Why does my car vibrate when braking?

Steering wheel vibration when braking: main reasons

The safety of the driver and passengers depends on the technical condition of the car. Minor structural damage that causes vibrations in the steering wheel when braking can lead to serious consequences. In most cases, the driver diagnoses the breakdown on his own or goes to a car service center.

The most likely cause of vibration is the condition of the brake discs. But this is not always the case. The culprit may be deformation of the steering racks or the formation of a hernia on one of the wheels.

Why does the steering wheel vibrate when braking?

Before self-diagnosis, you should think about what preceded the appearance of the beating. Has the chassis system been repaired or brake pads replaced? It is worth starting to identify the breakdown with replaced parts. They may be made from low quality materials.

It is also important to consider the experience of the technician who performed the repair. Failure to comply with installation technology leads to increased loads. Not only the replaced part suffers, but also the system as a whole.

Did the steering wheel wobble after driving through puddles or fresh snow? Pay attention to the condition of the brake discs. Temperature changes lead to surface deformation.

Does the steering wheel exhibit a large range of motion and become difficult to hold? With a 99% probability, the problem lies in broken brake discs or improper bleeding of the system. In such a situation, urgent repairs are necessary. The wheels react differently when you press the brake pedal. The likelihood of getting into an accident increases, and driving the car becomes uncomfortable even for an experienced driver.

Reasons for vibrations in the steering wheel:

Wear of brake discs.
Technical condition of the running system.
Hernia or deformation of the wheels.
Nuts not tightened tightly.

Before detecting deformation of the steering rod or wear of the brake disc, you should pay attention to the fastening of the wheels. In most cases, the cause of wobbling is not that they are poorly secured. But if the problem is just one loose nut, then it will be unpleasant to find out after a full repair.

How to detect wear on brake discs?

Before repairing, it is necessary to diagnose the breakdown. Is it just the steering wheel that vibrates? The likely cause is wear of the front brake discs or the system as a whole. Has the brake pedal also changed its behavior? Pay attention to the rear braking system.

The handbrake can be used to determine the malfunction. If the vibration stops when using it, then you should look for a problem in the front brake system. Is there any beat left? Examine the technical condition of the rear brake discs and the system as a whole. The procedure allows you to determine the location of deformed parts.

Next, you should test the wheels or study the appearance of the brake discs. Raise the car on a jack and remove it from gear. If the rear axle is suspected, then the handbrake must be lowered. Spin the wheel. Is the rotation uneven and changing intensity in the same place? The problem has been identified. If the test result is negative, move on to the next wheel.

The appearance of the brake disc says a lot about its technical condition. Noticed cracks, unevenness or chips? Replacement or grooving is required, depending on the situation. The presence of a bluish tint on the surface is a sign of overheating.

When inspecting, pay attention to the brake calipers. It's unlikely, but they can also cause vibrations in the steering wheel.

Read also : Steering wheel vibration at speeds of 100-120 km/h.

How to determine wear of the chassis and other breakdowns?

Is the failure at the front, but the tested discs are in perfect condition? A visual inspection of the chassis system allows you to find a breakdown. Tie rods and ends are likely causes of steering wheel wobble.

It will be difficult for an inexperienced person to notice the deformation of the structure. But if you notice unnatural bends, then the reason for the vibrations becomes clear. In less severe cases, it is necessary to rely on inspection and evaluation of the system as a whole.

A herniated or deformed tire is easily detected visually even by an inexperienced driver. There shouldn't be any problems with this. If there is no visible damage, it will be useful to remove the wheel and examine the surface from the inside.

How to solve the problem with vibrations in the steering wheel?

When brake discs wear out, there are 2 ways to solve the problem. Grooving and replacement. By changing an element of the system, you can forget about the steering wheel beating for a long time. Grooving allows you to get rid of vibrations and keep your budget safe. But the working life of the disk will decrease and a repeat procedure may soon be required.

It is recommended to replace on both sides at the same time. This way you will achieve the best effect and eliminate steering wheel beating.

Deformation of the steering rod, ends, brake calipers - replacement of the part that has become unusable is mandatory. Actions to give the spare part its original technical characteristics are doomed to failure. The effectiveness of such measures is extremely low.

In situations with tire damage, everything depends on the degree of wear and experience of the technician. Often the problem is resolved quickly and without undue burden on the budget.

Why are vibrations in the steering wheel when braking dangerous?

In most cases, the breakdown does not require immediate repair. By eliminating emergency braking, the car can be used even for several years. But there is an increased load on the chassis system, it is important to realize this.

