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Chevy Cobalt Steering Wheel Shakes When Braking

Why does my car and steering wheel shake when I brake?

If your steering wheel shakes a lot while you’re braking, that could mean that your rotors are out of round. In other words, the rotors have started to wear out, lose their shape, and become warped. Alternatively, the problem could be because of the brake pads.

Why does my Chevy shake when I brake?

The most common reason a car trembles when braking is your brake rotors being warped. Old brake rotors are thin, and damage-prone. One sign you need to replace them is your car shaking when braking. If the shaking sensation is felt mostly in your brake pedal, it’s caused by excessive heat due to warped rotors.

Will an alignment fix shaking when braking?

While a shaking steering wheel is a common sign of alignment troubles, these vehicle issues carry other revealing signs: Consistent Shaking: Alignment issues will cause constant vehicle vibration, no matter whether you are braking, accelerating, or maintaining a consistent speed.

Why does my car shake when braking suddenly?

Why a Car Shakes When Braking In a vehicle with disc brakes, the most likely cause of shaking is a warped or otherwise damaged rotor. Warping can be a consequence of normal wear. The repeated application of the brake pad onto the rotor will wear away the rotor material in that contact area.

Why does my steering wheel shake when I brake downhill?

1. The Brake Rotors Are Unevenly Worn. For instance, a portion of the brake pads might not be able to contact a section of the rotors that are warped inwards. You’d notice this if the steering wheel shakes when braking downhill, or when you’re slowing down from highway speeds.

Can a bad brake caliper cause vibration when braking?

The vibrations can range from mild to violent. Brake shudder can be caused by a number of things including damaged rotors, malfunctioning calipers, or new brake pads that have not been properly broken in after replacement.

What causes Chevy shake?

Bostick alleges that the “Chevy Shake” is caused by a faulty aluminum driveshaft. The aluminum driveshaft allegedly causes such violent shaking that drivers lose control of their vehicles.

Can bad struts cause vibration when braking?

In some cases, worn suspension components can cause a shaking while braking. 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.

Can a bad strut mount cause vibration when braking?

Even if you don’t notice it, your passengers may complain about the rough ride. You may also feel strange vibrations in the steering wheel or hear disturbing clunks when your brake or steer if the shocks and struts are worn.

What do Unbalanced tires feel like?

Balancing also contributes to ride comfort: Imbalanced tires will wobble or hop up and down, which causes vibration. If a front tire isn’t properly balanced you’ll likely feel vibration in the steering wheel. If the problem is in the rear the tremor will be noticeable in the seat or floor.

How do I stop my car shaking when I brake?

An auto mechanic may be able to adjust, shim or resurface the rotors to compensate for the unevenness, but replacing them is a surer bet, and a relatively easy DIY job for those comfortable under the hood, too. And, some mechanics recommend that you always replace rotors and brake pads at the same time.

Can out of balance tires cause vibration when braking?

The most common reason for a car to shake is related to tires. If the tires are out of balance then the steering wheel can shake. If your steering wheel shakes while you are braking then the problem could be caused by “out of round” brake rotors. This vibration can also be felt through your brake pedal.

What can cause steering wheel to shake while driving?

Over time, road turbulence, rough driving, and other hazards can throw off this alignment—causing one or more of your wheels to rest at a skewed angle. Even slight alignment issues can cause steering wheel shaking or vibrations. A quick wheel alignment service can address this issue and its symptoms.

What years are affected by the Chevy shake?

The following vehicles have been known to be affected by the Chevy Shake and may be covered by California’s Lemon Laws for their defective 8-speed transmissions: 2014–2019 Chevrolet Silverado. 2017–2019 Chevrolet Colorado. 2015–2019 Chevrolet Corvette. 2016–2019 Chevrolet Camaro. 2015 – 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe.

Does a steel driveshaft fix the Chevy shake?

According to the two plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit, the aluminum driveshafts cause severe vibrations that cause drivers to lose control of the vehicles. The class action says owners have replaced the aluminum driveshafts with custom-made steel driveshafts which completely fixed the problem.

What vehicles are affected by the Chevy shake?

Affected Chevy Shake vehicles may include: Chevy Silverado 2014-Present. Chevy Tahoe 2015-Present. Chevy Suburban 2015-Present. GMC Sierra 2014-Present. GMC Yukon/Yukon XL 2015-Present. Cadillac Escalade 2015-Present. Cadillac Escalade ESV 2015-Present.

What are Chevy shakes?

The “Chevy shake” is a disturbing vehicle defect, which results in extreme vibrations in the vehicle’s steering system, suspension, and vehicle as a whole at high speeds (65-80 mph). Drivers describe the condition as a terrifying and uncontrollable vibration throughout the vehicle.

What causes front end wobble?

It is important to understand that there is no single problem that causes death wobble. Rather, any combination of things, such as tire balance, loose bolts, worn bushings, bad alignment, and even tire pressure can trigger the condition. Correcting death wobble is often a slow and meticulous process of elimination.