Car shakes when braking after new pads and rotors

Welcome to 2CarPros.

If you feel in in the steering as well, you have a warped rotor. Are you certain nothing was hanging up which would have caused the rotor to overheat? If you safely lift the front of the vehicle, are you easily able to turn both wheels? If you have a helper apply and release the brake pedal, does the wheel start to turn again easily? Check this for me.

If you are feeling a pulsation in the brake pedal, unless something was put together wrong, it sounds like a warped rotor which should be under warranty. Everything you described above sounds like you did a good job. And the PB Blaster won't hurt if you sprayed it off with brake cleaner.

Let me know if you have other questions. Also, the easiest way to determine if a warped rotor is in the front or rear is by where you feel the pulsation. If it is more in the steering, suspect the front brakes. If you feel it in the seat or floor, suspect the rear.

Joe

I think I may feel the shaking more in the seat so maybe it's the back rotors causing this. I only changed the front brakes and rotors and the back ones look rough. I planned on changing the back ones in the next week. The car shook a lot when braking prior to changing the front rotors and brakes. The shaking feels different now than previously but maybe its because only my back rotors are bad now. I didn't think it was the back rotors causing the shaking because it felt different. But how you explained how front and back rotors cause you to feel shaking in different spots I think that's it. Thanks it was driving me crazy. I'll let you know when I change back rotors if everything feels better afterwards. Thanks again!

Welcome back:

Just FYI. The rear brake rotors are a bit more difficult to remove because behind the rotor's hat are the parking brake shoes. You will most likely need to adjust them down to remove the rotor.

Here are the directions for removal and replacement of the parking brake shoes. I'm adding them because the directions show how to make the needed adjustments both to remove them and then to readjust them after the new rotor is installed.

_________________________________________________-

PARKING BRAKE SHOE


Removal and Installation


REMOVAL

WARNING:
Clean any dust from the parking brake shoes and back plates with a vacuum dust collector. Never blow with compressed air.
1. Remove rear tires with power tool.
2. Remove disc rotor. See: Brake Caliper > Removal and Replacement > Removal And Installation.

CAUTION:
Parking brake completely in the released position.
3. If disc rotor cannot be removed, remove as follows:
a. Fix the disc rotor with wheel nuts and remove the adjusting hole plug.


pic 1


b. Using suitable tool, rotate adjuster (1) in direction (B) to retract and loosen parking brake shoe.
4. Remove anti-rattle pins, retainers, anti-rattle spring, adjuster spring and return springs.

CAUTION:
Never drop the removed parts.
5. Remove parking brake shoes, adjuster assembly and toggle lever.

CAUTION:
- The parking brake shoes for the front side are made of different materials from those for the rear side. Never misidentify them when removing.
- Never drop the removed parts.

INSTALLATION
Install in the reverse order of removal.
- Apply PBC (Poly Butyl Cuprysil) grease or silicone-based grease to the back plate and brake shoe.

CAUTION:
The parking brake shoes for the front side are made of different materials from those for the rear side. Never misidentify them when removing and replacing.


pic 2



pic 3


- Assemble adjusters so that threaded part is expanded when rotating it in the direction shown by arrow.
- Shorten adjuster by rotating it.
- When disassembling, apply PBC (Poly Butyl Cuprysil) grease or silicone-based grease to threads.
- Check parking brake shoe sliding surface and drum inner surface for grease. Wipe it off if it adhere on the surfaces.

______________________________________

I hope this helps. Take care and I will watch for the results.

Joe