Bad brake shudder and “Clunking” sound

Evening Gents,

I need some help here on a problem that has plagued me since March. Straight to it......

Back in March I replaced my rotors and pads (StopTech cryo slotted and TRD pads) followed proper bedding procedures as well...... in May I began feeling a light shudder when coming to a stop from freeway speeds (off ramp etc). The shudder got progressively worse to the point where the truck was shaking pretty violently when braking from the same speeds.

Mind you the shudder only happens during normal braking..... slamming on the brakes there was no shudder

Being as though I had a spare, I swapped the driver side rotor and it fixed the issue. Ran it like this for another two months and now same thing.

onto the clunking..... I am now hearing an audible “clunk” sound coming from the front when slowly coming off a driveway or similar slope. The thing is that it doesn’t do it every time. I can’t seem to get it to repeat when my wife drives it and I’m outside listening.

Anyhow, I’m sitting here flabbergasted. I thought it might have been a bad wheel bearing, but a new rotor wouldn’t have stopped the brake shudder for a few months, I wouldn’t think.

I am at Witt’s end. I am ready to call it a brake issue and pull the trigger on a StopTech BBK because I’m under the impression it could be a caliper or pad or rotor (brake issue), but I don’t want some wheel bearing potentially ruining a BBK if that is in fact the issue.

I need help gentlemen...... I don’t know what could be causing this.

if you have made it this far it is much appreciated. Thank you!

Kris

 

Just to double check, I believe StopTech Cryo rotors are directional due to the direction of the vanes. Looking at the rotor, the end of slot towards the front of the vehicle should be towards the outside of rotor. If they are installed incorrectly the rotors may warp prematurely. The clunking may be the front pads shifting in the caliper when the wheel changes direction, super common. Hope that helps!

 

First off, I appreciate you taking the time to read that long winded story.

I did ensure the rotors were installed on the correct sides. They had “R” and “L” stickers and I also installed per the instruction sheet. I’ll quadruple check tomorrow morning when I jack it up to feel for play in the bearings.

thanks for the insight!

 

I have no experience with either of those 2 brake components.
In my experience, shaking in the steering wheel when braking is usually a pad/rotor issue.

Have you contacted StopTech?
Maybe there is a recommendation on pad type and material that works best with those rotors?

 

use a torque wrench on these?? if not theres your answer

 

Check those caliper bracket bolts. If not torqued correctly they can loosen up and you'll hear clunking especially when going over bumps. Not sure if it rains much where you're at but hot brakes splashing through puddles of water will warp your rotors really fast.

 

Thanks for your input. The shaking isn’t really coming from the steering wheel. It’s more so the entire front end of the truck. I called stop tech and they said a ceramic pad like the trd shouldn’t pose a threat. They mentioned hawk, so I may swap those out.

Unfortunately/fortunately I did use a Tarquinius wrench. I just went back over it and they’re sill torqued to spec.

Thanks for the insight man. I went through and double checked the torque of nearly everything in the damn wheel well and went for a drive. The shaking persists.

*UPDATE*

“Clunking” is solved

So I replaced the body mounts a few months back and checked those...... they were loose. Tightened them up and no more clunking.

Still having an issue with the brakes and shaking. I tested the bearings by grabbing the 12&6 and shaking, no play..... I rotated both wheels while off the ground, no unusual noise..... and finally I grabbed my coilover while spinning the wheel, and no vibration at all, smooth as butter. So I believe the bearings are good.

Could an old “Sticking” caliper be the culprit? I called Mark at Frosted Rotors and he said to check ball joints as well, which I did. He said that it could be the caliper sticking and causing uneven wear to the rotor which could explain the new rotor temporarily fixing the shaking.