Courtesy CDJR of Superstition Springs
If you’ve noticed that your vehicle quivers when you apply brakes, there are several potential culprits. Today, we’re going to examine the three main possibilities of why your car is shaking when you brake on Queen Creek streets. We’ll also address why your brakes may be squeaking. We’ll also address possible causes of shaking that have nothing to do with your brake system. Take a moment to learn how to diagnose these issues. Then, if you find you require assistance, explore our service specials, reach out to Courtesy CDJR of Superstition Springs for help in Mesa.
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.
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 Apache Junction or Tempe, 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.
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.
Another possible reason your car trembles when braking could be your tires. If yourtires 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 Tempe 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.
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.
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 Courtesy CDJR of Superstition Springs near Queen Creek right away.
Now that we’ve answered the questions, “Why does my car shake when I brake?” and “Why are my brakes squeaking?”, if you have remaining questions about identifying why your car shakes or your brake squeaks, or you’d like our experts to inspect your vehicle, diagnose, and fix whatever issues it’s having, give us a call. Our phone number is 480-418-5715. We can get right to the bottom of the problem and fix it affordable, efficiently and effectively, so you can return to your Tempe commute with peace-of-mind. In the meantime, take a moment to explore some of our other helpful guides, such as our overview of how often to change your oil and how often to rotate your tires!
