The shudder you experience in your Toyota Avalon may seem like only an annoyance, but it can also be the warning sign to bigger problems in the future. As of 2011, there are no specific factory recalls or mentioned defects from Toyota regarding the Avalon's brakes.
Warped brake rotors will cause significant shaking when you hit the brakes in your Toyota Avalon. As rotors age during normal use, they may lose their flat shape. When the rotor passes through the pad, the pad will touch only the high points of the rotor, which causes shuddering.
The Constant Velocity (CV) joints of your Avalon will create a shudder during braking. The CV joints dissipate the impact forces of the pavement to the front axle. Without the joints, your Avalon will feel unstable when the car's speed changes.
If your Avalon's wheels are unbalanced, the car will shudder when the car is traveling at a certain speed. For example, if you slow the car down from 50 to 30-mph, and 30-mph is the speed at which your wheels oscillate, you will feel a vibration.
