Chrysler Repair: shuddering front-end, caliper piston, wheel rims

Question
Hi,I have a 02 grand caravan with 112k miles on it, the brakes and rotors were replaced about 15k ago and the struts were replaced about 5k ago.There is now a little "shudder" in the front pass. side wheel when you applied the brakes (it is worse the harder you push) also there is a pop when you select a gear. This is my wifes car and I do not know all of its tendencies or quirks.I am wanting to know if it could possibly be CV's (how do I check them).I am a decent shade tree mech and have mech aptitude but am clueless when it comes to FWD's.Does suspension have to be removed ??? spindle ??? special tools??. I would appreciate any info/advice you good give!!! Thank You for your time!!! Mike

Answer
Hi Mike,
The cv's usually show their problems when you are turning or accelerating rather than decelerating, and it is a clicking sound rather shuddering feeling. I would suspect the brakes, maybe a leaking caliper piston has put some brake fluid on the rotor and pads. See if the temperature of the two front wheel rims are similar or divergent after you drive it for a while which would reveal a dragging caliper pad. The "pop" might be the sound of the brake pad releasing itself from a stuck position (lightly grabbed onto the rotor surface due to being soaked with brake fluid).
The cv boot replacement is the most common cv repair, and it would occur when the boot is torn and the grease is spun out so that the joint runs dry, thus the clicking sound when it is flexed more/harder than usual. The half-axle needs to be removed which involves releasing the bolt that holds the knuckle to the lower suspension arm so that it and the associated wheel hub can be pivoted outward enough for the for the half axle's outer end to be threaded out of the hub. Then you have to lever the other end of the half axle out of the transmission (may be held in by a snap ring) and the axle comes out. You then have to remove the cv joint from the axle (again whop it on the edge of a work bency as it is held in by a snap ring) and put on the new boot and grease fill it and reassemble, clamping the boot at either end to the axle and the cv respectively. If you get to it early, before it has run too long without grease, you don't need to buy a new joint or rebuilt half axle. But let me know if you have to get into this job and I can xerox and postal mail you the pages from the '98 shop manual on this subject. That is the most recent one I have but it probably applies to your '02.
But focus on the brakes on that side first.
Roland