What Causes Brake Nodding?
2 Answers
Brake nodding phenomenon occurs due to the following reasons: When the vehicle brakes, the center of gravity shifts forward, compressing the front suspension springs. During this process, the springs bear the reverse stress transmitted from the ground friction to the vehicle body. At the moment the vehicle speed reaches zero, the ground friction disappears, but the springs remain in a compressed deformation state. The process of stress release and deformation recovery creates a recoil effect on the cabin and passengers inside. At this point, the movement speed is zero, and the upward shift of the vehicle's front center of gravity becomes very noticeable. Solutions: 1. Modifying the shock absorbers is ineffective—too soft shocks only increase spring deformation, while too hard ones compromise comfort. 2. The best way to address this issue is to improve braking technique.
As an experienced driver who has driven various vehicles, I often feel the car dipping forward during braking, which is quite uncomfortable. Brake dive, simply put, is the front of the car sinking when braking, mainly due to inertial forces acting on the front suspension. For example, when you hit the brakes, the wheels slow down, but the car body continues to move forward, causing excessive compression of the front springs. Common causes include aging suspension systems, especially shock absorber leaks or softened springs, which make the diving more pronounced. During long-distance driving, I've noticed that uneven road surfaces exacerbate the issue, increasing fatigue. Additionally, uneven braking can worsen the dive, such as when the front wheels brake more aggressively than the rear, leading to a bumpy ride. The solution is to regularly inspect suspension components or have a mechanic use professional tools to test shock absorber performance. Early maintenance can improve both driving safety and comfort.
