If your car jerks when you brake, it can be a scary experience. You may not know what is causing the problem and feel like you are losing control of your vehicle. In this blog post, we will discuss the possible causes of this problem and how to fix them.
When your car jerks when you brake, it’s most often because there is a problem with the braking system. This could be caused by bad parts or installation skills and can happen even if new ones were just installed recently! your car can also jerk when braking if both pads are worn down to metal on their respective discs then this might also cause some jerkiness during hard stops as well.
Why Car Jerks When Braking?
There are other reasons that might cause your car to jerk when braking lets dive into each of them step by step.
Warping Of Shape Of Drum Brake
Your car can stall or skid when braking if you have warped the shape of your drum brakes. You can check for this by removing the wheel and inspecting the brake drums. If they look out of round or have any deep gouges, then you will need to replace them.
Bad shape of drum brakes can also lead to your car pulling to one side when braking. Drum brake shape can also cause a pulsing feeling in the brake pedal.
Dent/Bent In Disc Brakes
When you apply brakes it gets hot and causes the metal to expand. If you were to drive your car without giving it a chance to cool off, then your disc brakes could become bent. This will cause your car to jerk when braking.
When brakes are off or when your car’s wheel enter into a puddle heats gets discharged rapidly so sudden change in temperature can also cause your car to jerk.
You also need to keep in mind the thickness of your brake pads. If they are too thin then it will also cause your car to jerk when braking. A normal disc must be more than 20 mm thick if not then it will have to be replaced.
To fix this problem , you should first check your brake pads and make sure they are not too thin. You should also check your discs and make sure they are not bent or damaged. If both of these things are fine, then you should take your car to a mechanic and have them check for any other issues.
Wrong Installation Of Brake Discs
If you have installed a new set of brake discs and they are not installed properly, then it will also cause your car to jerk when braking. This is because the new discs will not be able to grip the surface properly and will slip.
To fix this problem , you should take your car to a mechanic and have them check the installation of the new discs. They will be able to tell if they are installed correctly or not.
Worn Out Brake Pads
One of the most common cause of “Car Jerks When Braking” problem is worn out brake pads. You can check if your brake pads are worn out by simply listening to the sound of your brakes.
If you hear a squealing noise when you apply the brakes, then it is most likely that your brake pads are worn out and need to be replaced.
You can also check the condition of your brake pads by looking at them visually. If they look thin or have cracks in them, then they need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Worn Out Calipers
Calipers are the parts of your brakes that hold the brake pads in place. If they are worn out, then they will not be able to hold the brake pads correctly and this will cause your car to jerk when you apply the brakes.
You can check if your calipers are worn out by looking at them visually. If they look rusty or have cracks in them, then they need to be replaced.
Damaged Rear Suspension
Rear suspension damage is another common reason why cars jerk when braking. If the rear suspension of your car is damaged, then it will not be able to absorb the shock properly and this will cause your car to jerk when you apply the brakes.
Wheel Bearing
If the wheel bearing of your car is damaged, then it will cause your car to jerk when you apply the brakes. The wheel bearing is responsible for supporting the weight of the wheel and if it is damaged, then it will not be able to support the weight of the wheel properly.
This issue can also cause the wheels to vibrate which can cause car jerks when braking.
Rust On The Brakes
Usually rust appears on the outside of the car, but it can also form on the brakes. If the rust forms on the brakes, then it will cause your car to jerk when you apply the brakes. The rust will cause the brake pads to stick to the rotor and this will cause your car to jerk.
To avoid rust on your brakes, make sure to clean them regularly. You can use a brake cleaner or a rust inhibitor to help prevent rust from forming on your brakes.
Worn or Unbalanced Tires
If your wheels are not balanced , then it can cause your car to jerk when you apply the brakes. Unbalanced tires can also cause the car to vibrate and this will make the car jolt when you brake. To fix this, you need to have your tires balanced. You can take your car to a tire shop and they will balance your tires for you.
Wheel alignment is very important as in high speed this problem can get worse and it can lead to an accident. So, if you have this problem, then you should get your wheel alignment checked as soon as possible.
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Brake Fluid Leak Or Lack Of Brake Fluid
Another common cause of car jerking while braking is a brake fluid leak. When there is a leak in the system, it will cause the fluid level to drop and this will make it harder for the brakes to grab.
To fix this problem , you will need to take your car to a mechanic and have them check for a brake fluid leak. If there is a leak, they will be able to fix it and refill your brake fluid.
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Common Problems That Leads To Car Jerking
In addition to the mechanical problems there are some common problem that can cause car to jerk here are some of them:
Floor Mat
Sometimes floor mat can get bunched up and cause the car to jerk. To fix this problem, you can try repositioning the floor mat or tucking it under the seat.
Bad Gasoline
If you put bad gasoline in your car, it can cause it to run erring and jerk. If you think you may have put bad gas in your car, try draining the gas and refilling it with fresh gas.
Moisture Problem
If you notice that the problem is only happening when you first start driving for the day, it might be due to moisture on the brakes. This is more common in humid climates or if you park your car outside overnight. The moisture can cause the brake pads to stick to the rotors and create a jerking sensation when you first start driving.
Brake Problem That Leads To Car Jerks When Braking
You may either have electrical brakes or ABS. Modern cars are all equipped with some form of anti-lock braking system (ABS). The electronic control module helps to prevent your car’s brakes from locking up when you lose traction.
The Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) helps to maintain steering control and still slow the vehicle when you are braking hard on icy pavement. The system modulates hydraulic pressure so that your foot doesn’t need too much effort for pumping up/down, which means less time spent trying get back into an endangering situation!
Braking can be a risky business, but luckily for you there is always room at the mechanic’s. If your ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) fails and starts jerking when braking then it might require some work on his end to get things back up running smoothly again!
Conclusion
If your car jerks when braking then it may be problem of the brakes or the tires. Above are mentioned some causes and solution of the problem. If you are experiencing this problem, then it is better to take your car to the mechanic and get it checked.
