Car Shakes When Braking? Top Causes & Fixes

Car shakes when braking? It’s a common but alarming issue that could point to serious safety concerns. Driving at 60 miles per hour and suddenly feeling your vehicle tremble as you press the brake pedal can be nerve-wracking. In this blog, you’ll learn everything you need to know about why your car shakes when braking — so you can visit your mechanic fully informed and avoid costly surprises.

Important Symptoms and Signs

Before one can start fixing the symptoms and signs, there needs to be a thorough check and understanding of the symptoms. Let’s break down the possible reasons your brakes shake the car and one of the scenarios you might be experiencing-

Number 1 Scenario: The Steering wheel is very wobbly when braking, and when one gets to a higher speed, the steering wheel starts to shake.

Number 2 Scenario: When one is driving the car, it starts to jerk and lead to stopping in the middle of the road. You might also experience extreme vibrations that will carry through the driving.  

Number 3 Scenario: General vibration occurs, and Braking causes the car to shake.

Number 4 Scenario: General constant vibration in your steering wheel when Braking.

Your car might suffer from multiple scenarios or just one in place.

Also read: An Ultimate Brake Pads Guide: For the Newbies and Pros

Common Reasons Why A Car Starts Shaking

The number 1 scenario is likened to worn-out tires, or it is possible that you last had your tires balanced a long time ago. The issue of car shaking when braking at high speeds is often linked to tire issues.

It might be time to replace and get new tires or get balancing done to ensure this problem becomes a thing of the past.

The number 2 scenario is linked to Issues with Brake Rotors, and if you are not clear what brake rotors are, don’t worry. Here is a handy explanation-

What Are Brake Rotors?

They are the tiny disks in the centre of their wheel and play a key component in Braking. Essentially, they create a lot of friction along the brake pads to ensure that your car slows down at high speeds, bringing the vehicle to a halt.

One might have noticed massive disks made of titanium or other sturdy metal in sports cars or bikes. The bigger the size of these roasters, the better the Braking is; without them, it is impossible to break.

The brake rotors may get worn out of shape, causing the car to shake vigorously when baking. It might be time to get your Brake Rotors checked and replaced immediately.

The number 3 scenario- The way a car brakes requires two significant components to cause friction: the brake pad and the rotors.

In The brake pad gaps, a lot of dust can get stuck, leading to braking issues. They can also get worn out, which could be why your car is braking and shaking the car. 

The number 4 scenario- The brake callipers are the mechanical items that push the brake pads onto the pads to ensure breaking occurs. The callipers have corroded, and subsequently, no proper force is applied to the Braking, making the car shake vigorously.

The most common reasons are linked to the fact that there is some severe issue in the braking system or the wheel of the vehicle.

Also read: Car Gearbox Repair: Signs That You Need to Visit Auto Gearbox Specialist

More Uncommon Reasons Why A Car Starts Shaking

While the previous issues are far more common and less extensive, other problems can be more complicated and require an excellent, affordable Car Brake shake Service. Let’s review some of the more extensive repair work scenarios and the techniques to resolve them.

The suspension system is out of alignment- Suspension is one of the most crucial components of the car and goes through a lot of stress through the bumps on the road. The suspension systems can be quite sprawling, having many components like-

• Bushings
• Arms
• Joints
• Springs
• Bars
• Linkages
• Shock absorbers
• Struts

All these items can be worn out over time and must be replaced. Other times, a loose nut bolt or one of the items getting lost can severely dampen the braking system.

Brake fluid issues- Every mechanical item requires constant oiling, especially brakes that face friction and need a better system.

The brake fluid may be low or has become contaminated, leading to the car shaking violently. The brake pads getting worn out could be directly connected to the fluid levels or master cylinder issues.

The Wheel Bearing Issue

This component plays a significant role in ensuring that one can quickly turn their vehicles, and if these get worn out, you will get the number 4 category issues. A person might notice that vibrations can be felt every time one does a turn, which means either replacement or lubrication is required.

Sometimes, you might even hear a grinding noise directly connected to the wheel bearing problems.

Engine Or Transmission Related Problems 

It could be that the engine is misfiring or the transmission is not working correctly, leading to a lot of vibration and increased noise. When one applies brakes to the car, the vibrations can increase dramatically, and in such a scenario, a professional car mechanic is the best help one can get.

This issue is noticeable and leads to car shaking when braking at slow speeds.  

Is There Any DIY Solution To Your Problems?

One completely understands the need to DIY as it is; first of all a great way to ensure that one is learning and saves a lot of time and money for the person. However, it is sometimes best to stick to professional help and let them do their job.

When it comes to the issues of worn-out tires, this is something that one can do themselves; however, even their tire rotation should be done in the hands of a professional. Braking is such an essential component of safety and security that one should take charge of it only if one is fully knowledgeable or experienced.

We do not recommend any DIY solutions.

Also read: Misaligned Steering Wheel: How to Align a Car Steering Wheels?

How To Better Avoid This Issue In Future.

Depending on the uncovered symptoms, you might have to change how you care for the car and how your maintenance process is lacking. Follow these general points to ensure that you never have to face such an issue in the future-

Drive carefully and relax- Overspeeding and then braking hard or driving too fast on an uneven road. There are many ways a person drives can lead to the quality of the brakes, wheel and other aspects getting worn out. Keep your eyes on the road and constantly check the tire pressure, rotation and braking system.

Deeper cleaning of your car- People frequently clean their cars very surface-levelly and do not focus on the tiny crevices. Dust and debris can keep getting collected, causing braking car shakes and severe corrosion, leading to brake failure.

Better Braking and tire materials- At times, there are better ways to go about things than the stock and the cheapest option. Especially when it comes to the safety of passengers, one needs to install high-level quality brakes and try to ensure that they can be used for a long time.

Maintenance routine- Always go to a reliable car mechanic and get the car checked consistently in a routine manner rather than waiting for the issues to show up.

The brake faults often show up slightly, can go unnoticed, and suddenly cause a severe breakdown.

Always maintaining a solid routine is the key to living a breakdown-free life. 

FAQ( Frequently Answered Questions) 

Q1. What Is The Most Common Cause Of Vibration In A Vehicle?
Ans: The most common reason for vibration is a degradation of the Braking system or tires of the car.

Q2. Why Is My Car Shaking At 80 Mph?
Ans: ​​If your car shakes when braking at high speeds, the most common culprit could be tire issues that must be checked.

Q3. Is It Okay If My Car Vibrates?
Ans: It entirely depends upon the amount of shaking itself. It is okay if it is more of a regular engine vibration, but if it is vigorous, you might need to check the car.

Q4. Why Does My Car Shake When I Brake?
Ans4: It is possible that your brakes are nearing the end of life, and it might be time to get them replaced as soon as possible.

Q5. Can Bad Spark Plugs Cause Cars To Shake?
Ans: A lousy spark plug could cause uneven burn in the car and could be why the car is shaking so much. You will notice an increase in idle vibration or an increase overall.

Conclusion

You have now learned everything there is to know about dealing with the issues of car shakes when braking. Regarding car safety and security, one should take it incredibly seriously and get work done by the best possible car mechanics at a decent price.

With the knowledge imparted here, you can talk to the mechanic more in-depth and catch up on the technical know-how to repair the car. Furthermore, one can avoid such issues in the future or detect them early by asking for Car Brake shake Service.

Ensure you get a thorough check done at Acton Service Centre when dealing with the issues and perform regular maintenance regularly.