Why Does My Car Shake When Braking?

Does your vehicle start to quiver when you come to a stop? There could be several explanations. Whether you feel it in the steering wheel or brake pedal on your Seguin commute, you will want to figure out the answer to your question, “Why does my car shake when braking?” In the following guide, our service department at San Antonio Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM will go over the three most common reasons. 

Brake Service/Attention is Needed 

1. You’re Braking Too Hard

Sometimes, it’s impossible to avoid slamming on the brakes, but hard braking shouldn’t be common. If you’re hearing your brakes make a squeaking noise while driving, the first thing you should do is go for a simple, familiar drive, roll your windows down, and listen for the squeak if you brake softly and bring the vehicle to a slow stop. 

2. Your Rotors Are Rusty

Even if your rotors aren’t damaged to the point of repair, they can still show some wear and tear. Typically, that’s in the form of rust, although there can also be other debris that sticks to your rotors. When your brakes are squeaking while driving around Seguin or Boerne, it could be the brake pad clamping down and scraping that rust or debris against the rotor. This is a problem that can easily be fixed and rarely requires new rotors.

3. You Need New Brake Pads

Brake pads need replacing every 40,000 miles or so, on average, but materials and driving habits can impact how long they last. While you don’t have a brake pad gauge on your dash or an easy way to see how thin they are without getting down and staring at your wheels, modern brake pads are built with a wear indicator. In most cases, this is a metal strip that squeaks or squeals when it makes contact with your rotor. This way, you’ll know if you need new brake pads even if you’re at 20,000 or 30,000 miles.

Tire Service is Needed 

Another possible reason your car trembles when braking could be your tires. If your tires are out of alignment or just a bit old, your suspension has to work extra hard to keep everything balanced. Hitting a pothole or curb in Boerne could alter your alignment. You can feel this struggle in your steering wheel.

Tire alignment is usually checked during a routine tire rotation, which should be performed every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.Check your owner’s manual for optimal tire service intervals.

Steering & Suspension Issues 

If there is an issue with your steering or suspension systems, chances are you will feel shaking not only when braking, but during regular driving as well. Yet there are cases when a damaged part, such as an axle shaft, can cause an issue specifically when coming to a stop. 

When you have your vehicle in for oil changes or tire rotations, it’s smart to request a general vehicle inspection as well. During the inspection all of your vehicle’s vital systems, including steering and suspension, will be checked. If there’s an issue, your service tech can let you know so you can act proactively.

How to Fix a Wobbling Car

Because there are so many different reasons why your car may be wobbling, it’s important to have your vehicle checked by a professional mechanic to find the exact problem. Your brakes, especially, are not something to mess with, so if you suspect an issue, you should schedule service with San Antonio Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM near New Braunfuls right away. 

Ask Our Service Department to Learn More!

If you have any more questions, feel free to contact our service department online or call us directly at 210-405-1562! Our technicians have many years of experience, so they can figure out what’s going on with your CDJR vehicle. Be sure to check out our MOPAR® service specials to save on your next visit.