Shudder/Vibration while braking.

Almost all of the internet posts regarding this issue claimed that brakes were the source of the problem. I don't think so! Here are the specifics: my 99 2WD V6 Automatic shudders and vibrates when braking hard. Appears to be coming from the back of the truck, cannot feel it in the brake pedal or steering wheel. This has been an issue for so long (10 years or more) that I cannot remember when it started. The problem has persisted despite tire rotations and replacements. I have recently replaced front pads and rotors, rear shoes and drums. Since I never use the emergency brake (which adjusts the rear brakes) the rear shoes looked like new, but I replaced anyway. After auto adjusting the rear brakes (repeatedly setting the emergency brake over and over again) the shuddering got much worse. It occurs if I stop without using front brakes by pulling on the E-brake at 20 - 30 mph (haven't tried at higher speed). Visual inspection of rear suspension shows no obvious problems. Anyone able to help?

 

did u use oem parts for the drums? sometimes aftermarket stuff is not perfectly shaped, so that could cause a bumpy braking experience.

 

Maybe I need to get my "new" drums turned.....?

 

So you messed with the brakes and the problem got worse, but you don't think it's the brakes?

 

I would double check those drums, they can be picky

 

this is interesting, I was recently checking out a similar '99 PRErunner 3.4 for my nephew that was on 'sale' for 5k @ 200k miles, I test drove it around the lot and the very first thing I noticed were the brakes were extremely grabby from what I was ever used to in mine

 

there is a possibility that the drums did not seat flat on the axle hub due to rust or maybe they sat cocked and you tightenend the lug nuts. Changing the rear shoes should not have altered the brakes unless the shoes you bought are junk. In the old days shoes needed to be arced to the drum diameter by a machine that removed lining material so that the new shoes fit right. Modern shoes should be pre-arced so that the leading and trailing edges of the shoes are a smaller diameter so that they self seat.

 

Your rear drums might be over adjusting causing your shoes to lock up your rear end. Jack up the back and see if your tire can spin freely without the parking break on. My shuddered like crazy and it was because the parking break wasn’t adjusted properly.

Edit: also if you changed the rear shoe you should use oem shoes and replace all the springs, cause they loose their strength over time.