Why does my car shake when I brake but not the rotors?
Experiencing a shaking or vibrating sensation when braking can be alarming, especially if you've already ruled out warped rotors as the cause. At Kevin's Autos, with years of experience in car maintenance and repair, we’ve seen this issue countless times. Let’s dive into the possible reasons behind this problem and what you can do to address it.
Common Causes of Car Shaking When Braking
Even if your rotors are in good condition, there are several other components in your braking and suspension systems that could be causing the issue. Here are the most common culprits:
- Uneven Tire Wear: Tires that are worn unevenly or have flat spots can cause vibrations when braking. This is because the tires are not making consistent contact with the road surface.
- Wheel Alignment Issues: Misaligned wheels can lead to uneven braking forces, which may result in shaking or vibrations when you press the brake pedal.
- Loose or Worn Suspension Components: Parts like ball joints, tie rods, or control arm bushings that are loose or worn out can cause instability and vibrations during braking.
- Brake Pad Issues: If your brake pads are worn unevenly, contaminated with oil or grease, or made of low-quality materials, they can cause vibrations when they press against the rotors.
- Hub or Wheel Bearing Problems: A damaged or worn wheel bearing can cause the wheel to wobble slightly, leading to vibrations when braking.
How to Diagnose the Problem
To pinpoint the exact cause of the shaking, follow these steps or consult a professional mechanic:
- Inspect Your Tires: Check for uneven wear, flat spots, or low tire pressure. Rotate or replace tires if necessary.
- Check Wheel Alignment: If your car pulls to one side or the steering feels off, it might be time for a wheel alignment.
- Examine the Suspension: Look for signs of wear or damage in suspension components. This may require a professional inspection.
- Inspect Brake Pads and Calipers: Remove the wheels and check the brake pads for uneven wear or contamination. Ensure the calipers are functioning properly.
- Test for Wheel Bearing Issues: Listen for humming or grinding noises while driving, which could indicate a bad wheel bearing.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you’ve gone through the above steps and still can’t identify the issue, it’s time to bring your car to a trusted auto repair shop. At Kevin's Autos, we specialize in diagnosing and fixing complex braking and suspension problems. Our experienced technicians will ensure your car is safe and smooth to drive again.
Preventing Future Issues
To avoid similar problems in the future, consider these maintenance tips:
- Regularly rotate and balance your tires.
- Schedule routine wheel alignments.
- Inspect your brakes and suspension components during regular maintenance checks.
- Use high-quality brake pads and replace them as needed.
By staying proactive with your car’s maintenance, you can prevent many of the issues that lead to shaking when braking. If you’re in need of expert advice or repairs, don’t hesitate to contact Kevin’s Autos. We’re here to help keep your car running smoothly and safely!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tie rods cause shaking when braking?
This type of steering wheel shaking can be caused by bad tie rod ends, bad ball joints or control arm bushings, worn-out shocks, or a worn-out steering stabilizer.
Can a bad wheel bearing cause vibration when braking?
Yes they can! A badly worn wheel bearing can allow sufficient wobble on the brake rotor/disk to push the brake pads back into the calliper when the brakes are not being applied. This can result in the brakes feeling very spongy, especially on firs...
Is it safe to drive my car if it shakes when I brake?
A shaking car when braking is a serious issue, not just affecting the smoothness of your ride but potentially compromising safety and leading to further vehicle damage. It may indicate problems like worn-out brake rotors, uneven brake pads, suspension issues, damaged wheel bearings, tire problems, or alignment issues.
What do blown struts feel like?
Bouncy ride
Excessive bouncing when you hit a bump can be a signal that your shocks and struts aren't working effectively. Your vehicle should settle after hitting a bump and not continue to bounce. Worn shocks and struts aren't able to effectively absorb road impacts and soften the bump.
How do I fix my car shaking when I brake?
How to fix the shaking issue. First, make sure each of your tires doesn't have any worn parts. If your tires are badly worn, then it's time to change your tires. If your car is vibrating because of the worn brake rotors and pads, take your car to a professional repair shop to have them replaced or fixed.
How to test for a bad wheel bearing?
Fine. Now with the vehicle up off the ground you're going to grab the left and right hand side of the wheel. And give it a little shake. If there's any play or any kind of clunkiness.
Can a bad ball joint cause shaking while braking?
Warped rotors would make the wheel shake in your hands when braking. But you tend not to experience changes in direction all that much. It sounds like under suspension loading your alignment is going out. This can be caused by broken bushings as mentioned below, as well as worn ball joints and tie rod ends.
Can bad struts cause shaking when braking?
Worn suspension components
For example, in a strut-style suspension, the brake rotor mounts to the steering knuckle, which, in turn, mounts to the strut. As such, problems with the strut assembly can cause a shaking while braking.
How to tell if rotors are bad?
Some common symptoms of bad rotors include vibration or pulsation in the steering wheel, high-pitched squealing noise when braking, shaking steering wheel, brake pedal pulsing, vehicle taking a long time to stop, loud bangs while braking, large edges on the outer part of the brake rotor, and scratch marks on the rotor.
How to diagnose a bad ball joint?
Wiggle. It back and forth pushing in and out feeling for any play. When I say play you're gonna feel some type of movement your tires should be solid.
