What makes my car judder

Is the noise coming from the engine, the transmission, the suspension, or the driveshaft? If you have little mechanical knowledge then this will, of course, be a big challenge. Taking note of when the juddering is at its worst can help us identify the issue. A faulty spark plug could cause the engine to misfire.

Any halt in the ignition of the fuel-air mixture could cause the engine to halt momentarily. Most manufacturers will have a recommended replacement interval for replacing spark plugs so ask our friendly team for more information if you are experiencing this issue. The more coils and cylinders your car has, the less noticeable any judder will be. The vehicle then adjusts or compensates based on this. This could cause a judder. They should last for around , miles, but like all auto parts, they will eventually fail.

Faulty CV constant velocity axles on the drive train could cause heavy vibrations or judder. Repeated heavy use of your front brakes might also eventually cause blue scorch marks on the brake discs - as well as a telltale burning smell!

Once these marks appear it means the disc has been permanently damaged and will need to be replaced. Use of cheap, poorer quality brake pads: This can turn out to be a false economy, as some lower-quality pads are more prone to overheating, due to not having been made from the best materials.

Optimal braking force requires the discs and pads to be the same thickness throughout - but in day-to-day driving this is practically impossible. You can help reduce the chances of this occurring from the very first time you drive your car after it has had new pads fitted, by being sure to only apply the brakes gently on the first few occasions when you use them.

This can help ensure that all parts of the disc get coated with a roughly even amount of the friction material which is essential for them to do their job properly. We suggest that you should try to avoid harsh brake applications for the first miles or so, as this will help new discs and pads to bed in.

In the longer term there can be a number of reasons why pads and discs wear unevenly, such as:. Either of these can lead to seizure of the brake caliper piston, which in turn brings about uneven wear due to the disparity in the forces being applied on either side of the brake disc.

Deposits of this kind may throw a disc out of kilter, so causing that uneven brake application sensation as already mentioned. Small variations in thickness between discs can be treated by brushing or sandpapering off any loose deposits.

A short road test will then establish whether the problem has been solved and the discs are again working in proper alignment. This can easily lead to an imprint of the brake pad being formed on the disc, and if the pads are hot, could even deposit specks of pad material onto the disc surface.

Again, a simple brush should suffice for removing all the excess debris, but if this has built up appreciably, it might be better treated by gentle rubbing with sandpaper. Brake pads generally have a lifespan of a couple of years according to the AA. And because of the variations in the circumstances in and degrees with which front and rear brakes are used, the reasons for this can also be different. A lightly-used car which is always kept in a garage between outings is far more prone to developing corrosion of parts of the braking system than a car which is driven daily and parked in the open.

This is because the warm, often humid conditions which prevail in a garage make it easier for condensation to develop, and in turn for this to lie around, and eventually cause those rust spots. But because the brake pads and discs at the front of the car take a disproportionate amount of the load when a car is being brought to a halt, these can wear far more quickly than those at the rear. Quick Online Application. Apply Now. Get Directions Schedule Appointment.

Select This Location. My Local Store. Dirty Fuel Injectors Dirty fuel injectors are among the most common reasons for why an accelerator becomes jerky. Blockages There might be a blockage that is preventing your car from receiving the fuel it needs to accelerate. Worn Out Spark Plugs Your spark plugs might be worn out and unable to properly ignite the fuel in the piston fast enough.

Dirty Air Filters The air filter plays an important role in keeping pollutants away from your engine. Damaged Cylinders If your engine cylinders are damaged, this will affect the ability of your engine to work properly and will lead to an engine misfire. Blocked Catalytic Converters Your catalytic converter might be suffering from a blockage.

Damaged Gas Lines Gas flows throughout your engine via gas lines. Damaged Acceleration Cables The acceleration cable might be damaged. Defective Carburetors The carburetor is responsible for controlling how much fuel and air are mixed together before it enters the engine. Contact Us.