April 28, 2022
If you’re not talented enough to diagnose a vehicle immediately, you will probably have to distinguish the inherent problem through the removal method. In this way, a variety of probable culprits can be eliminated. Even though doing it can be exhausting.
If your car is shaking while you’re driving, a skilled technician can pinpoint the cause of the problem. A further possibility is that a faulty rotor or out-of-round drum is to blame for the shaking while the vehicle is braking.
There are many factors why your car is shaking, and it is necessary to address the problem before it becomes a bigger issue. Continue reading this article if you want to find out more.
The Major Causes Why a Car Shakes When Braking
Warped Brake Rotors
When it comes to cars with disc brakes, the most frequent cause of the shaking is warping or malfunctioning rotors due to the heat released by the friction between the brake pad and the rotor. It could be the most probable reason if your vehicle shakes while braking.
The expert car repair or car repair services can replenish warping brake rotors and restore them. Please note that the rotor may be vulnerable to further warping even after this regeneration and repair process.
Dry Guide Pins
If you find that your steering wheel shakes as you come to a full stop, it may be due to dry guide pins. They are an integral component of the brake calipers and are accountable for directing the brake pad to the rotor when pressing the brakes. Its pins have to be clean and well-lubricated to function correctly. The brake pads may force the rotor down at an incorrect angle, or the caliper clampdown if rusted or dry.
For information on whether you have dry guide pins, contact a repair shop since the caliper must be detached, checked as well as lubricated. In order to fix this problem, caliper housing, as well as handling high-temperature grease, is also known to have a role.
Stuck Brake Caliper
Whether the rotor is clamped or opened, when you press the brake and put unequal pressure on the rotors, a brake caliper may stick and make your car shake.
Issues of Alignment
If you break at speeds over 50 miles per hour, you may have alignment issues and feel your car shaking. Try driving your car around 50 and 55 mph if there are no other vehicles nearby. Next up, remove your hands from the steering wheel for a few seconds, and keep them close in case of an accident as you are trying to figure out whether the vehicle is slightly moving to the left or right.
If your car has no problems with alignment, it should drive straight. Nevertheless, if your vehicle does begin to drift to the left or right, it will require a careful inspection to find whether you need alignment on two or four of your wheels.
Uneven Brake Rotors
Brake rotors get deformed with time and due to the heat trigger by the friction while braking. When the outer of the rotors wear down, it is common for them to deform unevenly. In order to provide a smooth braking experience, brake pads are designed to make full touch with the rotors. If the rotors are degraded unevenly, when brake pads contact it at specific angles, it will cause vibrations, often when they brake at roadway speeds.
Unbalanced Tires
It is also possible that your tires are a contributing factor to your car shaking while braking. When your tires are poorly inflated or imbalanced in certain spots, your car’s suspension system will work much harder. It may also lead the steering wheel to start shaking, making it difficult to control the vehicle while driving.
When doing a tire rotation, the mechanic will inspect the wheel alignment. It is recommended that you get your tires rotated around 5,000 to 7,500 miles. However, you should check your vehicle’s owner’s handbook to ensure you get the recommended mileage.
Suspension Problems
If you realize that your car rattles mostly when you break and when driving regularly, your suspension may be problematic. Small pebbles and potholes may distort the axle of your vehicle over time and damage the suspension. If your car rattles, particularly while coming to a halt, it may be due to suspension problems.
The constant velocity joint attached with the vehicle’s axle is another component impacted by the axle damage. When the rubber boots protecting the CV joint become broken or packed with dust and debris, the car may wobble. Almost every action on the axle system affects this particular joint.
Bent Wheel Rims
Bent wheel rims may lead your car to drift away while you’re driving, in a similar way as deteriorated or misaligned tires. If you drive over potholes, you have a greater risk of getting a bent rim. You may notice light vibrations from your car while driving at fast speeds with bent rims. When you accelerate, you may notice that the vibrations become intense. Bent rims have an influence on the steering wheel of your car, producing those unwanted vibrations. Getting the rims fixed as soon as possible is crucial to avoid further damages to the vehicle.
Power Steering Issues
When it comes to your car’s power steering system, several components must all work together smoothly for you to make smoother turns. You may have noticed that turning the steering wheel in one direction requires more effort and force. A shaking feeling can be sensed while turning in, especially when you exert too much energy. When this occurs, you may be experiencing a problem with your power steering.
Whether halted, attempt to maneuver again to check if the car then rattles. If you feel shaking even while just turning the steering wheel, then your steering components are most likely to blame. It might be that one of the hoses is leaking!
Corrosion
Corrosion may form in the braking system when your vehicle rests for too long without being driven. Your brake pedal may rattle if the rotor area beneath the brake pad gets rusted.
Any competent car body or brake shop may fix and restore rotors that have accrued corrosion over time. As with warped brake rotors, when it strikes, it may occur again.
Out-of-round drums
It is brakes are those that have an uneven surface. Temperature changes and wear and tear are two factors that may cause variations in thickness. Off-round drums may produce pedal pulsation and vibration whenever you slam on the brakes in vehicles with drum brakes. Another indication when you hit the brake, there is a crumbling sound.
When the brake drum has degraded or has indications of any damages, it can be repaired as long as the quantity of material lost is not considerable. If so, you may have to replace the drum.
Conclusion
If your vehicle rattles when you brake, it is more than simply an inconvenience. It has a negative impact on the handling of your car and makes driving more dangerous. Despite being straightforward to identify and repair at a competent auto shop, it should be a major concern.
There are several possible reasons, but vibrations that you only feel while braking is often triggered by a broken rotor or a drum that has become out of round. Suppose your vehicle shakes when braking; it’s advisable to wander on the side to have it inspected at a trustworthy auto repair shop.
Is Brake Shudder Dangerous?
It has the potential to be such. Brake shudder influences your stopping distance when you are not applying sufficient braking pressure.
Can A Bad Ball Joint Cause Shaking When Braking?
Yes, it is possible. A bad ball joint could produce vibrations, which would be particularly noticeable while braking from a high rate of speed. But the impact might not be as apparent as the more frequent brake problems mentioned above. It’s unlikely that you’re dealing with a bad ball joint if you’re experiencing extreme vibration.