2003 Brake shimmy

Ok,,Brakes on my 03 Deville shimmy on slowing down. I replaced pads and rotors(had 81,000 miles on them). Still did it. Had tires balanced. Was not as bad but still does it on slowing down. Are bushings bad or what? Bought the car used,no car fax damage reported. Drove fine untill 3 -4 months ago.These should be smooth on braking.

Try slowing down with the parking brake! By that , I mean coming to a very slow stop, depress the parking brake to see if the pulsation is from the rear, not the front.

Could it be a bad tire?

I doubt it. A tire will shimmy whether you apply the brakes or not.

brake shimmy is caused by warped rear rotors, warped front rotors will manifest in a steering shimmy

OK,,On applying the parking brake it did "shake" some,,,I replaced the pads(had about 2 US quarters thickness left). Helped some,,still does it. I think tie rod ends(inner or outer)???

I guess you are bound and determined to do what you want? Resurface the rear rotors just before you change tie rods. Then report back.

i know you said that you replaced the rotors .. but going by what has been reported,
something is wrong back there in the rotor dept.  maybe new rotors were warped or
got warped?

IF it is pulsating or shimmy, it has to be caused by a rotating component.  no?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lithorian

brake shimmy is caused by warped rear rotors, warped front rotors will manifest in a steering shimmy

i think steering shimmy plus brake pedal pulsations ?

He never said 4 rotors, so I assumed only the front 2 were replaced?

The rear rotors have no wear that I can tell (no groves or even any marks). So now I have all new pads and new front rotors. I will take it to have it checked. I cannot think brand new rotors would be warped.

new rotors seldom are warped, but it is possible.

in fact, the used rotors may look great and still be warped.
I cannot tell warped by peeking under the wheel well.

you be smart to do the tests recommended.

A warped rotor especially in the rear can appear to be like new and still be warped. Resurface the rear rotors and report back.

quite the contrary, with my expireonce with brakes about 3 out of 10 new brak rotors purchaced were warped bad, and then 4 out of the remaining 7 were warped slightly. as for the warped front rotors, it depends on the vehicle and degree of the warp really, some times if will pulse the pedal, sometimes not, ive expirerienced it both ways.

Thaks to all who posted,,,,I feel so stupid,,,I put air in all tires(@ 38 lbs) so I would get some better milage and now no shaking,,,smooth as a babbys butt on stopping! Just goes to show check the simple things first.

good to see you got it fixed