[BULLITTBUilder]

I would guess that this has been asked before but I want to make sure of what the problem is and what I can do to fix it. From time to time after driving when I get on the brakes the truck shakes. The WJ shimmy only comes from the front wheels and is even from side to side (one side doesn't shake more than the other) This is an intermittent problem and is unpredictable it would seem as to when it happens. In other words sometimes it happens when I first take the truck out, others while driving/returning. I do not ride the brakes nor do I jam on them when I need to stop. If it is rotor warp I don't understand why because all the lug nuts are properly secured. What can I do to fix this problem?

[rm2001wj]

Probably not warped, since it is only a "time to time" sort of thing. Unfortunately, I can't say what it is though. My wife's 04 did pretty much the same thing for a while, but after a couple of thousand miles, it went away. Until it went away, I was pretty sure it was warped rotors.

[JCZJ]

If you wait it out and the warping isn't too bad, the pads may wear the rotors down evenly (or more even than before) anyway.

[ZJPunk98]

Well there could be a few issues causing the shaking. I've been through this for the last year. I've replace the entire braking system with an aftermaket one to fix the problem.

First: I disagree with the previous post. If you rotor are worn unevenly, using them longer will not even the wear. I can tell you more about why this is so if you want.

Second: if it is intermittent, it could be a few things such as worn knuckle slider (the part of the knuckle that the pad slides on. this can be different depending on the model), one or two wearing hub and bearing assemblies (in my case 2), your alignment or balancing may be slightly off causing you to notice the skating with certain wheel positions, and finally you should check your steering linkage.

Gotta get back to work... i'll finish the post later

[CLNinja]

how old are the brakes? ( pads and rotors )

[BULLITTBUilder]

i am unsure how old the rotors are but the pads are less than 1year about 12k miles. it is definitely not steering linkage related because i just changed those parts (drag link,tie rod)track bar is good. its been aligned. the rotors actually look fine no warping/scoring... again this does not occur everyday and the circumstances when it happens are not the same

[99avant]

A dragging caliper might do this too.

[Redbob]

My '04 did exactly as you described, shaking occasionally, but it seemed more related to how hard I was braking - hard braking always seemed to bring it on.
The pads were fairly new, so I just bought new rotors, and that fixed it: my guess is the problem was rotor thickness variation, not at all the same thing as warpage (or runout), and much harder to detect: thickness variation of less than .001" will caused pronounced shaking when braking, even if the runout is well within specs.

[ZJPunk98]

Originally Posted by Redbob

my guess is the problem was rotor thickness variation, not at all the same thing as warpage (or runout), and much harder to detect: thickness variation of less than .001" will caused pronounced shaking when braking, even if the runout is well within specs.

Good point and also as 99avant said it could be a hanging caliper

[cologc46]

I had braking vibration on my WJ. It is a 2003 and at the time, only had about 20K miles. I feared the vibration would ruin calipers, or wheel bearings, so I replaced the rotors right away. A pair of new front rotors from Napa only cost me about $60 and eliminated the vibration. Easy fix too, just remove the wheel, give the old rotor a whack with a rubber mallet, and put on the new one. Brakes are perfect now. If you dont have money for new rotors, take your old ones to Napa and have them turned, see if that cuts down or eliminates the vibration. Turning cost should be $15/rotor.

[ravenldy79]

My '03 WJ keeps eating rotors like it's going outta style. I put new rotors on it last yr that were slotted and drilled and the thing is still warping the rotors. Has anyone had any luck fixing this problem? My boyfriend thought that if we retro fitted '04 brake components on it that this could solve it along with some heavier duty rotors and pads. Any thoughts?

[Turbonut]

Originally Posted by ravenldy79

My '03 WJ keeps eating rotors like it's going outta style. I put new rotors on it last yr that were slotted and drilled and the thing is still warping the rotors. Has anyone had any luck fixing this problem? My boyfriend thought that if we retro fitted '04 brake components on it that this could solve it along with some heavier duty rotors and pads. Any thoughts?

'04 would be the same as '03. Make certain the lug nuts are torqued to specification, not by feel or some 800lb gorilla, and stay off heavy brake use. Our '01 had 135K and no rotor problems.

[BlackShuck]

I've read that unless meticulous care is taken during brake bed-in procedures, that thickness variation can happen over and over again.

Installing '04 parts on an '03 would be pointless.

[jeepgcnewbie]

Originally Posted by ravenldy79

My '03 WJ keeps eating rotors like it's going outta style. I put new rotors on it last yr that were slotted and drilled and the thing is still warping the rotors. Has anyone had any luck fixing this problem? My boyfriend thought that if we retro fitted '04 brake components on it that this could solve it along with some heavier duty rotors and pads. Any thoughts?

My 04 larado has this problem. The lower slide pins on the caliper were rusted in place. Still havent solved the problem but that was part of it and a co-worker thinks that is what ruined my new rotatrs.

[TMCXJ]

"If it is rotor warp I don't understand why because all the lug nuts are properly secured."

Could you define what you mean by "properly secured"? If you mean that they've been tightened to proper torque values, then listen to above. If NOT, get your torque wrench out and start there.