When And How To Fix Shaking Brakes In Dayton, Ohio

Fresh pads and rotors installed on a mini cooper at Jamie's Tire & Service

Why Cars Shake When Braking and How to Fix It

If you are experiencing a shaking in your steering wheel, pedal, or the whole vehicle, it is often a sign of brakes that are worn or damaged and not functioning properly. Breaks naturally wear out over time, and when they are worn past their limits, there are several signs that it’s time to replace them. Inspecting brake pads regularly will help avoid more severe symptoms, but if you notice a shaking or vibration in your pedal, it’s best to schedule a brake inspection to have the problem diagnosed. In this article, we will look at the causes of brake vibrations and how to fix them.

The Most Common Reasons Your Car Shakes When Braking

Warped Or Worn Brake Rotors

Warped brake rotors are one of the top causes for shaking when it comes to the brake system. Excessive heat, hard braking, and rotors going through hot and cold cycles are several reasons rotors warp. If your driving style involves heavy, aggressive braking, this can put additional stress on all components of your brake system, but especially your rotors. Hard stops generate heat quickly, which then cools and can lead to warped rotors. Other factors like towing, driving in hilly terrain, or stop and go driving like rush hour or city driving can also lead to warping.

Less common causes of warped rotors

Two less common causes of warped rotors are pad imprinting and sticking calipers. Sudden, hard braking followed by holding the brake pedal down affects how the rotor cools where it contacts the pad, and can lead to imprinting and warping. Sticking calipers also harm rotors, introducing more friction and heat which can ultimately lead to failure, especially on thinner rotors.

Worn Out Brake Pads

Worn out brake pads can lead to increased wear on your brake rotors. When the friction material is completely worn out, leaving only the metal backing plate, the brakes do not function properly, and will generate more heat than usual. This also causes excessive wear in the rotors, which can lead to shaking feelings in the pedal.

Is It Safe To Drive When Your Car Is Shaking?

When your car shakes while driving or braking, it is important to have it inspected. These symptoms are often signs of problems growing that should be addressed to ensure you and your passengers are safe on the road. Brakes are a critical safety system in your car, and when they begin to wear out or stop functioning properly, it puts others at risk. Brake inspections are a simple, inexpensive way to ensure that problems are addressed and your vehicle functions properly.

How To Prevent Brake Vibrations

The best way to prevent brake vibrations is routine checks of the braking system. At Jamie’s Tire & Service, we believe the best way to keep your brake system in check is to inspect it with each tire rotation, or at least every 6 months or 6,000 miles. This is also the ideal service interval for tire rotations, and checking the brakes while the wheels are off means we’ll get the chance to inspect them for no additional charge. Replacing brake pads and rotors when the pads reach 2mm of friction material thickness can help prevent other components like the rotors from warping, helping keep your brakes smooth and your car safe.

How To Fix Shaking Brakes

If your brakes have started shaking, it’s time to have them inspected, and likely time to have them replaced. Brake replacement is a normal part of automotive maintenance, and is typically needed every 25,000 to 65,000 miles depending on the vehicle, application, and driving style. IF there are other components like calipers or hoses contributing to the problem, it’s also important to replace them at the time of service. An experienced mechanic will be able to inspect each piece of your braking system and determine what needs replaced and what is working properly.

Where To Get Shaking Brakes Fixed

Most full-service auto repair centers, including our 7 Jamie’s Tire & Service locations in and around Dayton are equipped to handle brake repairs. Most brake repairs can be completed within a day, and parts are readily available. Jamie’s Tire has been replacing brakes on all makes and models of vehicles for over 50 years since we first opened our doors in 1975. If you’re looking for a quality team of auto mechanics, we’d love to show you why thousands of drivers trust Jamie’s Tire & Service to keep their vehicles brakes working properly.

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