I need help!!! I replaced my stock rotors w/ some brand new cross drilled/slotted brembos and new pads. I desperatly wanted the shaking to go away, but the shake is still there. At speeds of 65 the 4runner shakes as well. I've also had an alignment done a few weeks ago, but that did not help either. Any suggestions?

 

Try having your tires balanced. Do you feel the vibration in the steering wheel or seat?
Maybe we can try and isolate where it's coming from.

 

It's definitly in the seat

 

How many miles on your rig? What size and brand of wheels and tires? Steering wheel shaking would indicate front wheel balance. Seat vibrations would probably suggest either rear wheel balance or a number of other things. I had the very same shaking and it turned out being a u-joint going bad. It's not a very common problem, so it's usually one of the last things they check. Your rear wheel balancing would be the best place to start. Remember: if you get a vibration while driving, it's always going to be a rotating part of some kind. Good Luck!

Edit: BTW, when front brake rotors warp, the feeling will be a pretty noticeable shaking in the front end only when the brakes are applied. If it happens when you're driving and not braking, it's probably a wheel/tire balance issue.

 

I only have 79k miles on my 1998. I have stock 16 inch rims and those damn Wrangler tires. Ahh, the Ujoint. My main concern is when I apply the brake, could a bad ujoint be involved while I brake?

 

the u-joint is not involved directly in braking, but you will feel it, if its bad, at certain speeds. try greasing it and check to see if they are loose.
do you feel it at speed or only while braking?

i used flat brembos and the shudder is gone

 

Obviously Wranglers aren't the best tire out there, but I haven't heard of any wheel balancing issues with them.

If your u joint is the culprit, you'll feel it whenever you're moving...not necessarily worse when braking. The brakes and u joints are totally seperate sytems. Do you feel a vibration when you're just driving and not applying the brakes?

 

No, only when I apply the brakes. More so when braking hard; especially on an off ramp.

 

If it's coming from the steering wheel, it's possible that the shop that did your brakes (or you if you did them yourself) over tightened the lug nuts, which will also cause a warp...even in brand new rotors. Or if the brakes were heated up and you drove through water causing them to cool quickly will cause them to warp too.

That's the limit of my expertise I'm sorry to say. Maybe someone else can chime in with some thoughts...

 

Could be warped drums?

 

The same day that I had my rotors/brakes done I felt the shake. So I dont think it has do do w/ the rotors being warped. Warped drums huh? has anyone else had this problem? That is one thing I have not had checked.

 

are your rears adjusted properly?

 

I'd say no. I've tried the reverse ebrake technique, but I did not notice any difference. I pretty much brake w/ my fronts only.

 

Shocks will play games with shaking also. Had that problem on a Chev. once. Replaced the shocks and was smooth as a baby's butt. This a problem that can be caused by so many things in the front end. Hope you find it and if you do please post what it was here. Mike

 

Don't rule out the rotors warping from the shop overtightening the lugnuts as was stated earlier. If that occured, you'd feel it as soon as you left the shop.

 

The rotors could of been warped even if they were new, depending on how they were stored/shipped.

Did you buy them off ebay?

 

yeah, I bought them off Ebay.

 

I do feel like my shocks are just about shot too. I'm curious about the overtightening possibility.

 

To start, I'd replace the shocks/struts if you think they're the culprit (you're gonna replace 'em soon anyway, right?). Then pick up a pair of Brembo rotors either online or from Autozone or any other parts store. They're not hard to install. If you have a shop install them, be sure they tighten the lug nuts by hand and finish them off with a torque wrench to the proper torque (82 ft. lbs. for my '00, if I recall). It'll be in your owner's manual.

Good luck.

 

If the vibes are in the seat it is usualy something in the rear. I would have your drums turned.