I have 17,800 miles on my 2004 2500HD crew cab 4x4. I've noticed lately that when I approach a stop light that the truck stutters to a stop as if the rotors were bent. Has anyone else had this problem? I don't tow very often and when I do, I tow a 19 foot bay boat that isn't exactly heavy. Anyone got any ideas about what else could be wrong? Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I doubt your rotors are bent. They are probably warped. I had this problem with an Astro van when it was new and GM replaced the bad rotor on warranty. They said they had a bad batch of rotors that were not cast properly and were warping. I haven't heard of this on our trucks but who knows?

probably warped, they can be turned down but the downside is less mass to dissipate heat, which is why there are minimum thickness specs on the rotors. Make sure wheels are torqued properly. Biggest enemy I see on rotors is water puddles after a rain, hot rotors cooled quickly tends to warp them

Ill go along with everyone else and say you most likely have a warped rotor, I also had a 1991 GMC Safari van that I was always getting rotors replaced on because the rotors would warp, but in your case I would suspect that one of your brake calipers may be sticking, which would cause the rotor to heat up and turn blue, which would lead to its becoming warped, if thats the case, dont let them talk you into cutting it, because once their cooked there history.

Have experienced warped rotors on every domestic vehicle I've owned but never on the Japanese ones. All driven in same conditions. What do they know that we don't?

aka108,


The Japanese don't have any rotor secrets. Ever see the rotors on a Civic that the kid owner thinks is a race car?


They blend right in with the Leopard print on his seat covers!!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley18.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif

Maybe check your tires for cord seperation and check for bent wheel.


I followed an old van last week that had a very bent rim and when he slowed down the backend would shake side to side but once over 20mph or so and the shaking stopped.

On my old trucks, I always had warped drums.



Boat trailer have brakes on it? Have a kid doing brake stands?



Something possible in drive line?



Like a surging? (front to back motion) Or is it an up and down thing?



Rear differential?

Had the same thing, but when I rotated the tires it all went
away, can’t hurt to give it a try, won’t cost anything.

Do you feel it in the brake pedal or in the steering wheel?

Get yoiur dealer to check it out under warranty if he will. Rotors may not be under warranty. If not, you can check them with a run out guauge if you have one or can borrow one. Otherwise you may need to see a good brake man. Reploacing the front disc out of warranty would be very expensive.

Any small brake shop can check the runout on a rotor. It's not hard.

Someone mentioned the tires.....I had a bad tire for a long time...and couldn't believe that the vibration I was feeling was a tire, until I rotated them...bingo bad tire.

I have found that driving habits can effect rotor wear. My mother drives a 3/4 454 'burb' she can warp a set of rotors in a week with that thing. She pulls a horse trailer and takes 18 miles to stop it when loaded because she doesn;t want to stand the horses on their nose.

Great for the horses.....bad for the rotors......those things gotta be glowing when she's done.

When I stop my truck I stop it now! Brakes have been great for 87K