Help me save some money...Brakes are shuddering

[Jeepster_nut]

I have a 95 Jeep Cherokee with ABS. The rear brakes were done back in December (new shoes, spring kit, and new drums). The past few weeks the rear end had been shuddering dangerously between 45mph or so to a stop. Its really bad.
I thought my drums may be warped, so Carquest was good enough to give me two new ones for free.

The new drums didn't help.

The shoes are looking good. I dont know what it can be.

I isolated it to the rears by driving in a straight line and gently pulling on the e-brake. This causes the whole back end to shudder and shake. The front brakes are new as well (calipers, rotors, pads). The steering wheel doesn't shake, I know its the rear where this is occuring.

I have a app. to drop it off at the dealer on Wednesday, and I know its going to cost me $$$. What can it be?? TIA

 

[Shannow]

I've got it on my 4Runner after replacing the shoes.

Dust...take the drums off, clean them out, and it goes away.

Repeat at 3 monthly intervals.

 

[Jeepster_nut]

All the dust came out when I put the new drums on that Carquest gave me. I wiped the brake shoes off too. As soon as I got it all back together, within a days time it was doing it again. It happens more when everything gets good and hot. I'm stumped

 

[MrCritical]

Did anyone check the runout on the new drums before installation?

 

[Jeepster_nut]

Yes, I had the Carquest guy do it. Thats what I thought was wrong with the original new ones.
I know the adjusters are original as are the wheel cylinders. I am able to adjust the starwheel from behind the backing plate, but I can only adjust it so the shoes tighten against the drum, it will not let me back off the shoes.

 

[obbop]

If all explored avenues are a dead end, check the brake proportioning valve. Not likely but have heard of the rare problem in it that caused symptoms to appear elsewhere.

Also, last time entire brake system was fushed totally?

Contaminated brake fluid?

Did you check on-line for technical service bulletins?

Any wear on the lug bolts?

Axle bearings worn?

Good luck

 

[Mokanic]

Quote:

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I have a 95 Jeep Cherokee with ABS. The rear brakes were done back in December (new shoes, spring kit, and new drums). The past few weeks the rear end had been shuddering dangerously between 45mph or so to a stop. Its really bad.
I thought my drums may be warped, so Carquest was good enough to give me two new ones for free.

The new drums didn't help.

The shoes are looking good. I dont know what it can be.

I isolated it to the rears by driving in a straight line and gently pulling on the e-brake. This causes the whole back end to shudder and shake. The front brakes are new as well (calipers, rotors, pads). The steering wheel doesn't shake, I know its the rear where this is occuring.

I have a app. to drop it off at the dealer on Wednesday, and I know its going to cost me $$$. What can it be?? TIA

---

Does this thing have Ford's antilock system on it? Some did and the RABS valve would cause the symtoms you describe. The dealer will let you know shortly.

 

[Jeepster_nut]

Quote:

---

If all explored avenues are a dead end, check the brake proportioning valve. Not likely but have heard of the rare problem in it that caused symptoms to appear elsewhere.

Also, last time entire brake system was fushed totally?

Contaminated brake fluid?

Did you check on-line for technical service bulletins?

Any wear on the lug bolts?

Axle bearings worn?

Good luck

---

I flushed the fluid when I did the brakes in December.
There arent any TSBs that I know of
Lug bolts are good too.
I don't know about the axel bearings, I sure hope not

I do like this Jeep, but if continues to nickle and dime me to death, I'm thinking of putting it out to pasture.

 

[Jeepster_nut]

Quote:

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Quote:

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I have a 95 Jeep Cherokee with ABS. The rear brakes were done back in December (new shoes, spring kit, and new drums). The past few weeks the rear end had been shuddering dangerously between 45mph or so to a stop. Its really bad.
I thought my drums may be warped, so Carquest was good enough to give me two new ones for free.

The new drums didn't help.

The shoes are looking good. I dont know what it can be.

I isolated it to the rears by driving in a straight line and gently pulling on the e-brake. This causes the whole back end to shudder and shake. The front brakes are new as well (calipers, rotors, pads). The steering wheel doesn't shake, I know its the rear where this is occuring.

