Car jerks while braking?

Question

All rotors and drums have been replaced this year, along with the entire system being flushed. Brake pads and shoes were also replaced. But what I am feeling is when I am traveling at high speeds and brake, the car like jerks forward and when my foot is on the brake the pedal is stiff as hell since everything was changed but one I apply the brakes the car stops but the pedal sinks a little bit and the car jerks then brakes normally and occasionally will jerk again. I brought it to a mechanic and he said there was no issues but obviously there is if it’s happening quite often. Any ideas?

Robert M · Answer

YEAH they SCREWED UP! SOME shakes come from BAD TIE ROD ENDS amd LOOSE BUSHINGS are WORN ball joints. THAT ONE is VERY VERY SERIOUS! you could FLY into a DITCH if a BALL JOINT shoudl BREAK ON YOU and DIE! GET TO AN ALIGNMENT SHOP ASAP>>>>>> DO NOT take any CHANCES with this it is VERY VERY SERIOUS! >>>>> ALSO perhaps teh BRAEK SLIDE PINS are RUSTED or they did NOT lube them! THEN they STICK! ALSO it is VERY LIJK KELY they uased a VERY VERY CHEAP brake fluid to FLUSH adb FILL with! YOU MAY have to do it AGAIN! It MAY even only be the ABS pump kicking IN! On MANY CARS with ABS pummps you HAVE gto use a S Special gtype of gtool gto do gthis the RIGHT WAY! Go to the DEALERSHIP for this thing gthen! I HOPE gthey did NOT use fldui fromm  AUTO ZONE! It is INFERIOR liek A MOST AUTO ZONE flduis and BATTERIES are! Use the FLUID fromgteh DEALERHISP PARTS DEPT only!  MIXING gthem canbe a DISASTER fo rthe SYSTERM! Jsut like mixing TWO different COOLANTS together wil make a SUPER MESS and GRUNGE in the system!

Country Boy · Answer

It sounds like your brake system *wasn't flushed properly. There may still be air in the brake lines, master cylinder or one or more of the brake calipers. A Toyota dealer has the proper equipment to *pressure flush the system.

Anonymous · Answer

A DIFFERENT mechanic will find the problem for there is a problem in the braking system.  The first mechanic was just a jerk.  Tell the new mechanic everything you did, better, let him see the receipt. He can see what was done and what wasn't and mechanics know mechanics so know "their reputation" for the quality of the work they do.  Word gets around REAL FAST esp about the bad ones.

Anonymous · Answer

Year make and model.  If the ABS light is not ON, it sounds like a brake booster problem.  There could be a vacuum leak at the booster.  Good luck.

Anonymous · Answer

Sounds like a brake booster issue.

Possibly loss of vacuum due to a dry rotted hose

Poopiepants · Answer

Well, whoever worked on your car was an asshole

regerugged · Answer

if you have anti-lock brakes you may be having a problem with the triggering mechanism.

Robert J · Answer

That sounds like it could be a fault in the brake servo - normally a vacuum operated unit directly part of the pedal and master cylinder assembly.

Something like this:

Car jerks while braking?

8 Answers