Brake pedals can indicate an issue. If you have ever found your car uncontrollably shake every time you hit the brakes on a stop sign, then your rotor might be warped. Pulsating brakes is often common for drivers who utilize the brakes very often. This could be because they drive in traffic or they have an unhealthy habit of jamming the brakes.
Warped Rotors
When you see the shining object inside the rotors and you squeeze the brake for long extended period of time, your rotor will sometimes warp. This also happens when you get your rotor too hot and you run through water causing it to cool down too quick. Your rotor will sometimes warp and as it spins, the brake feels the angle of the rotor change.
The pulsating feeling that you feel while driving the car comes back through the brake line which pushes the power steering back into the cylinder. This is why you feel pulsation evidently in your brake pedal. In other words, it is like pushing fluid back through a line and your brake pedal inside fills it. You therefore feel the push back on your foot.
What to Look for when applying Brake Pedals?
When you take your wheel off, then you should notice that your disk is shiny. If you have a very bad warped rotor, you will find places in the rotor that is different in color than the rest of the rotor. You may find an area that is shiny, along with areas that are darker in shade. What you need to do is pop the rotor off and get another one.
Many shops will turn these rotors and use a special machine to smooth the surface of the rotor to get rid of the pulsation. Smoothing out the surface of the rotors ensures that the thickness is even throughout the rotors. Also make sure that your brake pads are in good condition. Worn out brake pads can also be the cause of pulsation.
If you do not make timely brake pad replacements, the brake pads lose their padding , and you get a squeaking noise when you hit your brakes. This tells you that it is time to replace your brakes. Bad brake pads will increase friction and heat on the rotor, leading to the pulsating occurrence. You may also get to the point where the caliper ends up hitting the rotor and this is why you must pay close attention.
As you can see, any occurrence or maintenance issue that leads to the increase of frictional heat to the rotor will lead to the rotor to have an uneven surface. An uneven surface of the rotor is the most common cause a surging or vibrating response when you hit the brakes. You have to really pay attention to the brakes and always have brand new brakes.