I have an '02 4Runner and was a little worried while driving today. I was going downhill for several miles on the highway and was applying my brakes off and on for about 10 minutes. All of a sudden I noticed that when I applied the brakes, my wheels would shimmy and it caused my steering wheel to shake as well. It felt like I was driving over a rumble strip or something. I was wondering if my brakes were overheating but I didn't smell anything burning. When I got to my destination and the truck was parked for a few hours, the shaking was gone when I began driving again. Could it have been my ABS kicking in? Is this anything to be concerned about? My 4Runner is stock with no mods to the brakes, rims, or tires. Thanks for your help!

 

rotors could be warped, very common on your 4runner . my 99 4runner has warped rotors that need replacing again.

 

Yep.... Rotors are probably warped. Best to just buy some better aftermarket ones, like Brembo. You can find them on tirerack.com. While you're at it, you should replace your pads as well.

 

rotors always warp on a 4runner. had to replace mine when i bought it. if you're on a budget i think autozone has a pair of two for $150.

 

if it happens only when going downhill, then it could be the abs and doing its job. try braking on a level surface and if there's still shuddering then you got warped rotors. otherwise, it's the abs.. i have experienced that many times when going downhill but could never replicate it when it a flat road

 

Don't keep replacing warping rotors. Upgrade to Tundra rotors/calipers when you have to change your brakes. Might as put replacement monies to a better solution.

 

Ive heard that Hawk LTS pads and Brembo rotors help cure the problem alot too. Not as much of a PITA as the Tundra upgrade.

 

Probably warped rotors, like others said.

Same situation already happened once to mine. I replaced the rotors, but should have done the Tundra brake upgrade while I was at it.

These hilly roads here in Hawaii sure do take its toll as the years go by!

 

Like everyone said, it sounds like your rotors are warped. They're very easy to replace, and you should probably replace the pads with them as well. You can, however, get them "trued" if you want.. this is when a thin layer of the rotor is shaved off to make it not warped. But after the rotors get too thin you'll have to replace them.

 

Rotors definitely not warped. Everyone who says this can never prove it through run out measurements.

You've cooked the pads and glazed the rotors. Take off your wheel and you'll see some gold and/or bluish streaks from the overheated pad material. Either get some new, high quality pads (Hawk LTS are the best) and turn the rotors, or just get some new rotors, too. You can find rotors for a decent price from Rock Auto. Don't need "Brembo" rotors, nothing special about them, just something that isn't super cheap, bi-metal junk. Raybestos sells a good, reasonably priced rotor.

 

Why do you say the Tundra upgrade is a PITA? The OP has an 02 sport so his wheels will clear the new calipers, and if he's already going to replace the rotor and pads then might as well upgrade.

 

I dont have the upgrade on my vehicle but I would think its cheaper to replace the rotors & pads instead of doing the entire upgrade.