Violent shaking when braking - Toyota 4Runner Forum

nathanroyse · 05-04-2021, 03:07 PM

Recently my 00’ 4Runner SR5 4wd has started to violently shake 90% of the time when braking. It happens at any speed. Just replaced front and rear drums/shoes pads/rotors hoping that it would fix my problem. Nope. i’m running 285/75/16 Ko2s. I have no idea what would cause this because everyone says it’s warped rotors but clearly it is not. I don’t feel any pulsating in the brake petal, the whole dashboard/car shake violently even when slowing down from ~30mph... Any suggestions?

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Too Stroked · 05-04-2021, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanroyse

Recently my 00’ 4Runner SR5 4wd has started to violently shake 90% of the time when braking. It happens at any speed. Just replaced front and rear drums/shoes pads/rotors hoping that it would fix my problem. Nope. i’m running 285/75/16 Ko2s. I have no idea what would cause this because everyone says it’s warped rotors but clearly it is not. I don’t feel any pulsating in the brake petal, the whole dashboard/car shake violently even when slowing down from ~30mph... Any suggestions?

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You can rule out the rotors and drums by checking them with a dial indicator. Excessive runout on rotors and out of round drums will show up pretty easily. If they check out true, I'd be looking for loose / worn suspension components - especially up front. Loose tie rods, ball joints or suspension bushings can cause excessive shaking. I'd also check the wheel bearings and the steering rack.

Devbot · 05-04-2021, 05:23 PM

Your wheels are rubbing, I'm willing to bet. Especially since you replaced the pads the calipers will push off the rotors more ever so slightly. Spray them with some paint, go for a drive a check if any rubbed off

Too Stroked · 05-04-2021, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devbot

Your wheels are rubbing, I'm willing to bet. Especially since you replaced the pads the calipers will push off the rotors more ever so slightly. Spray them with some paint, go for a drive a check if any rubbed off

I'm not seeing how doing front disk brake work changes the location of the wheels / tires relative to the hubs and fenders.

nathanroyse · 05-04-2021, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Too Stroked

You can rule out the rotors and drums by checking them with a dial indicator. Excessive runout on rotors and out of round drums will show up pretty easily. If they check out true, I'd be looking for loose / worn suspension components - especially up front. Loose tie rods, ball joints or suspension bushings can cause excessive shaking. I'd also check the wheel bearings and the steering rack.

I’m gonna go ahead and rule out the braking system because they were all replaced very recently... under 500 miles ago. i replaced LBJs, inner/outer tie rods, steering rack bushings too. bushings all look okay they’re not falling apart or anything. my steering rack did recently start leaking

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HiLife · 05-04-2021, 09:46 PM

No vibration issues during accelerating and cruising at any speed?

nathanroyse · 05-05-2021, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiLife

No vibration issues during accelerating and cruising at any speed?

today it started to shake when decelerating and accelerating slowly. when i accelerated quickly it wouldn’t shake at all. which led me to believe it was a seized caliper... i but the bullet and did the tundra brake upgrade and it still does the shaking.... i guess i’ll replace the LCA bushings next.

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Too Stroked · 05-05-2021, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanroyse

today it started to shake when decelerating and accelerating slowly. when i accelerated quickly it wouldn’t shake at all. which led me to believe it was a seized caliper... i but the bullet and did the tundra brake upgrade and it still does the shaking.... i guess i’ll replace the LCA bushings next.

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What you're doing is the very definition of "throwing parts at a problem." I never recommend that. I would get the truck up on a lift and do some serious poking and prodding underneath before you waste any more money. For instance, you said your steering rack was starting to leak. I'd take a close look at both the rack and the mounting bushings.

tx_shooter · 05-05-2021, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanroyse

today it started to shake when decelerating and accelerating slowly. when i accelerated quickly it wouldn’t shake at all. which led me to believe it was a seized caliper... i but the bullet and did the tundra brake upgrade and it still does the shaking.... i guess i’ll replace the LCA bushings next.

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Any growling sounds from the hubs? First time I had a wheel bearing going out I had some shaking that got worse has it got worse.

HiLife · 05-05-2021, 10:14 AM

Make sure your front brake caliper isn't loose.
Make sure your brake shoes aren't loose.
Make sure the rear trailing arms are tight.
Remove your driveshaft and check the u-joints.
Your vibrations could be due to a change of pinion angle while braking and accelerating.
If u-joints check out, check next in line which are trans mounts and motor mounts.

Bad Luck · 05-05-2021, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanroyse

I’m gonna go ahead and rule out the braking system because they were all replaced very recently... under 500 miles ago. i replaced LBJs, inner/outer tie rods, steering rack bushings too. bushings all look okay they’re not falling apart or anything. my steering rack did recently start leaking

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What brand parts did you use? Have you pulled your rear drums off again to check for gear oil on them?

I replaced my front rotors with OEM toyota, and I had to resurface the rotors on the vehicle in order to get rid of all my vibration. Just because you put new parts on does not mean you put quality parts on. I won't use parts store drums because they all end up getting hot spots and/or warping on me within a year on any of my vehicles.

Leaking rear axle seals can causing vibration while braking as well.

MStudt · 05-05-2021, 10:58 AM

When was the last time you greased the u-joints on the rear drive shaft? You can get drive line vibrations during acceleration and deceleration due to bad/worn u-joints. You can also remove the rear drive shaft, and drive in 4-High to see if the vibrations go away.

Mike

alumarine · 05-05-2021, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MStudt

When was the last time you greased the u-joints on the rear drive shaft? You can get drive line vibrations during acceleration and deceleration due to bad/worn u-joints. You can also remove the rear drive shaft, and drive in 4-High to see if the vibrations go away.
Mike

If you do this and the vibrations don't go away or get worse, it could be your front drive shaft ujoints.