My car has roughly 50k miles, and I’ve been dealing with noises and vibrations for about a year (started around 30-40k). It’s a hybrid, so the regenerative braking means the factory pads are still thick (9mm front/8mm rear).
The Symptoms:
Low Speed (Under 30 mph): I randomly hear a mix of grinding, rattling, and squeaking, especially when releasing the brake and start driving, sometimes during a turn. The rattling is most common lately.
Highway Speed (60-75 mph): Unpredictable random vibrations. It seems more frequently after driving for over an hour. Sometimes it will vibrate for a while, stop for a while, and vibrate again, totally random.
The "Rumble Strip": One time driving on highway in the rain, the car suddenly shakes violently like I was hitting rumble strips. After parking for an hour, it disappeared. The other time happened after a hard braking, car was shaking even at very low speed like something is stuck ... also gone after parking for a while.
The Disappearing Act: All noise and vibration stop the moment I apply the brakes.
What’s Been Done:
New tyres, wheel balancing, and alignment.
Mechanic cleaned and re-lubricate the brakes, less Vibrations and still have noises.
Dealership and a local shop inspected it and said "everything looks good." Me:???
I’m at a loss. If the brakes and tyres are fine, what else could cause vibrations that disappear when braking but get worse after a long drive? Could it be a sticking caliper, loose pads, a CV axle, or something with the hybrid drivetrain? Any ideas are appreciated!