I have a app. to drop it off at the dealer on Wednesday, and I know its going to cost me $$$. What can it be?? TIA

---

Does this thing have Ford's antilock system on it? Some did and the RABS valve would cause the symtoms you describe. The dealer will let you know shortly.

---

I'm not sure about it having Ford's anitilock system. From what I can tell, I think these only have Chrysler parts, with an AMC engine and Aisin Warner Transmission.

 

[mikeg5]

nickle and dime you to death hahaha.. welcome to the world of jeep.. this is why i dont buy them anymore and went with a toyota and man what a difference in quality.. good luck with that jeep. hey atleast you will learn alot about the inards of a vehicle lol.. go ahead and save up about 500$ in your savings just for vehicle repair. you will need it down the road i promise

 

[Jeepster_nut]

Quote:

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nickle and dime you to death hahaha.. welcome to the world of jeep.. this is why i dont buy them anymore and went with a toyota and man what a difference in quality.. good luck with that jeep. hey atleast you will learn alot about the inards of a vehicle lol.. go ahead and save up about 500$ in your savings just for vehicle repair. you will need it down the road i promise

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This post did nothing to help with my original question. But thanks for trying.

Remember, if it weren't for Jeeps, we would all be driving Toyotas and speaking Japanese.

 

[wantin150]

Any chance you have a minor leak resulting in fluid on the shoes? Would fluid on the shoes cause a "grab/slip" effect resulting in the shudder?

 

[mikeg5]

haha too funny... well with age comes wisdom and after a grand cherokee (2001) and 1996 wrangler under my belt and all the $$ and time i have had to put into those things came toyota tacoma. 0 $ spent and just maintanence time thats it.. i love it.. i wont go back to jeep, if i do, i will get rid of it before 80k miles. that year model you have is one of the better ones. dont get one 1999-2005.. esp the grand cherokees. loaded with transmission and electrical issues. they ranked poorly in quality and after owning one, i beleive it... sorry i cant help you with the brakes

 

[mikeg5]

thats what i was thinking. you maybe leaking rear axle fluid on your drums. that means the rear axles seals are going bad.. how many miles you have on the jeep?? if over 100k i bet that may be the problem other than what MOKANIC said. you will have to pull the drum off to see if you see grease or oil around it.

 

[Jeepster_nut]

I checked the seals, the pads are dry. No diff. fluid coming into the brake area. I brake cleaned the pads and the surrounding area.

I have heard the grand cherokees are a world apart from the regular XJ's as far as problems go. Strange considering they are both Jeeps. They have different engine/transmission combos that the XJ's do.
My transmission is made by Aisin Warner (AW4) and actually was used in certain toyota models (the Supra I believe). The I-6 in it dates back to the AMC days of the 1960's.
I own a Civic for commuting and the Jeep is my winter vehicle. It keeps my mechanical urge to tinker satisfied, the Civic is the appliance.

 

[mazduh30]

Got me stumped. I would say out of round drums, maybe overtight lug nuts. But you said drums, spring kit, and shoes replaced in Dec (and carquest even honored the replacement warranty). Have you check u-joints and the center bearing? Maybe see your local Jeep dealer for any TSBs.

 

[mikeg5]

maybe someone didnt torque something down right.. find an online jeep forum and ask them. there are quite a few of them around. sign up and ask away..you sure its the back breaks and not the front shuddering? how many miles on the jeep?

 

[mikeg5]

checked rearend and or shocks and etc?? i dunno i am just taking stabs at this. look into what MOKANIC was talking about

 

[Jeepster_nut]

I haven't checked the u-joints or center bearing. There are about 112,000 on this Jeep. I bought the Civic to pile on the miles.
My last XJ went far longer mileage wise without this issue. I have to drop it off on Wednesday at the dealer. So I will post back with the fix. Wish me and my wallet luck!

 

[mikeg5]

hmm u joints... do you have grease fittings back there? when was the last time you change rearend grease\oil? good luck to ya and post back.. interesting issue here.... look into a tacoma or 4 runner next go around lol. you wont be sorry i promise