The braking system is one of the most vital parts of your car. Not only does it secure your life, but it also enables you to manage your desired speed and thus enjoy your driving experience. However, some situations are both embracing and cause you to panic, thus not enjoying your drive. For example, imagine driving on a highway enjoying your favorite music with the windows down. Then suddenly, you notice congestion in traffic ahead of you, which necessitates you to stop. However, when you step on the brake pedal, you feel a vibration through your steering wheel or the brake pedal, which startles you. This situation can turn from a joyous afternoon drive to danger very quickly.
The steering wheel or the brake pedal vibration from trying to brake is known as brake judder or a brake shudder. Brake shuddering occurs when your braking system has breaking difficulties and can be dangerous if not addressed.
What Causes Brake Shudder?
Brake shudder might be caused by several things and can range from mild to violent depending on the extent of the damage. You can use the location of the shudder, be it the steering wheel, the suspension, or the brake pad, as a telling sign of where the problem is located. Some of the reasons that could cause your car to vibrate when you break include;
Deteriorating Brake Pad Condition
As you use your car, friction will wear and tear the brake pad with time. And, if your brake pads are not changed and are left in this state, they will eventually cause a disturbance; therefore, if you hear squeaking sounds while braking, which advances to brake shudder. It could mean that you need to replace the brake pads. But, on the other hand, the shudder could be due to oil, dirt, or other contaminants preventing the brake from grasping the rotor effectively.
Uneven Brake Rotors
Wear and tear of brake rotors mainly apply unevenly due to the heat and friction, thus causing them to be uneven. In typical situations, the rotor and the brake pad have complete contact for smooth braking. However, due to uneven wear and tear, one brake pad will only have contact with the rotor in certain areas, thus producing the brake shudder, especially at high speeds.
Wheel Alignment Issues
Unaligned wheels cause premature damage to critical suspension components. Thus, the suspension components such as ball joints, tie rods, and wheel bearings wear out. Consequently, the braking experience is affected, resulting in brake shudders.
What Is The Best Solution to Brake Shudders?
When you notice that your car has a tremor when braking, no matter how minor, it is crucial to get it checked out by a qualified auto repair mechanic. A mechanic will be able to isolate the problem and fix it before it gets worse or causes more damage.