GM-GMC: brake problems, gmc sierra, 9 times out of 10

Question
I have a 2001 GMC Sierra. My truck has the shakes when I hit the brakes. I have put brand new rotors on the front and it still does it. Can the rotors on the back cause the shakes as well? The brake pads are about 3 months old. Should I change them as well? Can they contribute to the problem? Where should I go from here?

Thanks,

Richard

Answer
If your vehicle has 4 rotors it is good practice to either replace all 4 or machine all 4 at the same time. Yes if your vehicle has rotors on the back they can cause shaking and will eventually cause the new rotors to warp also so if you just replaced the front either take the back ones and have them machined or replace them. Did you do this work yourself? If so make sure you change or rebuild ALL the hardware at one time it will save you money and headaches in the long run because the parts you don't rebuild or replace will cause the new parts to go bad quick. When I do my brakes here is what I do I take the rotors and see if they can be machined at any shop they can do this, take the calipers and have them looked at and either have them rebuilt or replaced and you can buy rebuilt calipers which work just as good, buy all the pads at the same time and buy ceramic ones if you can they last longer.

Shaking 9 times out of 10 is the rotors.
The reason I suggest the caliper rebuilding is that they are the usually what causes the rotors to warp in the first place by sticking and rubbing on the rotors all the time making them hot and that is why they warp and it can be the user braking hard.