Is your car shaking when braking? A rotor that is warped or damaged is the most probable reason for the shaking. Warping can happen as a result of everyday use. The rotor material in that contact area will deteriorate with repeated application of the brake pad to the rotor.
However, the rotor may bend over time due to the heat produced by the pad’s friction with it. It can be a little unsettling to feel your car and the steering wheel shaking, especially when braking. In this article, the answers to the following questions will be discussed:
- Why does your car shakes when braking?
- Is it safe to drive with a car shaking when braking?
- Does your steering wheel shake when braking?
- What should you do when your car shakes when braking?
Ok, let’s get to it.
Contents
Why does your car shakes when braking?
Here are some reasons why your car shakes when braking:
Warped or damaged rotor
The most common why your car shakes when braking is likely a warped, damaged, or worned brake rotor. Brake rotor are situated between the brake pads and are attached to the wheel hub assembly. The friction between the rotor and the squeezing pads aids in vehicle deceleration. These brake rotors may warp, which will cause shaking when you brake.
Read more: Understanding brake shoe
Worn brake pad
It is impossible to avoid brake pad wear over time. Additionally, you can feel vibrations depending on how the rotor or the pads are wearing. It’s probably time for brake servicing if your car shakes when you press the brakes and makes a loud squealing noise in addition.
Read more: Everything you need to know about brake pad thickness
Unbalanced wheels
There is a chance that the wheels will become out of balance, which would cause shaking when you apply the brakes. A balance issue might exist if you drive with the tires either under- or over-inflated.
Your car’s suspension is under more stress in this situation, and the tires are wearing down more quickly than they should. For this reason, routine wheel balancing is required to guarantee a comfortable ride and braking as well.
Wheels alignment issues
You could notice shaking when braking and while doing normal driving when the wheel alignment is off. Unless the road pulls it in a different direction, a vehicle with its wheels aligned should travel in a fairly straight route.
However, you can feel the shaking increase when you apply the brakes if the alignment is causing the car to veer to either side. In order to avoid having to fight so much to stay on the road, it’s crucial to get the wheels aligned.
Suspension issues
If there is an issue with the suspension, your car may also shake while you are driving and braking. The suspension suffers damage as you pass over bumps in the road and other road irregularities. Axle or the CV joint may be having problems. The car is likely to shake when these joints are damaged.
Stuck brake Calipers
The brake pads are pressed against the rotors by your brake calipers. When you apply the brakes, hydraulic brake fluid enters the caliper’s chambers, pressing the caliper piston(s) against the pads and decelerating the rotor. The fluid pressure in the calipers increases as you apply more pressure to the brakes, putting more pressure on the brake pads and rotors.
When you hit the brakes, there may be some vibrations if the caliper or caliper pistons are unable to adequately compress the brake pads against the rotors. Calipers may also become stuck while engaged, preventing the brake pad from releasing the rotor.
Is it safe to drive a car shaking when braking?
Driving a car that shakes when braking is usually not safe. It is not just annoying if your car shakes when braking, It affects the handling of your car and makes driving safely more difficult. Despite being a very simple issue for a qualified auto repair shop to diagnose and fix, it should be regarded as a severe issue.
Read more: Brake rotor replacement cost
Why does your steering wheel shakes when you brake?
It is unsettling to have a shaking steering wheel or car while braking. Unfortunately, not all of the reasons for a shaking steering wheel have to do with your brakes.
You may experience vibrations in your steering wheel or car due to “warped” rotors, a stuck brake caliper, uneven or unbalanced tires, or even suspension issues.
Read more: Reasons why your steering wheel shakes when braking (how to fix the problem)
What can you do when your car shakes when braking?
The braking system is often responsible when a car shakes when applying the brakes. Because of this, you should check the braking system. The brake rotors and pads should be your first point of inspection. Whether or not it stops the shaking, you should replace them if they are worn. The cost to replace the brake pads can range from $150 to $300 per axle.
