Vibration feeling when slowing down...

Trdsupranick

Trdsupranick

New member
Hi all!

I just recently noticed some "Jolty-ness" almost a type of tiny vibration feel when I use the brakes getting ready to slow down a bit before a complete stop. It is very very faint but it feels just a bit different from normal.

*NOTE* This is not the little jolt you get when you stop...like most 4runners feel. I understand that is normal.

I recently had my oil changed and did a tire rotation my brake pads are good at least for awhile. They dont make any noise at all...just that vibration faint feel when I press the brakes.

Any thoughts by anyone? Has anyone had this type of brake feeling at all?
 
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I am unclear about this vibration you are trying to explain, but check you brakes, Rotors first.....
 
If you stay on top of maint, you shouldn't feel any driveline vibration due to no grease in the zerks.
 
If your tires are balanced then i would guess that it would be that your break rotors are slightly warped. I used to drive a '99 Grand Cherokee and had that same issue of having that vibrating feeling everytime i used my breaks. I took it to the dealer and they got my rotors turned. That seemed to take care of the issue. But then I had the other issue of still driving a Grand Cherokee... But if you can't tell I got that problem resolved :D
 
I would guess warped rotors, if it was an issue of tires you would feel it much more often than when just slowing down
 
typically rotors warp from overheating when you brake...you can have the rotors turned (grind off a layer of material) to fix the problem but in my experience once you get them turned they warp even faster.
 
IF its only during braking, generally light braking, and not at ANY other time, than it will be your rotors that have become slightly warped. If you feel any of the vibration at any other time its more than likely a wheel balance issue.
 
irunner said:
bump...

I am having the same vibration problem and really want to know what is happening.
Click to expand...

If you do a search on this, you will find many threads that deal with this issue. It is most likely what I refer to as a 'brake shake' caused by a deformed or warped brake rotor. Since you don't mention what year 4Runner you have, all I can say is to have your rotors/brakes checked. If you have a 4th gen, then you will have 4 wheel disc brakes, and it could be either the front or rear rotors causing the problem. The initial problem is quite often caused by the rotors getting overheated from heavy braking use, a frozen piston in one of the calipers, or in some cases I have seen a 'hot' rotor warp just after driving through an icy puddle. The sudden temp change to the metal when the cold water splashes on the hot rotor has been known to cause it to warp suddenly. Most of the time, the problem starts out with a slight steering wheel shake when braking, and as the problem gets worse, you might feel a 'surging' pulsation just as you come to a stop. As others have said, the only fix is to get the rotors resurfaced (which quite often is only a temporary fix), or replace them (which is my prefered suggestion), which considering the labor costs to properly resurface a rotor, is probably not much more cost wise.
 
4runners have always had issues of going through rotors...I can probably guarantee its warped rotors. Even my mom's 3rd gen used to go through rotors a lot. Its an SUV thing I think. Heavy braking required to stop a heavy vehicle heats 'em up and warps 'em. I'd say just get some aftermarket cross-drilled rotors. They are cheap and a fairly easy install. I'm about to do it on mine.
 
Trdsupranick said:
Hi all!

I just recently noticed some "Jolty-ness" almost a type of tiny vibration feel when I use the brakes getting ready to slow down a bit before a complete stop. It is very very faint but it feels just a bit different from normal.

*NOTE* This is not the little jolt you get when you stop...like most 4runners feel. I understand that is normal.

I recently had my oil changed and did a tire rotation my brake pads are good at least for awhile. They dont make any noise at all...just that vibration faint feel when I press the brakes.

Any thoughts by anyone? Has anyone had this type of brake feeling at all?
Click to expand...

Mine do it BAD. I was also told that this can be a result of worn pads, that are now getting a "bite" that is not even. That's a new one on me, as the feeling I get and that you are describing is generally a warped rotor. However, I have a hard time believing these rotors actually warp. They are massive chunks of steel.

Anyway, I replaced my front pads (so easy it's stupid), but the pulsing/vibrating still exists. I need to use my parking brake to see if it is still there. If so, I'll replace the rear sets.

In any event, try using your parking brake to stop the truck (on a safe street). If the vibration is still there, I'd say it's the rear pads or rotors. Try pads first.
 
Trdsupranick said:
Hi all!