By refusing to make repairs, you may end up having to spend a lot of money in the future. An important aspect is the pleasure derived from driving a car. The vibration of the steering wheel does not allow you to fully enjoy the trip.

The optimal solution in this situation is to carry out repairs if funds are available. The problem does not require urgent replacement of parts. But by constantly postponing repairs, you reduce your comfort and increase its cost.

Read also : Brakes squeak when braking a car - why and what to do?

Video on the topic

The main causes of car shaking when braking

What to do if the car shakes when braking

Sometimes cars shake when braking. And while vibration during braking is easy to fix, you must remember that any problem with a vehicle's braking system is a safety issue. Here's what you need to know and do if you notice your car shaking when you press the brake pedal.

Tires could be to blame

One possible cause of your car shaking when you press the brake pedal, especially at high speeds on the highway or when going downhill, is your vehicle's tires. This is the first thing you should investigate if you feel your car shaking while braking. Moreover, we are not talking about wheel alignment (wheel alignment). For example, if the wheel alignment is correct, when the wheel balancing is off, your car may shake not only when braking, but also when driving at a speed of more than 90 km/h.

So don’t forget about wheel balancing and periodically stop by a tire shop to check it. Especially if you recently flew into a deep hole in the road. The fact is that from time to time wheel balancing can go wrong. For example, if you hit a bump, the balancing weight attached to the wheel may fly off. As a result, the rotation of this wheel may be uncentered, which will lead to the steering wheel wobbling at speed, as well as the car shaking on the road when braking.

A tire mechanic can easily and quickly check wheel balancing and fix the problem. A similar problem can also occur when the tire is damaged or worn out. In this case, you will have to buy a new tire.

Brakes may be the culprit behind car wobbling.

Perhaps the main cause of car shaking when braking, especially at highway speeds, is the braking system itself. Most cars today typically have disc brakes on the front. At the rear, in addition to disc brakes, drum brakes are also still often found (on cheap economy class cars).

Disc brakes are connected to the brake caliper where the brake pads are clamped. When you press the brake pedal, the brake caliper presses the pads against the brake rotor (much like how brakes work on a bicycle). As a result, the wheel begins to slow down, which stops the car. But, alas, nothing lasts forever in this world. It is logical that brake pads and brake discs wear out over time due to friction, temperature changes, etc.

This ultimately leads to uneven wear of the brake discs (the surface of the discs will become uneven). Our driving style also affects the wear of brake discs. For example, if you're a fan of jumping off at traffic lights and braking hard at red lights, you're not only causing your brake pads to wear out quickly, but you're also shortening the life of your brake rotors. Sharp and frequent braking on slopes is especially dangerous, as this causes deformation of the brake discs.

As a result, due to the unevenness of the discs when the brake pads contact when pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle may shake, which is mainly felt in the steering wheel.

There are usually two options: replace the brake discs, which will cost a pretty penny, or repair the discs by having them sharpened, if, of course, their remaining thickness allows this. But if it is possible to buy new brake discs, then it is preferable to do so. If you want to save money, it is easier to purchase non-original wheels. Ideally, of course, the brake discs should be replaced with each brake pad replacement. But, alas, not everyone can afford such a luxury.

Vibration when braking a car: diagnostics on your own

The appearance of vibration during braking is a fairly common malfunction, which is not always easy to diagnose and eliminate. Moreover, this unpleasant phenomenon can occur both during careful operation and after repair of the chassis and brake systems. This problem is often encountered by car owners who have only recently bought a used or even a completely new car off the showroom floor.

The article proposes a simple diagnostic that allows you to identify the possible cause of the problem on your own, without the help of specialists, and eliminate it. Even if the DIY turns out to be difficult and you have to go to a service station, you will probably know exactly what is wrong and what exactly needs to be fixed. This will save a lot of money, since many car mechanics simply make money from uncomprehending car owners by eliminating the problem by imposing additional repairs on perfectly serviceable components, which allegedly also cause vibration during braking.

Diagnostics for vibrations during braking

To begin with, it is advisable to determine the nature of the malfunction. To do this, it is enough to answer the following questions:

Does the vibration only appear when braking, or is it felt in other cases as well?
Is vibration felt in the brake pedal?
Is vibration felt in the steering wheel?
Is there vibration throughout the entire car body?
Does it vibrate more when braking at high or low speeds?
In addition to vibration, do you hear knocking, metallic grinding or squeaking noises when braking?
When braking, does the car pull in one direction or not?
Have any repairs been recently performed on the chassis or brake system?
Have you recently purchased a car and soon began to experience vibration when braking?
Perhaps vibrations during braking appeared after “changing shoes” to winter/summer tires?

