Jaymon

I have brand new brake pads and rotors on my 2002 TL and my car shudders really badly when I brake. A friend of mine said it was the ball joints. It recently started shuddering when reaching high speeds as well. When I apply the brakes a bit, it squeaks like a hyena laugh. It's pretty embarrassing.

I lived on a dirt road which I think is the reason my suspension is so jacked up

Would replacing the ball joints fix this problem? do I need to replace just the lower or lower and upper?

Second question: I've heard that replacing the lower ball joints is pretty easy and I've found the parts for as low as 15 a piece. So why is every garage quoting insane prices like 600 dollars for this?

01tl4tl

there are several tricks to a good brake job--and what causes brake noises
did you DIY or a shop?
what brand brakes are they?, were there bedding instructions included?
caliper bolt torques are critical, even how you put the tires on can distort and ruin rotors!

have an alignment shop look at the steering and suspension parts
they will ck ball joints tie rods etc, if anything is loose they are the experts
have you balanced the tires? potholed dirt roads will knock them out
you can lose a wheel weight too!

parts are cheap, but you need a giant hydraulic press to push out the old bushings and install new
Most get an entire control arm with new everything and drop it in place
ck our diy section more info

see alignment shop for that inspection before randomly guessing whats wrong

fsttyms1

First when you say you have new rotors and brake pads, are they quality parts? 2nd did you replace the REARS? they can cause your symptoms too.

As for ball joints, do NOT go cheap. Find the MOOG brand parts. Replacing the lower ball joints involves removing the axle from the knuckle and taking the knuckle off the car to press the old ones out and new ones in. Its not hard, just a bit of labor to get the knuckle out and in.

smartypants

Yup, been there done that......

Tie rod ends (either side) will cause this. At high speeds (60mph ?), gently apply the brakes...if you get vibration in the steering wheel....tie rod(s).

To confirm, jack up the front either side or both at once, grab the tire at the 9 and 3 o'clock position and move it from side-to-side. If you feel "play" or a clicking sensation coming through the tire, its the tie-rod.

BTW..up and down play (hands at 12 and 6) would mean ball joints. Moog has good replacement parts at a resonable cost. Check out Rockauto.

smarty.

HondaProtegeX2.3

My car did this real badly too at high speed I replaced the front rotors and pads and that stopped it

HondaProtegeX2.3

just depends if your rotors are warped no matter what they will shudder if your brakeing at high speeds