# Car shakes when put on the brakes

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-put-on-the-brakes/53305>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mercury, mountaineer\
**Created:** [August 10, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-put-on-the-brakes/53305 "2010-08-10T16:15:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ShaonB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@ShaonB](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ShaonB)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-put-on-the-brakes/53305/1 "2010-08-10T16:15:48Z")

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On my 1998 Mercury Mountaineer the car is now shaking when I use the brakes.

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**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-put-on-the-brakes/53305/2 "2010-08-10T16:18:56Z")

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You most likely need new front rotors. Have your brakes inspected.

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-put-on-the-brakes/53305/3 "2010-08-10T16:22:53Z")

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Most likely your brake rotors are warped. Although it’s sometimes possible to turn your existing rotors, they often warp again pretty quickly because they’re now thinner, so it’s usually best just to replace them from the start.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-put-on-the-brakes/53305/4 "2010-08-10T16:23:41Z")

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As others have said, it sounds like warped rotors. Have your mechanic check the brakes.

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**Author:** ![ShaonB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@ShaonB](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ShaonB)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-put-on-the-brakes/53305/5 "2010-08-10T20:00:54Z")

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Is it ok to drive for a few days til I can get it looked at?

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**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-put-on-the-brakes/53305/6 "2010-08-10T20:10:06Z")

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If you’re careful - your braking distance is increased when you have this problem and it does abuse other parts in the front end.

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**Author:** ![87\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/f14d63/32.png) [@87\_Ranger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/87_Ranger)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-shakes-when-put-on-the-brakes/53305/7 "2010-08-10T20:28:05Z")

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Had the same problem on my Taurus, but with no pulsing in the brake pedal I knew it was’nt the rotors. Turned out the inner tie rod ends were shot.