Hey, I'm new here but completely out of ideas on this problem. I have a 99 tahoe 4 wheel with brake problems. When I hit the brakes they shake like mad but it is only after a long drive or when I am at high speeds or towing my boat. I can run around town with little or no problems. I have replaced the pads and rotors and that did nothing. Any other ideas?
brake problem
- Thread starter bsbladine
- Start date
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ravingmadman
Chief Knuckle Buster
Drums/rotors? Wheel bearings? Ball joints? Could even be steering. Describe the shaking- is it side to side, or wheel hop, or studdering?
ravingmadman
Chief Knuckle Buster
Hm. How are your shocks?
ravingmadman
Chief Knuckle Buster
Can you feel the shake in the pedal, the wheel, or neither? I'm still getting some background. I'll spit out a prognosis in a minute.... 
ravingmadman
Chief Knuckle Buster
Ok. I bet you'll find a good amount of play in your pitman arm, and idler arm. Jack one front wheel off the ground, push/pull left and right on the jacked up wheel. It shouldn't move. Push/pull top to bottom, it shouldn't move. Left-right movement is pitman arm/idler arm, top-bottom is wheel bearings, since you've done the ball joints. If you aren't feeling anything in the pedal, you've replaced the pads/shoes- I'm skeptical of the brakes being the culprit. There are many other forces exerted on the rig while decelerating, and a wobble like that after replacing the brakes smells like steering or suspension to me. Give it a go- I might be way off, but that would be my next thing to check. I have a write up on how to swap out your pitman arm. It isn't expensive (~$50?) or difficult.
ravingmadman
Chief Knuckle Buster
You'll want to do both, because if one is worn, the other is probably just as bad. The pitman arm is like $50, and the idler arm is something like $30. it will take you an hour or two to do.
Here's a guide for the pitman arm- the idler arm is super easy.
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2052&highlight=pitman+arm
ravingmadman
Chief Knuckle Buster
Welcome to the group!!! I have the most boring job in the whole world, so to not just gossip on facebook, I hang out here. There are many really, really smart folks here, who've had the same problems you'll have, or have had, and know the easiest way to fix it. Keep us posted, and get some pictures up of your ride. 
Ok, after a long night I got it back together but I am not sure I got the pitman arm back on the steering gear box completely. Is it ok to have some of the spline still showing or do I need to pull it back apart and get it on farther?
ravingmadman
Chief Knuckle Buster
Yes, you'll have some spline still showing. It is a compression fit, so just make sure you get the proper amount of "oompf" on the nut, and you're good to go.
Cdnguy
Full Access Member
wouldn't be a bad idea to check it after you've driven it a bit.
ravingmadman
Chief Knuckle Buster
+1. Also make sure you grease the ends of the pitman arm and the idler arm. Just put a grease gun on the grease fittings, and put a good couple pumps into them.
Cdnguy
Full Access Member
warped rotors.
ravingmadman
Chief Knuckle Buster
Only when you hit the brakes, or all the time? In your original posts, you mentioned you've already replaced the rotors and ball joints, right?
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