In fact, by answering all these questions, you will be able to independently carry out fairly effective diagnostics and identify, without the help of a specialist, the cause of the vibration that appears during braking. The following describes how it works.

Possible causes of vibration when braking

So let's go according to the list above:

If vibrations are felt not only when braking, then the problem is most likely complex and lies in both the brake system and the chassis. Even the wheels of your car may be at fault. How will become clear later.
If vibrations only appear when braking and you feel kickback in the brake pedal, then the problem is in the brakes themselves and, possibly, in the wheels. The remaining components - suspension and steering - can be excluded from the search.
Vibrations in the steering wheel when braking most often indicate wear on the steering tips and problems with the brake pads or discs. Vibration is transmitted to the steering wheel from the brakes through loose parts of the steering mechanism. As a rule, if the tips are worn out, vibration and knocking are felt even without pressing the brake pedal - when hitting bumps, potholes, speed bumps, and so on.
If the car body vibrates when braking, it will be very difficult to diagnose the problem. Such defects indicate not only a faulty brake system, but also serious problems with the suspension.
If vibrations are more pronounced when braking at high speeds, then the brake pads or discs are most likely to blame. If the defect occurs at a relatively low speed, then there may be defects in the tires, unbalanced wheels, or bent rims.
If when braking you not only feel vibrations, but also hear a squeaking or metallic grinding sound, the brake pads (or one of the set) are clearly worn out. The pads have simply worn down to a metal base, and when braking, this metal rubs against the metal of the brake disc or hub.
If there is vibration when braking and the car pulls to one side, this will simplify diagnostics. If you are pulled, for example, to the right when braking, then the brakes on the left side do not work fully. Perhaps the defect should be looked for from this side first.
Quite often, vibrations during braking appear immediately after repair of this unit. There may be several reasons. First, the brake pads were not installed correctly. Secondly, they have not yet gotten used to the brake discs. Thirdly, new pads are installed without diagnosing and repairing the mating part - the brake discs may have significant wear or irregularities that cause vibration during braking.
If you recently bought a completely new car, and soon noticed vibration when braking, then the brake pads simply did not get used to it. As a rule, after 200-300 kilometers the defect disappears on its own. When buying a used car, the nature of the problem is most often the opposite. Vibrations appear just after a run of 200-300 kilometers. Most likely, low-quality parts were installed during the pre-sale preparation of the car, or you were sold it with “breathable” brakes.
If everything was fine before switching to winter or summer tires, then the problem should be found in the wheels. Firstly, you could install other wheels with new tires - bent, burst, and so on. Secondly, you could save on wheel balancing, which can also lead to vibrations during braking. Thirdly, you have not installed new tires, which may have defects - torn cords, hernias, bad tires, and so on.

If all of the above did not help to immediately determine why there is vibration when braking, proceed to direct diagnosis and search for the problem in the garage or in the inspection pit.

Finding and eliminating vibration when braking

Let's go from simple to complex.

To begin, place the car on a flat, hard surface. Remove one wheel at a time and conduct an external inspection of their condition. What to look for? First of all, rubber defects - swelling, uneven wear, incorrect tread pattern geometry. It is a good idea to check and adjust the tire pressure.

Next, inspect the disks. Are there any noticeable damages on them - chips, bumps, unevenness, cracks, and so on. Also, when dismantling, pay attention to the force with which the wheels were screwed to the hubs. If you unscrewed them with great difficulty and using a long lever, the bolts were tightened too tightly. This often leads to deformation of the wheel rims, which can also cause vibration when braking.

Next, inspect the brake system parts:

Are the pads worn out?
Is wear even?
Are they installed correctly?
Are they securely in place?
How badly are the brake discs worn?
Aren't they bent?

If defective brake pads, discs or hubs are identified, replace them with new ones. At the same time, it is recommended to change the parts of this assembly symmetrically - both on the right side and on the left. Otherwise, vibrations and other defects may remain after repair.

If the brakes are fine, check the steering. First of all, this concerns the steering tips. They should not wobble when exposed to them even with noticeable force. Also, with the car stationary, check the play of the steering wheel and the cardan in the steering block. Perhaps the reason for the vibration when braking with feedback to the steering wheel lies there.

Vibrating brakes can also be a sign of worn suspension parts. First of all, you need to check the shock absorbers and ball joints. Wear of these parts may also cause vibration when braking.

