What are the causes of high-speed brake shudder?
2 Answers
High-speed brake shudder is caused by: 1. Uneven brake disc wear: When braking at certain speeds, the left and right wheels on the same axle experience asynchronous braking force moments, resulting in an alternating tight-loose braking phenomenon within a single rotation; 2. Drivetrain malfunction: In this case, check for rust or looseness in components like the tie rods and ball joints. Vehicles experiencing brake shudder cannot have locked wheels (wheel lock-up shudder is caused by road surface irregularities). When wheels lock up, there's no relative movement in the friction pair, meaning no braking occurs. Therefore, vehicles experiencing brake shudder are usually equipped with ABS or are severely overloaded, particularly when descending steep grades with heavy loads.
The other day when I braked on the highway, the steering wheel shook like an earthquake, and my heart was in my throat. After checking, the main reason was uneven wear or deformation of the brake discs, which happens when you brake too hard too often. It could also be due to loose wheel hub bearings or poor tire balance, causing uneven braking force at high speeds and making the whole car wobble. Don't underestimate this—it can easily lead to skidding or loss of control on the highway, which is super dangerous. I immediately drove to a professional shop for inspection, and resurfacing or replacing the brake discs should fix it. I recommend everyone regularly maintain their braking system—don't wait until something bad happens to regret it.
