirement. I spent 20 years at Ford related dealerships and can say for sure that Ford is one of those manufacturers. As a result, the F Series trucks, vans, Expeditions, Explorers and even minivans of the past, all of which are heavier vehicles and provide a greater amount of stress on braking systems -- and all of which are vehicles that are often used to carry or tow heavy items additionally -- are highly susceptible to brake fluid boiling in the first place. Add moisture that naturally occurs over time and it gets far more common to have rotor vibration. Yes, wheel lug torque and sequence of torquing should be systematic and proper. But I'm pointing out that brake fluid is way too often overlooked, and I can tell you on this Explorer that this writer has, the likelihood that the brake fluid has ever been changed is almost nil. So, you have a 4 year old Ford Explorer in New York which is an environment loaded with moisture and humidity in the first place that has brake fluid highly compromised on a vehicle that is a bit top heavy and can be easily loaded down and stressed, driving in a frequent stop and start environment that can also cause brake fluid overheating... Not knocking the lug torque recommendation, but definitely asserting that it's not the most common cause of brake vibration.