Why Does My Car Shake When I Brake?

If you’re wondering, “why does my car shake when I brake,” then there’s likely an issue with the braking system. To help you out, we’ll go over the different parts of your brakes to determine how they could be affecting your car’s performance around Santa Fe, White Rock, or La Cienega.

Discover why your car could be shaking and contact us at Land Rover Santa Fe if you have any questions or need brake repair.

Warped Rotors

One reason your car is shaking could be from warped rotors. Braking removes materials from the discs, where the rotors are located. When the rotors get thinner, they’re more susceptible to warping because of the heat that’s generated from braking.

When your car starts to shudder, there may be two ways to solve this issue. If it’s in fact the brake rotors, you’ll want to get them turned over. If they’re too thin, they’ll have to be replaced with brand-new ones.

Sticking Calipers

Brake calipers fit over the rotor like a clamp, and they squeeze the brake pads against the rotor to slow down or stop a car.

If the calipers start to stick, then you may feel a vibration through the steering wheel when traveling around 50 MPH. The faster you go, the worse it’d get, and you’d also smell a burning odor when applying the brakes.

Dry Guide Pins

The guide pins are part of the brake calipers and are what guide the brake pad to the rotor. These pins need to be clean and lubricated to properly do their job. If they become dry or corroded, they could cause the caliper to stick or the brake pads to press down at the wrong angle. Either scenario would result in a vibrating steering wheel.

Worn Brake Pads

When you press down on the brake pedal, a caliper applies pressure to the brake pad, which then clinches down on the rotors.

When brake pads are old, worn, or dirty, they can’t grip the rotor effectively. This would result in your steering wheel shaking whenever you brake.

How to Fix a Shaking Car

If you experience any of the above scenarios, then you’ll want to bring your car to our Land Rover service center for brake repair.

At our state-of-the-art facility, you’ll find a team of highly trained and certified technicians. They have years of experience working on brake systems. Due to their knowledge and expertise, they can determine which part is causing your car to shake.

Our team will complete brake repair in a timely manner. If they need to replace any part of the braking system, they’ll do so using genuine parts. These are the same ones used when the car was first built. This way, you’ll know that they’ll fit correctly and be in top-quality condition.

Schedule Brake Repair Today

Does your car shake when you brake around Santa Fe, White Rock, or La Cienega? Our dedicated service team at Land Rover Santa Fe is happy to help you learn more about potential issues with your braking system and diagnose any serious issues with your vehicle.

Schedule a service appointment online today!