Vibration And Shimmying While Stopping

Dear Master Tech Automotive,

When I’m coming to a stop while driving, my steering wheel vibrates and the whole car shimmies. What causes that and is it serious?

Signed,

Shimmy In Smyrna

Ivy says:

Usually, the cause of vibration and shimmy while stopping is due to warped brake rotors. Now, you may ask “Ivy, what is a brake rotor?” No problem, I can explain. When you push on your brake pedal, it sends brake fluid to your brake calipers, which are like clamps. The fluid causes the caliper to clamp onto the rotor, which looks kind of like a metal dinner plate.

If your rotors get warped (generally due to heat from the brakes or possibly worn out brake pads, or even sometimes just normal wear and tear) then this causes a vibration when the calipers are clamping down on your brakes, causing the whole wheel to shake and making your steering wheel vibrate.

Now, is it serious? It’s not the most serious thing that could ever happen to a car, but it is important to get this looked at as soon as you can. The vibration does affect your braking ability to some extent, and therefore you should get it checked out. It also can cause your anti-lock braking system to malfunction. Additionally, some vibrations and shimmies are not caused by brakes and could be indicative of something more serious. It’s hard to tell without looking at the vehicle, so be sure to bring it into the shop.

Did you know our technicians are ASE brake certified? When you bring your car to our shop, you can rest easy knowing the guys that are looking at your car know what they are doing. Not only do they have the ASE certification, but they have years of experience. They’ll keep you safe.

Do you have a car question you would like answered? Send us an email at questions@wefixautos.com

Tagged as:  Brakes · murfreesboro brake repair · steering wheel vibration