In conclusion, it would not be amiss to say that on cars with an ABS system installed, vibrations can occur due to malfunctions of this particular unit. It is quite difficult to diagnose it on your own, therefore, if you suspect that the vibrations are due to ABS, it is better to immediately contact a specialist.

Completion

As can be seen from the above, in many cases it is possible to diagnose the cause of vibration during braking on your own with fairly high accuracy. Even if you don’t want to undertake repairs yourself, by contacting a specialist, you can definitely point out who is “at fault” and avoid additional unjustified expenses.

What to do if vibrations occur when braking

The importance of the braking system in the vehicle complex cannot be overestimated. That is why it is worth closely monitoring the condition of its components and identifying faults in a timely manner.

Causes of vibrations during braking

This symptom often occurs even on new cars and the reasons may be different. This manifests itself in shocks, and, as a rule, they are stronger, the higher the speed at which the braking is carried out. If such vibrations occur, the reason is in the state of the final elements of the system.

Vibration can manifest itself in different ways:

on the steering wheel;
throughout the body;
on the brake pedal.

In most cases, the origin of the problem lies in the brake discs or pads. But there are other options. Moreover, sometimes you have to go through a lot of probabilities before you can eliminate the problem. Main reasons:

defective tires or wheels;
unbalanced wheels;
dirt;
insufficient air pressure in tires;
wear of chassis components;
deformation of the hub itself;
poorly tightened wheel bolts, etc.

Procedure when vibration occurs

Check brake pads and tire pressure

First you need to look at the problem superficially. Sometimes vibration can occur due to a simple hernia on a tire or improper wheel balancing. This point must be checked immediately. Indeed, during the rotation of the wheel, the area with greater gravity will pull the center towards itself, provoking the emergence of centrifugal force.

If the problem is not with the tires or the balancing, it is recommended to check the quality of the components. Often, especially when a car is purchased second-hand, you can find cheap and low-quality components in the brake system that were installed by the previous owner in order to prepare the car for sale at a minimal cost. If you have frankly cheap brake pads and similar elements, it is better to replace them immediately.

The fact is that the material of low-quality brake pads can wear off and remain on the surface of the disc, which slightly changes its thickness, since the distribution is uneven. This also causes vibration when braking. To begin with, you can try removing dirt with a brush. If this does not help, the disc, along with the pads, will have to be replaced.

It is no secret that grinding in brake pads occurs during the first 200 km, during which it is necessary to move measuredly and brake smoothly. If these recommendations are not followed, the friction material on the pads wears unevenly, which can cause vibrations.

If tire pressure is uneven, vibrations can be transmitted to the steering wheel. You need to stop and check the pressure using a pressure gauge.

Check discs for wear and overheating

Overheating/deformation of front brake discs

Despite the fact that the design and execution of modern brake discs allows them to cool quickly enough, during intense braking there is not enough time to remove the heat resulting from friction and the disc overheats.

In this case, blue thermal spots appear on the shiny surface of the disk, and it becomes deformed. Such a defect cannot be corrected and the disk should be replaced immediately. In this case, it is unacceptable to leave the existing brake pads. In this case, they are changed along with the disk.

Owners rarely pay attention to the thickness of brake discs. As a result, the latter become so worn out that they are unable to perform their task. If there are wide edges around the edge, it is recommended to measure the thickness of the disks and compare it with the minimum allowable. It is not uncommon for vibrations to occur due to excessive wear on the disc. If there is a supply, it would not be a bad idea to polish the components by giving them to a professional turner.

In addition, cases of disc deformation are not uncommon on domestic roads. After all, it is enough to drive into a hole at speed once to deform the disc. In addition, it is by no means necessary that the curvature will be noticeable visually - often this is visible only on a special stand. In some cases, the disk can be optimized and aligned, and sometimes it has to be replaced.

Check calipers and hubs

In this case, the rubber cuffs often tear, causing the caliper guides to jam. In this case, you can disassemble them yourself, replace the cuffs and reassemble them.

Video: Vibration and vibrations on the steering wheel

Often the hub itself becomes a source of problems. Moreover, cases may be different. The most common thing is the presence of dirt or traces of corrosion on its surface, which makes it impossible to seat the brake disc tightly. To eliminate vibration, simply clean the seating surfaces.

If the hub is being replaced, you must ask a service technician to inspect its condition with a special indicator. Occasionally, the hub may have defects, which will cause vibration in the future. This hub will have to be replaced. In addition, if you forget to clean the seat from rust, the hub will not become tight.

