Owning a car is a big responsibility. There is a lot of maintenance involved in keeping a car running for years to come. There are so many components to cars, though, that any small change in its performance can have you guessing where the problem is coming from. Any small issue can bring you a list of possible root causes. If your car is shaking when you brake, you could be wondering where the problem is coming from, and how serious it is.
Why does my car shake when braking? Just like any other car problem, there are a few different reasons your car could be shaking when you brake. The most common reason this happens is because of “out of round” brake rotors. It could also be worn out brake pads causing the issue, but you are more likely to hear some screeching accompanied by the vibrating if it is your pads.
Along with worn-out brake rotors and pads, there are a few other common roots to feeling your car shake when you brake. A proper working braking system is one of the most important parts of your car. If your brakes aren’t working properly, you could be putting yourself and other drivers at risk of an accident. It is important to keep an eye on these small changes with your car and getting them checked out as soon as they appear.
Why Does My Car Shake When Braking?
If you own a car, chances are you will have to replace different parts of it throughout the time you own it, especially if you are someone that does a lot of driving. Regardless, brakes are just one of those things that have to be replaced every year or so, and that’s just regular maintenance. If you are driving a little harder on your brakes, you may notice them wearing down quicker than other drivers.
The environment you drive in also plays a part in what could be causing your car to shake when you are braking. It may not be your brakes at all. Below are some of the most common reasons your car could be shaking when you brake.
Brake rotors:
Your brake discs or brake rotors will wear over time, but the real kicker is that they tend to wear down unevenly. This uneven, worn surface is what causes shaking feelings many people describe feeling through their steering wheel or even the brake pedal itself. If this is the case, you are really only likely to feel vibrating when you brake. It will not be apparent when you accelerate.
It is more noticeable if you have to quickly stop after driving at high speeds. You are also more likely to feel this steering wheel vibration if it is your front rotors, making it more difficult to distinguish when your back rotors start to go bad. Chances are, you may not notice your back rotors until your front rotors start to go bad as well. This is something you want to avoid, though, because replacing all four rotors at once can get a little pricey.
If this type of shaking sounds like what your car is doing, then you have one of two options. You can replace your brake rotors and call it a day, or you can try to resurface the ones you have first. Resurfacing them will save you a little money until you have to replace them eventually, but if you do this and it still doesn’t fix the problem, then you will find yourself replacing the rotors anyway.
Brake pads:
Likewise, if your brake rotors are uneven and worn down, it could be causing your brake pads to stick unevenly and wearing them down at different rates as well. As a result, you will feel this shaking through the brake pedal and steering wheel. It is relatively easy to see if your brake pads are worn down, though. This is something you can see just by looking at the outside of your wheels.
Your brake pads will be visible from this view, making it easier to tell when they need to be replaced. That said, along with your brake rotors, this is something you will want to fix right away. The only option for worn-out brake pads is to replace them. Replacing brake pads and brake rotors at the same time will definitely rack up a nice bill. Unfortunately, if it is your brake rotors that are going bad, then chances are your pads will also need replaced.
The key is to get the problem looked at before you start to hear screeching accompanied by the shaking. It is when you start to hear screeching that you know it is most likely your rotors as well as your brake pads. Regardless, brakes are not something to hold out on because it is a major safety hazard to everyone on the road if your brakes go neglected for too long.
Alignment issues:
This is a relatively easy fix and is something that can be avoided entirely with a regular rotation of your tires. A good rule of thumb is to get your tires rotated every other time you get your oil changed. Doing this will ensure that your car stays in alignment, and you will not notice any shaking as a result. That said, if your car is out of alignment, there will be some other symptoms you will notice along with a vibration while you brake.
If your car is out of alignment, it may also be pulling to one side while you are driving. Not only this, but you may also notice some shaking while you accelerate. Common reasons your car could be out of alignment, even with regular tire rotation, could be your driving conditions. If you are someone that is constantly driving in an area with bad roads and a lot of potholes, you may need to get your tires rotated more often than most.
A bent rim:
Another issue resulting in a shaking of your car while you brake is a bent rim. This is another problem that arises from less than ideal driving conditions. Do you remember accidentally hitting a big pothole recently? Your car could be shaking as a result. For the most part, this is something that is harder to do because the tire acts as a cushion to keep the rim from smacking the concrete.
That said, if you drive a sports car with smaller wheels, you are at a higher risk of acquiring a bent rim from a pothole. Unfortunately, this is not the cheapest fix in the world, especially if you are someone that drives a sports car. However, if this is the reason your car is shaking while you brake, you can also feel some lopsidedness while driving. Particularly are extremely slow speeds.
A good way to test this out to know for sure is to let your car coast down a smooth road. Start from a complete stop, and then let go of the brake and let your car roll. If your car feels uneven during this, then it is most likely because you have a bent rim.
There are a few different reasons why your car could be shaking while you brake, but most of the reasons are also accompanied by other symptoms as well. That is why it is so important to pay attention to every little change in your car’s driving performance. Then, when you take your car to a mechanic, they can properly diagnose what is going on in a timely fashion and hopefully get you fixed up with a cheaper bill as a result.