Replaced head gasket, now brakes pulsating

[mjjstang]

I am in need of some advice.

What could I have done to affect the brakes on a 96 Camry when I changed the head gasket?

The ONLY thing I can think of that links the brakes to the gasket, is the one vacuum line from the booster.

The brakes pulsate when applied no matter what speed. It almost feels like driving on a Michigan road. Ok I am in Michigan so it feels worse. I have been riding on warped rotors on my truck so I am very familiar with that feeling and it seems different. Like abs is kicking in. (I don't know the feeling of toyota abs, so I can't be for sure, that is why I made a comparison to a rough road).

There is no trouble light on the dash or anything I could think of that I messed with. During the head gasket of course the passenger wheel was removed and I had the car jacked up. When I wasn't working on it, I had the passenger side front on about an 8" ramp, it was just that side and for a couple weeks, I wouldn't think that would have anything to do with it but figured I would mention it.

I had the E-brake engaged and I seem to remember the first time I rolled the car out of the driveway, it seemed possibly a little stuck but then drove normal. Also when I pull the brake during movement, it takes some movement before you can tell I am pulling the brake, and as I pull harder it seems the E-brake is working correctly.

I am positive that I correctly reinstalled all vacuum lines. And regardless, as far as I know, all the vacuum does is "power" the brakes. Force required to press brake pedal indicates that everything is ok there.

I know there is tons of info out there, but this happened ONLY after I did the head gasket. I had the manual for this one so I am quite confident that I didn't stray afar and start messing around with systems not related to the gasket.


Any help would be appreciated. It is my buddies car and he has been without it for quite a while, hoping to get it back to normal for him asap. Thanks guys.

[Mister_Perkins]

How long was the E-Brake set? If it was set for a long time, that could be your problem.. I would pull the rear tires and inspect and give everything a good cleaning with some brake clean. Have a helper Slightly engage and disengage the E-Brake and confirm it has smooth movement engaged and disengaged.

[mjjstang]

Well, would say maybe 3 weeks or more. However, After it rolled a little bit, it seemed ok, coasted well and like I said didn't seem to be stuck based on the sound and ease of engaging and disengaging at around 10mph. I can't remember if we noticed the pulsations when we used e-brake alone. I suppose I should try that and see what happens, since the absence of the pulsations should rule out the e-brake.

[Mister_Perkins]

well the only reason i bring up the E-Brake is because when I first got my 92 camry XLE, I engaged the E-Brake and when I disengaged it, it didnt fully release and while I was driving there was a horrible vibration. I took the handle and held the button in and jammed it up and down 3 or 4 times while driving and the vibration went away.

[JohnGD]

Is the pulsation proportional to wheel speed? And it's got drum brakes in the rear?

Not sure how engine vacuum will cause pedal pulsation, at least not 4-6 in/Hg variations. But have you measured engine vacuum? Is it steady?

[houra]

also my car start vibrating, when i press the brake pedal at speed about 140km/h.(it has rear brake disk)