When you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, you know your vehicle like the back of your hand. You know what feels normal and what doesn’t. When something is even a little “off” with your brakes, you naturally pay attention.
After all, your brakes are your vehicle’s most important safety feature. To protect yourself, your passengers and everyone you meet on the road, you want to know this will dependably happen every time your foot presses the pedal:
- Hydraulic fluid (aka brake fluid) is pressurized through the master cylinder.
- The pressurized fluid passes through the brake lines and hoses.
- Then the fluid is transmitted equally to the cylinders positioned near the brake assemblies at each wheel.
- This creates friction between brake shoes and disc brake rotors to stop your vehicle.
So, if your car shakes when braking, what’s up? Let’s explain with a little Q&A.
Q: WERE YOU TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN YOU NOTICED YOUR CAR OR STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BRAKING?
A: Worn or unbalanced tires could be the cause. A trained Jiffy LubeÒ technician can let you know if a tire rotation can help solve the problem.
Q: DO YOU NOTICE SHAKING AS YOU PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL?
A: Typically, this means brake service is required. All the components in your vehicle’s braking system must work together to successfully slow or stop your vehicle. If one component is damaged, the whole system may require service.
When you bring your vehicle to Jiffy Lube for brake service, you can count on the technician to explain the problem and answer any questions you may have. At Jiffy Lube, no work will be done without your approval.
Q: DO YOU NOTICE THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BRAKING, AT THE SAME TIME AS THE BRAKE PEDAL SHAKES OR VIBRATES?
A: This is a common problem for vehicles with disc brakes and could indicate a rotor issue. If you’ve never given rotors much thought, you’re not alone! Let’s take a closer look at this important component of a disc braking system.
A rotor is a brake disk. The hydraulic pressure generated when you press the brake pedal squeezes the rotor between the brake calipers and the brake shoes to help slow your vehicle. If the rotor is warped or has a variation in thickness, you may find your vehicle shakes when braking, or the steering wheel could shake, or the brake pedal may pulsate.
Have your brake system checked and, if a damaged rotor is the problem, the part can be replaced. When you bring your vehicle to one of the 2,000 Jiffy Lube locations across North America, you can be confident that technicians will use parts that meet or exceed OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) specifications.
Q: DO YOU HEAR A SQUEAL AS YOUR CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKING?
A: The problem could be your brake shoes. They are considered “normal wear items,” which simply means that they can become worn or damaged due to normal use. When brake shoes are worn below the manufacturer’s specifications, you may hear the telltale squeal and feel a vibration caused by the brake shoes’ wear indicator.
Remember, whenever you have a question about your brakes, the right answer is to bring your car to Jiffy Lube. When something is as important as your brakes, you shouldn’t hesitate to have the problem diagnosed by a service provider you have confidence in. At Jiffy Lube:
- A trained technician will test drive your vehicle.
- The entire braking system will be visually inspected.
- Suspension components, lug nuts and wheel bearings will be checked, too.
- A written report will be prepared for your review and the technician will be happy to go over this evaluation with you.
- Rest assured; any service recommendation will be based on your vehicle manufacturer’s specifications.
- Your vehicle will be test driven again after the brake service.
JIFFY LUBE CAN HELP MAKE EVERY STOP SMOOTHER
The preferred way to deal with brake shakes and vibrations is to prevent them before they start. So don’t wait until you sense something amiss to bring your vehicle in. Have the entire brake system checked once a year (or as often as recommended in your vehicle owner’s manual).
Preventive maintenance makes solid sense. Not only will you roll with more confidence, knowing your brakes are performing to manufacturer specifications, you may save money. It’s more economical to catch a small problem before it turns into a major repair.
READ MORE ABOUT IT
Brake fluid is essential to efficient brake operation. Learn about Jiffy Lube’s brake fluid service here.
Please come back to Tips in a Jiffy often. Experts regularly add interesting content.
Please note: Not all services are offered at all Jiffy Lube locations. Please call ahead or check jiffylube.com to ensure the service is available.
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