# Car Shakes when I slow down

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-i-slow-down/16249>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 5, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-i-slow-down/16249 "2008-07-05T14:53:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bmanor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b77776/32.png) [@bmanor](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bmanor)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-i-slow-down/16249/1 "2008-07-05T14:53:55Z")

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My grandma’s car (96 Sable) is been well maintained, but we are debating if we should take it on a 300 mile trip. The only thing that concerns us is the fact that it shakes, pretty hard when we slow down after having been going over 45-55mph. Is this cause for an alignment, brakes, or just a tire rotation? Any help would be appreciated.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-i-slow-down/16249/2 "2008-07-05T15:04:23Z")

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If the shaking is taking place only when braking, I would suggest that the brake rotors probably need to be replaced–or at least machined. There are other possibilites, but the brake rotors are the most likely suspects, so I would start there.

Also, a thorough inspection of the front end components by a competent mechanic would be a good idea. DO NOT go to Midas, Meineke, Monro, Sears, or any other chain operation unless you want to risk poor quality/overpriced/unnecessary repairs.

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**Author:** ![Manolito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/manolito/32/3070_2.png) [@Manolito](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Manolito)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-i-slow-down/16249/3 "2008-07-05T16:42:26Z")

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Vibration on braking usually indicates warpage or hard spots (or perhaps just rust spots) on the rotors. If the whole car shakes, that suggests that there is a suspension joint somewhere with some play in it that is allowing a major shake to get going in the car.

Even if the shake gets better with more driving (indicating that it was rust on the rotors), you should have a shop or knowledgeable friend raise it up and check the suspension for worn components before taking it out on the highway.