What causes shaking when braking at 60-80 km/h?
2 Answers
The following are the specific reasons for steering wheel vibration when braking at 60-80 km/h: 1. Wheel balance issue. A car wheel consists of a tire and a rim. When there is a problem with the wheel balance, it means the wheel is not in a balanced state during high-speed driving. If the balance data is incorrect, the wheel's rotation center will shift, causing the wheel to shake, which in turn affects the steering wheel. 2. Rim problem. If the car's rim has been impacted during previous driving, causing deformation. The deformation of the rim can also lead to wheel shaking during driving, resulting in steering wheel vibration. 3. Chassis component issue. This usually occurs in cars with poor post-accident repairs. Due to the impact during the accident affecting the chassis components, steering wheel vibration can also occur.
I've been driving for over 30 years, and it's common to experience body shaking when braking at speeds between 60 to 80 km/h. The root cause is usually warped brake rotors. Uneven rotor surfaces lead to uneven clamping by the brake pads, transmitting vibrations to the steering wheel. Another frequent reason is aging suspension components, such as worn bushings or damaged shock absorbers, causing instability during braking. Tire imbalance is also a major factor—slight wheel misalignment can make the car wobble. Once, I ignored this issue and kept driving, only for the brake rotors to overheat and warp severely, nearly causing an accident. Later, I had to spend a lot of money replacing the damaged parts. I recommend regularly checking brake rotor thickness and flatness, and getting a professional wheel alignment and dynamic balancing test to ensure safe driving.
