Brake Shake/Pulsing - Cannot Diagnose

Hello,

I’ve had a 2015 CM for about two years and have been fighting brake issues since I got it. Hoping you all can help me diagnose a root cause because fixes from a couple shops are not holding up.

I bought the truck with what felt like moderately warped rotors. Steering wheel shook under moderate braking and it felt like the brakes were pulsing, not like ABS. Took them to a local shop, they diagnosed bad front rotors, replaced front pads and rotors. Truck felt better, but the issue returned after a few months. Same shop diagnosed bad rear rotors, replaced rear pads and rotors. Truck felt better, but the issue returned. Took it back to them, said maybe something they installed was out of spec and warrantied all four rotors and pads, parts and labor. Truck felt good, issue returned after a few months. Went back, they diagnosed a sticking right front caliper. I bought the caliper, they installed it & warranty replaced the FR rotor and pad. Guess what’s back after a few months?

A few pieces of extra info:
Truck has 160k
All suspension components appear to be stock and everything else in the truck is stock AFAIK
Tires are Geolandars, new on the truck when I bought it. They have about 40k driven on them.
I do not have any steering wheel shake or vibration while driving, or any other weird steering issues.
The shop I’ve been using has been around forever with a good reputation. We use them for our fleet vehicles at work & almost everyone that works there uses them for our personal vehicles. They seem honest as far as mechanics go.

Any ideas on what I could look for to help diagnose the root issue? I have seen enough on here to pick up that Tundras have an appetite for brakes, but warping rotors within a month or two is pretty crazy.

Any help you can offer is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

I too have a steering wheel shake when braking and have new rotors and pads on my truck but i also have a slight steering wheel shake at highway speeds from time to time so i am going to follow this post and hopefully we both can get some answers on what to try.

 

Did you only replace one caliper and rotor the last go around? I’ve always replaced them in twos and have likewise been told to replace in twos.

 

Check bearings.

 

Yes, just the one. I asked why not both & they said no reason to when the other caliper checked out ok.

Will do.

 

Same issue here with my 2014 with 125K. Interested to hear what others find. The only thing I do not like about the truck....Ive tried OEM and NAPA Gold rotors. Last time I worked them did all new calipers, pads and rotor and lasted about 25k miles at most. Very frustrating.

Just got a new pilot for my wife and driving it around makes me realize how much brake pulsing I don't even notice anymore.

 

A handheld heat sensor gun is a useful diagnostic tool.
Continuously warping rotors is usually a sticking caliper, which you’ve experienced, or the replacement rotor was poor quality.
After driving and experiencing the shudder, immediately pull off the road to a safe space and “shoot” all 4 rotors for temp readings. The guilty culprit(s) will be hotter than the others.