Well I've had this problem on my 95 for a while, but its getting worse...a lot worse. I know the rotors are a little warped, but not that much, and because this symptom doesn't occur all the time, I don't think it has much to do with the rotors.

Here's what happens: If I am on the go pedal, and the transmission was locked in 4th gear (TC locked up), and I take my foot off the gas and within a second or two I hit the brakes, the entire truck will shake horribly. Now I don't know if me putting it in nuetral actually helped or not, because by the time I got it into nuetral it usually is about to stop anyways. Sometimes if I push real hard on the pedal it will stop the shimmying/shaking, but it also makes me stop short (duh). It usually seems to come from the drivers side front wheel.

Now I don't think its the rotors, so could it be one of the following:
1. Bad Caliper
2. Bad brake line
3. Something in the transmission
4. Bad wheel bearing (it seems tight, but who really knows)
5. Master cylinder
6. ABS

I can't think of anything else. Has anyone ever had this problem or something like it? I may end up just replacing everything this weekend, but I don't want to throw money at the wrong parts. Hope somebody can figure this out, because the few guys I know in town are clueless...

 

I used to drive a tacoma and it started to have the same symptoms. If you can't feel it in the pedal too bad check your driveshaft u-joints. Bad ones can cause significant shakes and shimmers at odd times.

Good luck!

 

Do you have drums on the back? when a drum breaks it can get pretty rough

 

sounds like the famous death wobble bad track bar has very little to do with brakes happend to me on my 95 till i got track bar replaced

 

Another vote for a bad track bar!

 

Well wouldn't death wobble happen whenever I hit a bump? Or at least sometimes when I hit a bump, not just when I'm breaking?

Wouldn't a broken drum makes it shimmy everytime I hit the brakes and they engaged? Not just some of the time?

I used to work for Dana...I know its not U-Joints, I checked that first, besides, its coming from the front end even when 4wd is or isn't engaged.

Any other ideas? I'm gonna put the rig on jackstands this weekend and see if the trackbar really is loose.

 

Sounds like death wobble to me also. Have someone turn the wheel back and forth while you are looking at the steering and suspension components. Also jack it up and check for ball-joint or wheel bearing play. I'll bet you find your problem.

 

i have exact same problems with mine replaces pads and rotors still there maby a little worse. also when stopping the brake pedal will push back at my foot then release than push back, repeatedly. i'm stumped and my buddies 94 does the same thing, he has a thrun track bar to, brand new. my wheel bearings are in very good shape also, no play at all

 

So rhino? Does this mean its not death wobble. I'm hoping to be able to look at it today, but I get out of one job, and go work on my buddies Toyota as a second job (just to keep him happy, my younger brother is the one who burned up his clutch). I'll check to see if it really is the track bar, otherise I'm gonna try rotating the tires to see if maybe I have a busted belt, seems unlikely, but anything could happen.

 

My wifes truck was doing the samething 96 4x4 gaser. replaced the brake pads, rotors, front wheel bearings, still did it now it got me mad, replaced tie rod ends, ball joints, track bar, still did it, now I was ready to burn the thing, So I looked at my dads truck 96 4x4 ctd took his Caliper off and noticed his caliper bolts were in the caliper alot tighter.( more of a snug fit) On her truck the caliper had a bit of wiggle when baolted on. Only when there wasnt any pressure on the pads. Put on new new bolts and bushings inside of caliper were bolts go in, and that had it fixed, cost 20 bucks both sides. I hate her truck. But now I look for goofy things like that.

2003 dodge ctd Qcab Sbox full load bone stock

 

An out of round drum, or drum with a shiny spot would cause it as well. The rears are known to not stay in adjustment very well, sometimes it may be grabbing better than other times.

 

Mine was acting the same way when I got it, it got a little worse month by month tot he point where it felt completely unsafe! As it turned out - after doing front pads & rotors ($$ouch - at Midas) that the dealer actually figured out that the REAR DRUM Rotors were out-of-round! They were so bad they had to use a torch to get them off, all egg-shaped and chewed up inside!

Once they replaced those and put in new rear pads, the truck stopped as smooth as glass, it was nice to have the truck in better shape then when I bought it...and those drum rotors have lasted well too.