Q: There is shaking upon braking - 2012 Dodge Charger

asked by on October 25, 2016

At high speeds only when lightly braking steering wheel shakes. Rotors have been replaced in the last month.

My car has 50000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

The tie rods, ball joints, and control arm bushings should be evaluated for looseness. There are all different kinds of rotors in terms of quality. If the rotors are not dealer OEM or the equivalent, such as AC/Delco, honestly even if the rotors are brand new, they would have to be measured for both thickness variation and runout in order to eliminate bad rotors as a possible cause of the vibration.

There are also installation issues. If the rotors are not installed properly, that is, not torqued in sequence to factory specified values, they will warp on the hub. Just to give you an idea of how critical the tolerances are: if the runout on the rotor exceeds .002 inches, on many cars the brakes will vibrate. Also, you could have hub runout which will create the same effect. If there is runout in the hub, sometimes the rotor can be indexed to the hub, or shimmed, to eliminate the runout. Bent wheels and wheel runout can be an issue, too.

I recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to determine the source of the vibration in the steering wheel.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Is My Rear Wiper Legally Required to Operate?
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) specify that manufacturers must include rear wipers on all new motor vehicles sold in the United States. However, current FMVSS standards do not require that a passenger motor vehicle be equipped with a rear...
How do I choose which phone Uconnect uses?
The Uconnect system can pair with up to seven different cell phones. When you pair the system with a phone, you have to prioritize the phone, so that the system knows which mobile device to use if multiple devices are...
How do I use the Pass Temp feature?
The Pass Temp feature allows you to change the temperature between the driver and passenger side. This makes them the ride more enjoyable for both the driver and passenger. To use the Pass Temp feature: Press the Pass Temp button...
AC blowing warm air, ac compressor bad?
There are several issues that can cause your A/C to blow warm air. Although the compressor is on that list, one of the most common causes of warm air blowing from the A/C is a bad or failing A/C high...
ABS, ESP, EBR malfunction
You're getting into an area that is kind of a dark art when you're getting these kinds of codes. While I don't know any of the symptoms that the car is exhibiting, I can tell you that failure in one...
My car is pouring transmission fluid out by the starter. Is that the front transmission seal? 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Hi there - the leak (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-can-cause-a-car-to-leak-transmission-fluid) you describe could certainly be caused by the transmission input shaft seal. It's also possible that one of the transmission fluid lines to the radiator has failed, or one of the fluid couplings is...
manual key ( no remote ) only opens and closes driver side door. other doors wont open/close.
Hi Varun. Thanks for submitting your question this morning. Usually, when you use a manual key to unlock a door, it will only unlock that individual door. I'm not 100% sure that unlocking all doors is a feature of this...
2001 mercury mountaineer Shifted hard then 4wd low light came on and didn't want to go no power and barely moved
Hi Moo. Thanks for contacting us today. It is possible that an inner transmission failure has occurred, or perhaps (and more likely) that an issue with the differential is the source. The best way to determine what is causing the...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Volkswagen Eos
The The Eos is the practical convertible lover’s dream. With a hard top and four seats, this car breaks tradition by offering luxurious touches at a less-than-luxury price. For those who want an affordable, sporty convertible with a bit more...
A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Honda Crosstour
There There could be a number of reasons an SUV isn’t right for you: the price, the size, their mpg, etc. However, there could also be a number of reasons you’d really like to have some extra space. If that’s...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Nissan Armada
If If you need an SUV that lives up to the name “full-size SUV”, the 2012 Nissan Armada just might be your best option. With up to eight passenger seating and a 317-horsepower V8 engine that hauls 9,000 pounds with...