My car shakes violently when I brake at highway speeds but is fine at low speeds. The brakes still stop the car, they just vibrate. What is wrong?
Vibration when braking at highway speeds that goes away at lower speeds is a classic symptom of warped brake rotors. The rotors are the metal discs that the brake pads clamp onto. When they develop high spots from heat or uneven wear, the pads bounce across the uneven surface creating the vibration you feel. If the vibration is primarily in the steering wheel, the front rotors are warped. If it is more in the seat and body of the car, the rear rotors are warped. If it is both, all four could be affected. You have two options: machining (resurfacing) the rotors on a lathe or replacing them. Machining costs about $25-40 per rotor and works if they are not too thin. However, I generally recommend replacement because modern rotors are thinner than older ones and resurfacing removes material that further shortens their life. A full brake job with new rotors and pads on one axle (front or rear) costs about $300-500 at most shops. Do not ignore this because warped rotors increase braking distance and will eventually damage other brake components. Also, going forward, avoid holding the brakes while stopped on a hill after highway driving as this transfers heat unevenly to the rotors and is a common cause of warping.
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