Drivers often feel vibrations or pulsations coming through their brake pedals whenever they apply their brakes. Sometimes, this is normal. For example, you might feel pulsations if you drive on wet surfaces. This is harmless feedback from the braking system. You might also notice it if your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes, and you slam on the pedal to stop your car quickly. Here, the pulsing is a natural effect of the ABS during an emergency stop. If these two circumstances are not the case, there\’s a good chance your braking system needs attention.

Below, we\’ll take a closer look at the factors that can cause your brakes to vibrate (in addition to those described above). We\’ll also explain how the problem is resolved.

What Causes Brakes To Vibrate?

While vibrations can be caused by loose parts or a damaged axle, these problems are rare. For this reason, we\’ll leave them out of this discussion. Instead, we\’ll focus on the most common reason brakes vibrate: a warped rotor. To understand how this problem causes pulsations in the pedal, it\’s important to be familiar with how your brake system works. Here\’s a brief description:

Each wheel is equipped with a set of brake pads, a caliper, and a rotor. When you press on the brake pedal, brake fluid rushes to the wheel, causing the caliper to squeeze the pads against the rotor. To illustrate, consider how you would bring a wheelchair to a stop if you were sitting in it. Your hands would close upon the wheels, creating friction. Your vehicle\’s braking system works in the same manner. Friction is generated between the pads and rotor, which eventually brings your car to a stop.

The rotor is designed with two faces. Normally, they are parallel to each other, and completely flat. If there is warping on either face, you will feel vibrations when pressing down on your brake pedal.

Factors That Cause A Rotor To Become Warped

There are a few ways in which your rotors may become warped. First, the friction between the pads and rotor normally produces heat. While this is seldom a problem, the heat can occasionally be excessive. Repeated or prolonged exposure can cause the rotor to warp.

The second factor is that the torque of the lug nuts may be uneven. This happens when drivers change their tires, and tighten the lugs with a normal wrench. Auto technicians recommend using a torque wrench to avoid this issue.

A third cause of warping involves thermal expansion. Driving through a puddle at high speeds, and engaging the brakes soon after can cause the metal faces to expand and contract unevenly. This is less common than the previous two factors, but still worth mentioning.

How Rotors Become Damaged

Another problem that can result in pedal vibrations is damage to the rotors. This occurs when drivers allow their brake pads to wear down to the metal pieces underneath the wear material. When this happens, the metal of the pads grinds against the rotors, damaging them. You\’ll hear a grinding noise.

How To Eliminate The Pulsations

When rotors become warped or damaged, they must be taken off the vehicle and machined. This is a process during which a mechanic uses a special lathe to smooth the surfaces. A portion of one or both surfaces is removed in order to make them parallel and flat.

There is a thinness past which a rotor cannot be machined since doing so introduces a serious safety risk. When this is the case, the component must be replaced. As you would expect, replacing it is far more expensive than restoring it.

If you notice vibrations coming through your brake pedal, have a mechanic inspect the rotors. Having them machined will help you avoid paying for a costly replacement.

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Category: Automotive
Keywords: cars, automobiles, car, vehicles, car repair, car maintenance