The last few days my brakes ( or so I thought) started pulsating/grinding when I come to a stop. I changed out a bad rotor and did pads on both sides today, pulsating/grinding is still there whenever I touch the brakes.

It's only when coming to a stop, if I hit the brakes to slow down it doesn't happen.

I have a slight axle seal leak on the front so I opened up the CAD and checked everything out, looks ok.

I do have a slight grinding in the left front wheel bearing but it does not seem to have any play in it.

I havent checked the back brakes yet ( assumed it was the front since the pads were worn down)

Any ideas or common problems like this? The truck doesnt really shake, just a loud grind/clunk and the brake pedal pulsates badly.

Thanks for any help

 

Check rear brakes. Couldn't hurt anything. The axle seal needs to be changed. Pulsating brakes is typically warped rotor, but if bearings are in question, I would replace them as well. Don't want a wheel coming off on the highway!

 

It could really just fall off on the highway if the bearing goes? thats comforting haha. Guess I'll change out the bearing whether or not its the problem.

 

Yup. If the bearing's toast and you push it too much you'll know, it should be fairly obvious there is a problem when the wheel starts to lean inward, it happened to our '97 F250 when the driver side wheel bearing went out.

 

To describe the symptom better....It's the exact same as when the pads wear out and begin to grind the rotor. Same pulsating/grinding except I just replaced both sets of front pads and the drivers side rotor due to bad grooving from pads wearing out.

 

Would worn out rear brake shoes cause this? seems like it has to be a brake issue as it only happens when I press the brake pedal.

 

Check the passenger side rotor. Warpage (from heat) will cauise pulsating when braking. Only way to measure is chuck up in lathe and check runout with dial indicator.

 

Do you have ABS?

Have you perused any other threads here regarding brake issues for symptoms or troubleshooting moves?

 

Has rear wheel abs. I've searched threads on here and can't seem to find anyone with the same issue. I'm going to check the bearings again tomorrow morning and take a look at the back brakes. Hopefully it will just be the passenger side rotor, although I'm sure it wont be that easy. Truck has 215k on it and everything is starting to break lately.

 

Pull rear drums and check rear brakes as well. If they are inoperative, the front brakes will carry all braking, and will be inadequate. This could cause overheating (warpage).