I just recently noticed some "Jolty-ness" almost a type of tiny vibration feel when I use the brakes getting ready to slow down a bit before a complete stop. It is very very faint but it feels just a bit different from normal.

*NOTE* This is not the little jolt you get when you stop...like most 4runners feel. I understand that is normal.

I recently had my oil changed and did a tire rotation my brake pads are good at least for awhile. They dont make any noise at all...just that vibration faint feel when I press the brakes.

Any thoughts by anyone? Has anyone had this type of brake feeling at all?
Click to expand...

Ur rear rotors R bad U my be able to cut it out if you have enough meat on the rotors. They heat up. U need new pads also. good luck
 
I've been having the same problem lately. Is it safe to say that if the pulsating doesn't come throught the steering wheel that it is the rear rotors?

Also I've done many brake jobs on different cars, but not the runner. Do these rotors slip over the axle/wheel studs - or do they have to be unbolted and dealing with wheel bearing grease?
 
BlairB said:
I would guess warped rotors, if it was an issue of tires you would feel it much more often than when just slowing down
Click to expand...

:iagree: If your rotors are warped, that means they got out of round. In other words the face inside and / or out isn't square to the brake pads. As you step on the brakes hard to stop the pressure is too great to be felt as the pads travel across the high and low spots on the rotors.

However as you start to put on the brakes the light pressure from your foot means the pads are able to transfer the in and out movement over the high to low spots into vibration you're probably experiencing. When you step on the brakes lightly if you feel a pulsating thing going on...that's what warped rotors feel like.
 
I had the same problem with my 04 when I first got it... got two new rear rotors at AutoZone for $80 bucks, only took about an hour to put both of em on... reused my old pads cuz they were still good.... hadn't had a problem since! Instant fix!! no more throbbing, pulsing, vibrating... whatever you wanna call it... sounds sexy...
 
blackmax said:
Mine do it BAD. I was also told that this can be a result of worn pads, that are now getting a "bite" that is not even. That's a new one on me, as the feeling I get and that you are describing is generally a warped rotor. However, I have a hard time believing these rotors actually warp. They are massive chunks of steel.

Anyway, I replaced my front pads (so easy it's stupid), but the pulsing/vibrating still exists. I need to use my parking brake to see if it is still there. If so, I'll replace the rear sets.

In any event, try using your parking brake to stop the truck (on a safe street). If the vibration is still there, I'd say it's the rear pads or rotors. Try pads first.
Click to expand...

Even though the rotors look to be "massive chunks of steel", believe me they can either warp just enough to create a braking vibration, or in some cases, the steel is not uniform in hardness in all places and it will wear differently which can result in slight differences in the thickness of the rotor. It takes a dial indicator to measure disc runout to positively determine either condition.

If you have a 4th gen, the parking brake test will not tell you anything because all 4th gens have 4 wheel disc brakes. The parking brake system is a small set of drum type shoes on the inside of the rear discs, and do not contact the rotors in the same maner as the calipers/pads do.
 
Last edited:
nismojason said:
I've been having the same problem lately. Is it safe to say that if the pulsating doesn't come throught the steering wheel that it is the rear rotors?

Also I've done many brake jobs on different cars, but not the runner. Do these rotors slip over the axle/wheel studs - or do they have to be unbolted and dealing with wheel bearing grease?
Click to expand...

They slip over the studs. I just replaced a caliper a few months ago and the rotor just hung on the wheel studs, kind of thought they would be frozen to something!
 
nismojason said:
I've been having the same problem lately. Is it safe to say that if the pulsating doesn't come throught the steering wheel that it is the rear rotors?

Also I've done many brake jobs on different cars, but not the runner. Do these rotors slip over the axle/wheel studs - or do they have to be unbolted and dealing with wheel bearing grease?
Click to expand...

Once you have removed the calipers from the mounting point, the rotors should be easy to remove from the hub. Several things to be aware of when reinstalling rotors after resurfacing, or installing new ones. Be sure to clean any accumulated rust and debris from the face of the hub where the rotor mates to it. Any debris or rust build up can cause the rotor to not turn true and cause vibration and shake. Also, when reinstalling the wheels, make sure to use a torque wrench and tighten the lug nuts in a crossing pattern. If the lugs are not tightened properly, expecially too tight, this can cause the rotor to warp and cause vibration.
 
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