A car is a great thing to have, seeing that it makes life easier for you. However, there are situations in which your car can be a concern. Say, for instance, when your car shakes while braking. Few things can be as annoying as when you need to pull up at a stop sign, and your car starts shaking.
Beyond the embarrassment of driving a shaking car, there are the risks of driving a car that shakes when you brake. There is also the risk of serious car damage if the underlying issues are not diagnosed and addressed.
One thing is clear, though. There is something wrong when you notice that your car shakes when you brake. This article explains why this happens and provides guidance on how to solve the problem. It will also provide answers to some questions you might have about the situation. Have a great read!
What Causes Car Shaking When Braking?
Here’s where we look at the reasons why your car shakes when braking and accelerating. But first, let’s look at how your car’s brake system works.
How Your Car’s Brakes Work
Although there are two main types of brakes on most current vehicles, disc brakes are the more common type used in cars today. Here’s a quick view of how they work.
In disc brake systems, a metal disc (also known as a rotor) is coupled to your car’s wheel. Each rotor is fitted with a caliper that clinches the rotor and allows the rotor and wheel to rotate freely. When you push the brake pedal, the pressure forces the hydraulic fluid to slow the wheel by bringing the brake pad into contact with the rotor. The more pressure you apply to the brake pedal, the tighter the brake pad clamps the rotor.
Drum brake systems feature a hollow metal drum attached to the wheel, with shoes situated within it. With this system, when you push the brake pedal, hydraulic pressure forces the shoes to apply friction to the drum, which stops the wheel from rotating under the applied pressure. So why does your car shake when braking?
Read Also: Noise When Braking at Low Speed
Why Your Car Shakes When You Brake
Regardless of type, brake systems are composed of several components that work together. Whenever any of these components fail or wear out, the brake system is affected. When you notice your car shaking when you brake, the first step is to identify the root of the problem. The best way to go about that is to understand what could go wrong. For example, why does your car shake when braking slowly? That said, here are some of the reasons why your car shakes when you brake:
Issues with the Braking Rotors
This occurs in vehicles with disc brake systems that require rotors. Damaged or warped rotors are often the cause of this driving experience. The thing is, the only way your car slows down is through the action of the brake pads on the rotors. After a period of consistent pressure on the brake pedal, the rotors begin to wear. In other situations, the heat generated by friction between these components can cause the rotor to warp over time.
Another cause of rotor issues is inactivity. That is why cars that have been out of use for a while tend to shake when the brakes are applied. This is because the rotor area under the brake pad corrodes easily, acting like a warped or worn rotor. So when your car has a warped rotor, the car will shake when you apply the brakes because the metal is no longer straight. Imbalanced brake rotors can also cause your car to shake when you brake.
Stuck Brake Calipers
When you press the pedal, the brake calipers press the brake pads against the rotors, which pumps brake fluid through the brake lines. The brake fluid then generates the hydraulic pressure that forces the caliper to press the brake pads. Stuck brake calipers will fail to press the brake pads against the rotors, causing the car to vibrate when you brake. This is because you will be applying uneven pressure when pressing a caliper that is not clinching the rotor. You might also notice a bad smell if the problem is with the calipers.
Worn Brake Pads or Drum Brakes
Brake pads have a life span regardless of how careful you are. One way or the other, after a while, it will wear out-the average brake pad is designed to last a few thousand miles.
When the brake pad wears out, you will experience some shaking when you apply the brakes. This shaking is caused by the metal tab on the brake pad. You also experience shaking when you hit the brakes if the car’s wheel drums are unevenly worn.
Wheel Alignment Issues
Your car’s alignment could also be causing it to shake when you hit the brakes, especially at high speeds. It is a common cause of car shaking when braking at high speeds, not rotors. You can confirm this by driving your car at high speed without steering it (for a few seconds, only when it is safe to do so). If the car continues moving in a straight line, wheel alignment issues are not the cause of the vibration. However, any change in direction indicates that the car has alignment issues that might be the reason for the car shaking when you brake.
Tire Problems
Tire problems are another primary reason for your car shaking when you hit the brakes. Take worn tires and deflated or poorly pumped tires, for example. In any of these situations, you might notice your car shaking when braking at high speeds.
Trapped Air
If air gets trapped in a brake line, it creates uneven pressure that will spread across the brake calipers and pads. This could also cause your car to shake when you apply the brakes.
Now You Know
You might be wondering what’s next now that you know what causes car shaking when braking. You might even have asked the question, “How do I stop my car shaking when I brake?” both offline and online. Hold your horses. The answer to that question is a few paragraphs away.
How Do I Stop My Car Shaking When I Brake
So, what do you do when your car shakes when braking and stops? First off, you must know that there are different ways to fix the problem.
You might want to get a seasoned technician to help you with it. This is where you take your car to a trusted auto mechanic so an accurate diagnosis can be performed. That way, you will ascertain what the problem is, whether it is the rotor or the brake pads or shoes, among other things.
