brake shudder

[Briandmozy]

hello all,

I had my 4runner in the driveway working on some wiring issues for about 2 weeks (daily driver) and actually found out that insurance would cover my issues. Had a tow truck come to pick up and take to shop. (I wasnt home, wife was) when the driver tried to move the truck into a towable area, he couldn't get it to roll. parking brake not on, no wheel chocks and in neutral. He decided to winch it momentarily and then after a few feet something "gave" and it started rolling again.

I picked up from shop a week later and now have shudder in brake pedal and steering wheel shimmys when braking. no shake at all when accelerating?coasting. it feels almost like a warped rotor.

Nothing was acting this way prior to sitting for about 2 weeks, then all of a sudden...BAM>>>SHAKES. No shifting issues either!!!

Any suggestions? could a froze caliper cause this?

Thanks in advance>

 

[ElZilcho]

Yes, a frozen caliper could cause it, but i don't think that is your issue.

I think you might have a combination of issues going on. You mentioned that the parking brake wasn't on when it was being winched. Does that mean you usually set the brake when you park? At my shop, if we leave a truck sit with the parking brake on for more than a couple of weeks the pads can seize (especially if its humid) and you have to give it a little extra juice to break them loose when you pull out of the garage. I think that could be symptom #1(the sticking when winching).

If it was humid or wet enough to seize the parking brake then it was also probably wet enough to put a layer of rust and crud on your rotors. Usually it will either corrode all around the rotor and leave a shiny spot under the pad, or, the pad holds enough moisture on the rotor that it corrodes worse. Either way, it will leave uneven material deposition on the rotor (symptom #2). Assuming there are no indications of an unsafe brake condition (i.e. soft pedal or pulling substantially) it might be worth getting the truck up to speed and standing on the brakes a couple of times to clean the rotors, heat the pads, and even up deposition.

Then again... this is an internet diagnosis and it's worth exactly what you paid for it.

Good luck.

 

[Briandmozy]

thank you for the reply. I do not use the parking brake unless on a steep hill. havent used it in quite a while. it did sit however for a few weeks and was raining for a bit of that time. Hopefully thats all it is. i will do some semi-forceful stops tomorrow and see if it starts to get better by doing that. Hopefully youre right and its not the sticking caliper. I will also check for uneven wear on sunday.

Thanks again!!! Cheers