Explorer Sport shaking badly when applying brakes...

[AceOnGuitar]

Hello,

When I am driving my Explorer and I hit the brakes at a good speed, it shakes like crazy. It doesn't do it quite as much at low speeds but you can still feel a little shake. What would cause this??


Thanks so much,
Chris

 

[AceOnGuitar]

I forgot to mention that the ABS light is on...

 

[MustangP51]

Sounds like it could be warped brake rotors.

My guess is the ABS light is a separate issue, unless it came on when the shaking started.

 

[Willard]

definitely warped rotors, i have the same problem.

 

[Turdle]

Worn hubs?

 

[beenwrong2002]

an alignment needed maybe?

 

[X6StringerX]

My vote would go for warped rotors. I experienced the same thing with my Explorer when I bought it last year. $98 later and I had two new rotors up front and ceramic brake pads.

 

[Nocturnall]

+1 warped rotors. My girlfriends did the same thing, so bad it felt like it was gonna fall apart when you hit the brakes. Started at low speeds as well, new front rotors and bye bye horrendous shake.

 

[beenwrong2002]

but the most common problem from the sound of it i thought would be its out of alignment...why is this solution automatically eliminated?

 

[PRS]

Ya, definately warped rotors. I had the sam problem on mine. This seems to be more of a problem on the sports from what i've seen, but who knows maybe its just a coincidence.

 

[MiZZ]

mine did the same thing, if i tried to stop going down a hill at a good speed it felt like the truck was jumping up and down and the tires were gunna break off LOL, and slowing down on the highway to get off an exit was never fun, lol... bought new rotors and it stops on a dime and smooth.. do your pads while your at it, it'll feel like a whole new truck.

 

[AceOnGuitar]

Thanks for the info!



Chris

 

[JDraper]

but the most common problem from the sound of it i thought would be its out of alignment...why is this solution automatically eliminated?

99.9% of the time when there is shaking ONLY during braking, it's warped rotors, not alignment. A vehicle out of alignment is much more likely to make the vehicle pull to one side or wander on the road, not shake.

 

[JDraper]

do your pads while your at it, it'll feel like a whole new truck.

Whenever you replace or turn rotors, you should replace the pads. The old pads will have conformed to the shape of the rotors, so braking efficiency and life will be down if you use them with the new rotors. If they're bad enough, they can even damage the new rotors because they can generate narrow high heat bands due to partial contact, which will cause warping.