The other option would be the DIY approach. However, you must note that the DIY approach is not for the uninitiated. You should have some experience and the right tools before trying to resolve the issue yourself. It would be best if you were also sure about which component requires repair or replacement. That said, here is how you go about it:
Remove the wheel after taking off the bolts that secure it. After taking off the wheel, you can then repair/replace the following components:
Brake Rotors
After taking off the wheel, you come face-to-face with the brake rotor. Start by removing the caliper. To do this, you will need to compress the brake caliper piston. Try to get between the brakes and carefully pull with a screwdriver or pry bar. You then remove the upper and lower bolts after taking the caliper out of the way. If your car has an ABS sensor, you might want to remove it so that it does not get in the way. Also, ensure the rotor is not hanging from the brake line, as it could damage the line.
The next step would be to remove the bolts that secure the caliper bracket using an impact bar or a breaker bar, as they might be extra-stuck due to the lock-tight applied to them. You might want to use some penetrating oil, clean the old lock thoroughly, and apply a new one before putting the bolts back.
After removing the rotor, you might want to machine or replace it, depending on the extent of the damage.
Guide Pins and Brake Pads
You could change the guide pins if they need to be changed. Note that there are rubber boots that hold the guide pins in place. Remove the guide pins, and if they don’t need to be replaced, you can clean them. Before returning them, make sure you use the specified grease.
To replace the brake pads, start by cleaning the piston cups if the pads come with adhesive backing. Your brake pads might come with metal clips above and below. If they do, ensure that you replace them too. Be sure the tabs are on the piston side of the caliper.
After repairing or replacing the necessary components, you then follow the same process you took to get off the wheel.
You might need to perform minor repairs or replace some braking system components. This means that resolving the issue could cost anything between $50 to a few thousand dollars. It all depends on the extent of work that needs to be done and the labor costs involved(diagnosis, inspection, and repair/replacement).
Now you know what to do if your car shakes when stopped. You can get more information by watching this video.
FAQS
Q: Is It Bad If My Car Shakes When I Brake?
Yes, it is. Your car shakes when you brake because something is wrong with one of the numerous systems that work in tandem to keep your car functioning optimally. Some of the issues that can cause your vehicle to shake include bad brake rotors, poorly lubricated guide pins, worn-out brake pads, and wheel alignment issues. Any of these issues could quickly escalate if not addressed promptly.
Q: Can Wheel Alignment Cause Vibration When Braking?
Yes, it most definitely can. When your car’s wheels are poorly aligned, they do not move in sync, causing your vehicle to vibrate when you step on the brakes. The vibration is often accompanied by squealing sounds when the poorly aligned wheels rub against the brake pads. Ensure you check your wheel alignment whenever you notice your car vibrating while braking.
Q: Why Does My Steering Wheel Shake When I Brake At High Speeds?
There are several reasons your car shakes when you brake at high speeds or when braking downhill. Here they are:
Damaged Brake Pads: Damaged brake pads may not clamp the rotors firmly enough, causing your car to shake when you brake at high speeds.
Dry Guide Pins: Poorly lubricated guide pins can cause the brake pads to press the rotor at the wrong angle, leading to vibrations.
Warped Rotors: When your car’s rotors are not in good working condition, their movement can cause the vehicle to vibrate when you brake at high speeds.
Q: Is It Safe To Drive When Your Car Is Shaking? Top of Form
No, it is not. Besides the fact that a shaking car can be quite frustrating and uncomfortable for you and others in the vehicle, it is an abnormality that should be fixed ASAP. Regardless of the speed at which it occurs, it is best not to continue driving if your car shakes while braking or accelerating. It is not a safe situation.
A shaking car might not pose a dangerous situation right away. But you risk a crash or damage to parts of the car if you do not address the issue as soon as possible.
Q: Why Is My Car Pulsating?
Your car is pulsating for several reasons. The primary reasons your vehicle is pulsating are wheel alignment and tire issues. Things like poorly fastened lug nuts, damaged wheels, poorly balanced tires, and tires with separated tire treads can make your car pulsate. Another reason is when your car’s suspension or steering system components are loose. Your car pulsates when these components are misaligned.
Broken or loose engine/transmission mounts, axle issues, and bad brake rotors can also cause your car to pulsate. When you notice your vehicle pulsating, your best bet is to have a mechanic inspect it to determine exactly what is causing it.
Final Words
You probably found this article because you ran an internet search using the query “car squeak when I brake“. If you’ve read the article this far, you probably have some answers. Identifying why your car shakes when braking and accelerating is great, but you might want to have a technician check it. This is because an experienced technician should quickly diagnose the reason for your car shaking when you brake.
Thankfully, resolving brake-related issues is relatively inexpensive and can be handled quickly. That said, once you notice that your car shakes when braking, you must do something about it as soon as you can.