Some owners tighten the wheel bolts so tightly that the wheel can warp due to excessive stress. This especially often occurs among those who, contrary to the manufacturer’s recommendations, lubricate the wheel bolts and, as a result, overtighten them. In this case, the disc will have to be replaced and the degree of tightening monitored in the future.

In addition, sometimes vibration during braking can be caused by installing universal-type rims, for which special spacers are used. If such a spacer is missing or damaged, the disc will not be able to be centered correctly. If vibration occurs, the wheel will have to be checked with an indicator. In some cases it is necessary to change the wheel.

Check the chassis

Here, vibration during braking can occur due to problems with the tie rod ends. If they noticeably play, they should be replaced immediately, otherwise problems may arise with the steering. Vibrations can also appear in the case of worn-out chassis components - silent blocks, ball joints or wheel bearings. To check the condition of the ball joint, it will be enough to jack up the wheel, grab it from below with one hand and from above with the other, and then shake it. If there is play, the part is worn out and needs to be replaced.

As you can see, vibration during braking can be caused by various reasons - from simple dirt or rust at the contact points, to serious problems with the chassis, braking system or steering, requiring considerable expense.

4 main causes of steering wheel beating and vibration when braking and 2 ways to eliminate them

The safety of passengers and the driver himself largely depends on the technical characteristics and condition of road transport. Even minor damage that causes vibration during braking can have very tragic consequences. To diagnose a breakdown, it is better to contact specialists at a car service center.

Main reasons

First of all, you need to try to find out why there is vibration when braking and what caused the beating. Have the brake pads been changed or the chassis repaired? It is advisable to start diagnosing a fault with new car parts. It is possible that they are made from low quality materials.

You should also take into account the professionalism of the auto mechanic who repaired the car. If the installation diagram is not followed, the system may experience heavy loads. Because of this, not only the brand new part suffers, but the entire system.

Does the steering wheel vibrate when braking, is it difficult to hold it, and has the amplitude increased? The problem most likely lies in incorrect bleeding of the brake system or faulty discs. In this case, you need to immediately begin repairs, since using such a machine is very dangerous. Car wheels will perceive the pressure on the brake pedal differently each time. The risk of an accident increases significantly, and the comfort of using a car deteriorates.

The most common causes of runout when braking are:

worn or deformed brake discs;
breakdowns in the chassis;
poorly screwed nuts;
deformation of the wheels or the formation of a hernia (read also about how side cuts of tires are repaired).

Brake disc wear

This is the most common reason. It also manifests itself in a change in the behavior of the brake pedal.

To diagnose a breakdown, you can use the handbrake. If the vibration disappears when using it, then the breakdown should be looked for in the front brake system. This procedure makes it possible to identify specific faulty parts.

If the reason has not been found, then you need to inspect the brake discs and test the wheels. For this purpose, the car must be jacked up and the gear removed. If you have doubts about the serviceability of the rear axle, you need to release the handbrake and spin the wheel. If it rotates unevenly and changes the intensity of traffic in one area, then the problem has been identified. To find a breakdown, you need to check each wheel in this way.

By the appearance of the design of the brake discs, one can judge their condition and serviceability. If chips, cracks or other defects are found, parts must be sharpened or completely replaced. If a bluish tint was detected on the surface, this is a consequence of overheating of the part. When inspecting the brake system, you need to pay attention to the calipers, as they also often cause the steering wheel to shake when braking.

Other breakdowns

Other reasons are deformation of the tips and problems with the tie rod. Novice motorists often cannot independently identify a breakdown. If there are abnormal folds, the root cause becomes clear even with a visual inspection. One way or another, it is better to entrust the diagnosis to specialists at a car service center, because they have all the necessary equipment and the appropriate skills.

Solution

Before repairing, you need to give the car a specific “diagnosis”. If the brake discs are worn out, there are 2 ways to repair this damage:

By replacing parts of the brake system, you can solve the problem of a vibrating steering wheel completely and permanently. If you turn to grooving, it allows you to save money, but failure may occur again after some time.

It is advisable to change elements on both sides simultaneously. This way you can achieve the maximum effect from the repair and completely eliminate the steering wheel runout. Deformation of the calipers, tips and steering rods requires a complete replacement of the damaged part. All manipulations associated with changing their configuration will not bring any benefit.

Any breakdown of a vehicle requires urgent and high-quality repairs. It is important to understand that all parts, especially in the chassis system, are subject to very significant and constant loads. If you refuse repair work, you may face huge financial costs in the future. In addition, this may affect the safety of the vehicle. Steering wheel vibration also has a detrimental effect on the ease of driving the car.