So I just got some new tires for my jeep.

And as I was driving I noticed that when I'm coming close to a stop my what sounds like my rear wheels or brakes begin to thump.. But my rear drum brakes are new so why would it be them? Any ideas?

 

You sure it's your brakes and not your driveshaft? Does it thump on takeoff also? Sounds like u-joints to me.

 

^x2

 

No I would've said if it thumps on takeoff also.. It thumps from 20-0. And I was reading and the driveshaft problem sounds more like its coming from under the seat, not from the rear wheels. And it happened right after they put on the new tires.

 

Check your lug nuts, make sure they tightened them. Does it sound like it's coming from one side?

 

I had the exact same tires and issue you have. As you are coming to a stop it acts like and feels like the brakes are playing catch and release and you can hear a slight thump about every rotation of the tires, almost like the drum is out of round.

I changed the gear oil in my rear end and and let out some slack on the brake adjuster so it wasn't quite so tight (about 8 clicks) but would still apply brakes when the pedal was pressed and the noise went away.

 

I tightened my lug nuts as much as I could and it didn't make a difference. But it sounds like its coming from both sides.

 

Yeah that sounds like the same problem.. Is there any reason why it's happening though? I'd like to fix it. The brake adjuster doesn't actually sound like a fix, because I can do the same thing by not pressing the brake as hard..

 

You jinxed me, it came back today. It only happens when the brakes are applied and at slow (-20mph) speed, but stops the second you take your foot off the brakes. I know it isn't U-Joints, I replaced those 10 days ago. I only have VERY minimal movement of the wheels before the yoke moves so I know it isn't the pinion bearing.

I am thinking it is an outer bearing issue. It's not as bad as it was before changing the differential fluid seemed to help.

This weekend I am going to pull both axles and replace the bearings and seals and see if that makes it go away completely.

 

None of those things were bad before the tires though! I'm so confused on what could've happened. I'm probably just going to have it looked at. Wish someone else would chime in on this.

 

I hope you loosened your lugs nuts then torqued them to spec. What I would do first is to manually adjust the rear brakes. Wheels off the ground and turn the adjuster until you start to hear the shoes lightly touching the drums.

If that doesn't work I'd pull the wheels and check to see if the drums are a snug fit on the pilot. The drums are "hub centered" on the axle. I'd also look for any crap between the inside of the drum mating surface and the axle flange. This would be a good time to use anti-seize on the contact surfaces, especially on the pilot flange...you'll be glad you did the next time you try to remove the drums.

 

I had a thumping in the rear, turned out my pads were shot and the adjuster wasnt adjusting. I put in new pads and it went away. Tried to clean the adjuster but it didnt last I need to replace that again. It doesnt thump again but I can feel a delay in the braking at light stops.

 

I ended up just taking it to a local shop, they drums just needed to be turned on a lathe. So the brakes are working good now, and I got a pipe welded on in place of the clamped flexible repair pipe. Sounds a lot better.