You’re driving down the highway going about 55 mph, and you step on the brake, and your car starts vibrating. You take your foot off the brake pad, and the vibration disappears. That is until you try and use the brakes again, and the same thing happens again. You may also feel a pulsation on the brake pedal pushing against your foot. Here are some of the reasons why your car is exhibiting these disconcerting symptoms.

The Tires Could Be the Culprit

Before we blame the brakes, it is essential to rule out tires. Tires commonly cause shaking when braking, especially when driving at high speeds or going downhill. Poor wheel alignment is usually behind the shaking.
If this is the cause, you may need to replace your tires or even invest in wheel alignment, which requires specialized equipment found in repair shops. Check whether your tires have a warranty before paying out of pocket.

The Brakes Could Be the Problem

Most cars use disk brakes on the front or back wheels. These brakes use a metal rotor attached to each wheel. The disk is coupled with the wheel, so they spin in tandem. When braking, the disk will stop spinning, causing the calipers to clamp down and employ friction to stop the vehicle.

After many weeks of use, the brake pads will inevitably cause wear and tear on the rotors causing an uneven surface (warping). It is important to note that rotors can warp from disuse, so if your vehicle has not moved in a while, you may still face this problem. To fix this, you may replace the rotors or have a mechanic adjust for the unevenness using specialized tools.

Is your car giving you trouble when braking? We invite you to bring your vehicle to J&S Automotive today for fast and reliable services.