How To Fix Brake Pulsation

Pulsating brakes can be felt in the steering wheel as a steering wheel shaking, at the brakes or in the restriction pedal as a brake pedal pulsation, or in the seat as a seat vibration when braking. If you lot feel the brakes pulsate when coming to a stop, it's probably from bad brake rotors. We cover some signs of bad brake rotors and their causes and other possible parts that can cause the brakes to pulsate when stopping. If it turns out that worn brake rotors are causing the brakes to pulsate, nosotros as well explicate what you lot can do to gear up them.

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Signs Your Vehicle Has Pulsating Brakes

Brake pulsation is ordinarily felt when the brake pedal is pressed and the brakes are hot. It ordinarily means there is an effect with the brake rotor and can appear as

Shaking in the steering wheel (usually an issue with front brakes)
Shaking in the seat (commonly an event with the rear brakes)
Pulsating in the brake pedal

Signs the Brake Rotors Are Causing Pulsating Brakes

If the brake rotors appear with any of these symptoms, they are likely the cause of restriction pulsation when stopping and volition need to be replaced or resurfaced. Problems with the brake rotors might also betoken there is a trouble with another function, like the brake caliper.

Brake rotor scored with hot spots at the 1 and 2 o'clock position

"Hot Spots" or Oestrus Scores

Heat scores are from an overheating effect with the brakes. Grooved or scored sections, besides known every bit "hot spots," cause minor discoloring on dissimilar sections of the rotor from oestrus. The grooved lines in the rotor create build up, which creates "hot spots," and the friction creates brake pulsation. These are unremarkably caused by a stuck brake caliper piston, sticking restriction caliper slider, or a sticking brake pad.

Pitted Rotors

Brake rotors with tiny dotted divets throughout the rotor, also known equally pitting, is a sign the rotor needs to be replaced. After the vehicle sits for a period of fourth dimension, moisture accumulates on the rotor. Moisture eventually seeps into the porous material on the rotor, creating "pits." After the rust dissipates from the surface of the rotor from driving the vehicle, the pits remain.

Gouged Rotors

Brake Rotor with metal gouges — Rotor with metal gouges

Gouged rotors will have streaks of metallic lines engraved from metal-on-metal contact. They can crusade the brakes to pulsate, but they tin also make a grinding noise. These are usually caused by a worn brake pad that has no brake pad material left, but they can also be acquired by a stuck restriction caliper piston, stuck caliper slider, or stuck brake pads.

Worn brake pad with no brake pad material that can cause gouging and pulsating brakes — Worn brake pad that tin can cause gouging

Other Causes of Pulsating Brakes

Other defective restriction parts can wearable out the brake rotor. These parts tin can cause the rotors to clothing out faster or cause the brakes to drum or vibrate when stopping.

Damaged Flex Hose

The restriction line hose that supplies restriction fluid to the brake caliper tin collapse, tear, or twist from existence reinstalled incorrectly. A collapsed or damaged restriction line needs a replacement. Anything disrupting the flow of restriction fluid can cause braking issues.

Broken Brake Caliper Piston

A broken or stuck brake caliper piston tin can't expand or retract, leaving the restriction pads in contact with the rotor. This not only tin can cause pulsating brakes, merely tin also wear out other parts sooner, like the brake rotors and brake pads.

Stuck or Frozen Brake Caliper Slides

The brake caliper slides demand grease to motion in and out freely. If the caliper slider is stuck and does not motility, the restriction pads tin wear out and damage the rotor.

Stuck Brake Pads

The restriction pads should be able to motion freely inside the brake caliper subclass. If the brake pads tin't motility, they won't be able to press into the rotors. A pair of brake pads pressed confronting the rotor can article of clothing them out and crusade you to feel the brakes pulsating when applied.

Replace the Brake Pads and Brake Rotors Yourself

Worn brake rotors ways information technology'due south time for new rotors and restriction pads. Nosotros recommend replacing the restriction pads and rotors together, since the new brake pads will demand a clean and smooth surface to contact on the rotor.

Find quality brake pads, restriction rotors, and other auto parts at 1aauto.com. Save fifty-fifty more by replacing them yourself with step-past-stride instructions in 1A Automobile's how-to videos for many different models.