Brakes and steering
Vibration when braking: why the steering wheel or pedal shakes
A vibration in the steering wheel or the pedal when braking, especially from high speed, is usually caused by brake discs with uneven wear or pad deposits. Suspension or steering parts with play can also play a part.
See a garage soonBrakes and steering
Reviewed by Daniel Morales, founder of Reprorace SL, on
Is it serious? Can I keep driving?
Carefully, and only as far as the garage. The car brakes, but the vibration lengthens braking distances and gets worse over time. Have it checked soon and avoid hard braking from high speed in the meantime.
A careful, general answer: only someone who inspects the car can say whether it is safe to drive. When in doubt, stop somewhere safe and call for assistance.
Most likely causes
- Discs with uneven thickness: from strong heating or pad deposits; the most common cause.
- Wheel fitting: bolts tightened unevenly or dirt between the rim and the hub.
- Suspension or steering with play: worn ball joints, bushings or bearings amplify the vibration.
- Tires or rims: a damaged rim or a deformed tire vibrates without braking too.
Listed from more to less common in general; on your car they may be different. A fault-code reading and a check at the garage confirm which one it is.
To understand it better: How often should you run diagnostics on your car? Can I diagnose my car myself?
Car system: Brakes, ABS and ESC
What you can check yourself
Notice whether it only vibrates when braking or also when driving at a certain speed.
See whether the vibration reaches the steering wheel (front axle) or the seat and pedal (more often the rear).
If your wheels were changed recently, have the bolt torque checked.
Safe checks only: with the engine off and cold whenever you look under the hood, without taking anything apart and without touching hot or moving parts.
Related fault codes
This symptom is usually mechanical and does not always store a generic fault code. Even so, reading the faults of every control unit helps to rule out other problems and to reach the garage with data.
How the ECO-LITE helps diagnose it
Plugged into the OBD socket, the ECO-LITE reads the fault codes of the control units that answer, with the freeze-frame data captured when the fault happened, and shows live data on your phone or computer. With your permission, your garage can see them remotely before you bring the car in.
What to look at here: this symptom is mechanical; the reading only rules out ABS or stability control faults.
Frequently asked questions
Why do people say the discs are warped?
It is the usual way to put it, although the disc is not normally bent: it wears unevenly and its thickness varies.
Can the disc be skimmed?
Sometimes, if enough thickness remains according to the manufacturer. Often the discs and pads of the axle are replaced.
Is it dangerous to drive with vibration when braking?
Not usually straight away, but braking is worse and it gets worse. Have it checked soon.
Keep reading
- Brakes, ABS and ESC: how they work and what fails
- Noise when braking: what a squeal or a metallic grinding means
- Car pulls to one side: causes and what to do
- Soft, long or sinking brake pedal: what to do
- Car symptoms: what they mean and what to do
- Check engine light on: what to do
- How to read and clear your car's fault codes
- OBD fault codes: what each one means