It’s time to move on to the tires and wheels if you find that there are no issues with the brake system. Since this is the easiest issue to solve, it is good to check the tire pressures first. Fix any underinflated tires before proceeding if there are any. Maintaining the best possible condition of the tires requires routine wheel alignments.
The alignment should be done approximately every 6,000 miles. The price of this maintenance operation could range from $50 to $150, but some businesses package their services together. In addition, wheel balance needs to be done around every 6,000 miles.
The suspension is likely the only other component that could be causing issues if you can’t identify anything wrong with the wheels or brakes. With so many functional components to check, diagnosing suspension issues can be challenging. Axles, CV joints, and other suspension components need to be inspected.
Depending on what needs fixing, you can be looking at a range of expenses in terms of repair costs. The best course of action is to go to your neighborhood auto repair shop if you can’t identify the issue or if you don’t feel competent to handle the diagnosis.
FAQs
How do I stop my car from shaking when I brake?
The rotors may be able to be shimmied, resurfaced, or adjusted by an auto repair to make up for the unevenness, but replacing them is a better option and a reasonably simple DIY job for those accustomed working on cars. Additionally, some professionals advise that you always change your brake pads and rotors at the same time.
Is it bad if my car shakes when I brake?
There may also be vibrations, depending on how the rotor or the pads are wearing. It’s probably time to have your brakes repaired if your vehicle shakes when you hit the brakes and is accompanied by an unpleasant squealing sound.
How much does it cost to fix rotors?
What is the price of replacing the brake rotors and pads? Each rotor might cost anywhere from $30 to $75. It costs between $150 and $200 per axle to replace the rotors and pads. The cost of brake pads and rotors per axle ranges from $250 to $500.
Can low brake fluid cause shaking?
While braking, brake pads can vibrate as well, which indicates that the brake fluid level may be low. If this occurs, you should head to a local auto shop to get technical support before the issue worsens and does unthinkable harm to you and your car.
How come when I brake I feel a wobble?
The condition of your rotors, which is the disc that your brake pad presses against when you apply the brakes, is the main cause of this shaking issue. The rotor’s surfaces can become defective or warp over time, which causes vibration.
Can I just add brake fluid?
You don’t need to add any brake fluid if your brake fluid level is at or above the “MIN” line. Once the reservoir cover has been gently removed, add brake fluid until the level is slightly below the “MAX” line if your fluid level is below the “MIN” line. Avoid overfilling.
What are the signs of low brake fluid?
- Brake warning light comes on.
- Low-quality, filthy, or discolored brake fluid is visible.
- The brake pedal is soft.
- Slowing down a car takes longer than usual.
What happens when brake fluid is low?
Air will enter the gaps in your brake line when the brake fluid level drops, resulting in soft brakes. It can be frightening and dangerous to drive with spongy brake pedals, especially if you don’t have them fixed right away.
How do I know if I need brake fluid?
Typically, brake fluid is a clear, light color. If it isn’t clear or clean, your brake fluid has to be changed since it is dirty. “Full line” should be written on the reservoir’s label. You should replace your brake fluid or top it off if the brake fluid falls below that line.
How often should a brake fluid be changed?
The easiest approach to determine how frequently to change brake fluid is to adhere to your manufacturer’s recommendations. According to certain manufacturers, brake fluid needs to be changed every two years. Others recommend every three years or 45,000 miles.
Can I drive with low brake fluid?
It is possible, but you must promptly refill the brake fluid. Since brakes use hydraulic fluid to operate, they are dependent on it for proper operation. Without brake fluid, your brakes will either fail completely or have an adverse impact.
How long can I go without changing brake fluid?
The time varies depending on the type of vehicle, the conditions you are likely to drive in, and the manufacturer’s recommendations. However, a good rule of thumb is to inspect it every time you change your oil and plan to replace it every four to five years.
That is all for this article, where the answers to the following questions have been discussed:
- Why does your car shakes when braking?
- Is it safe to drive with a car shaking when braking?
- Does your steering wheel shake when braking?
- What should you do when your car shakes when braking?
I hope you learn a lot from the reading. If you do, kindly share it with others. Thanks for reading, see you around!
