QA

Question: Front Wheel Wobble When Braking

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. Even if you just got new brakes installed, vibrations while braking is a sign of a serious problem.

Can bad wheel bearing cause shaking when braking?

There is a wheel bearing behind each of your car’s wheels. Because the wheel hub also serves as a mounting spot for the disc brake, a loose wheel bearing can lead to excessive lateral runout. As a result, you may experience a shaking sensation while braking.

Why does my steering wheel shake when I brake at high speeds?

Unevenly-worn or warped brake discs (rotors) can cause the steering wheel to shake when brakes are applied. In most cases this issue is caused by warped or unevenly-worn front brake rotors (discs), although there could be other reasons. Warped or rusted rear drums can also cause brake pedal pulsation.

Can a bad ball joint cause shaking when braking?

Ball Joint Wear A worn out ball joint can cause the steering wheel to vibrate, especially under heavy braking. This is the case when the ball joint has excessive wear. You can hear noise from the front end during braking. If the ball joint has excessive play, your tire is going to move back and forth.

What causes brake wobble?

This refers to the uneven wear of brake discs and is the result of rotor run out. If your brake discs are unevenly worn the brake pads come in contact with the flat spots present in the rotor’s surface which causes the vibration that we call brake shudder.

Can Dirty brake fluid cause shaking?

Poor Brake Pad Condition Similarly, brake pads that are soiled from dirt, oil, or other toxins can cause vibrations as they attempt to grasp the rotor.

How much does it cost to fix a warped rotor?

Like the brake pads, the brake discs can eventually wear out as well. If you want to replace your brake discs then it will cost you between $200 and $400 for the parts and about $150 for the labor. This means you are looking at around $400 to $500 total for a brake rotor replacement job.

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.

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.

Why does my car shake when braking downhill?

When you hit the brakes while traveling downhill, the brake rotors normally heat up. This heat can cause the metal to expand which causes the warpage shaking through the car as your speed reduces.

Can a driveshaft cause vibration when braking?

The root causes of these are usually a wheel, rotor, or driveshaft. If a vibration gets substantially worse while braking, it’s probably an out-of-true brake rotor. But if you’ve ruled out wheels and tires, and you have a rear-wheel-drive car, the next likely source of vibration is the driveshaft.

What is a brake shudder?

Brake shudder (also known as brake judder) is the vibration felt through the steering wheel and suspension when the brakes are applied at certain speeds and pressures. It can vary from a barely noticeable vibration to a violent judder – experienced through either the brake pedal or steering wheel.

Is it OK to drive with warped rotors?

In case you suspect any problem with rotors or that your car’s brakes are failing, avoid driving your vehicle and make a mechanic oppintment right away. Driving with warped rotors will result in a brake system failure, which can cause injury to yourself and those around you.

Can I drive with warped brake rotors?

driving with warped rotors is not considered safe, and the brake rotors can eventually crack or break, leaving the vehicle at an extreme loss of braking power. when brake rotors become warped, the amount of force moving the steering wheel back and forth may be violent, and enough to lose control of the steering wheel.

What are signs of warped rotors?

Warped rotors can cause a squeaking noise when the brakes are applied. They can also make a scraping or grinding sound when they’re warped and worn down. The squealing noise, however, can also be made by brake pads that are worn out.

How much does it cost to balance rotors?

Your rotors can be turned (rotated), machines and still be within factory guidelines, but this usually leaves them thin whereby leaving them to warp or vibrate. The cost for turning a rotor runs anywhere from $15 to $25 per rotor.