2003 Camry LE Brake pedal stutter

[GTS767]

When the engine is running (4 cyclinder), and the brake pedal is pushed or tapped, it make a jitter or stuter while it is travelling down. If I hand tap the brake pedal, it make same noise. Feels like the piston in the master cylinder is not moving smoothly during its travel, feel like it bites on its way down when pushed but none when travelling up. It happens when the car is in idle and not moving or moving and at a speed. I replaced both front rotors and new brake pads, with no improvement, The braking power is fine on the car.

Could the master cylinder, slave cylinders, need bleeding. Or could it be the seals in the master cylinder are worn or need replacement. Any check or thoughts I can do to isolate this problem.

Would appreciate

[GTS767]

I need ti remove the brake booster on my 03 camry, 4 cyc. Do it need to disconnect the master cyclinder brake lines and remove the booster and master cyclinder together. Or can I only remove the master cyclinder and booster separate. Does the booster require bleeding, and any sepcial assembly or disassembly. PLS advise
thanks

[Airjer_]

Most of the time you can unbolt the master cylinder with the lines still attached and carefully move it enough to sneak the booster out. The booster requires no bleeding. Take special note of any seals or pushrods that are in between the master and booster.

[GTS767]

Thank you. The brake pedal on this car gitters a little when depressed during braking to stop. It is not a smooth depression to apply brakes. It feels it is in the booster area, so I am trying to see if there is any loose parts in the linkage at the brake pedal or the booster area. Could there be any loose parts in the booster other than the linkages at the pedal since I do not know what the inside of the booster looks like. Is there a way to adjust the push rod pin at the booster from the car inside, instead of pulling the booster to adjust the pin rod and check for loose parts.

Would appreciate

[Airjer_]

Can you elaborate on the "gitters" part?

[GTS767]

If I apply slow gradual pressure on the pedal to depress for braking, it feels normal, if I have to do a sudden depression on brake pedal, the pedal seems to pulsate, just like when you slide an object on a dry surface and it starts to slide rough, and not smooth. The pulsation starts as I initially depress the pedal and after an inch of travel the pulsation stops and the feel is normal.

Hope it is clear. It is difficult to explain this one.

Thanks

[Airjer_]

You know what the ABS sounds like when its activated right? If its not than I wonder if your trying to describe a pulsation? Pulsation is usually caused by a warped rotor or severely out of round drum. It can appear under light brake and disappear with a heavy brake or the other way around. Sometimes you can feel it in the steering wheel sometimes you can feel it in the seat. All of these are clues to what is warped and what axle needs to be looked at.

I would suggest a test drive with a brake tech, just to make sure you are on the right track. Typically if a booster goes bad it will either suck the pedal to the floor or the pedal will get really hard. A vibration would be really odd!

[GTS767]

I agree with said. I have replaced the rotors and put new brakes, somehow the tapping or pulsation did not go away. I have just picked up a used booster, and I will try to replace this weekend and see what happens. I will let you know once done.

Thanks for all the insight.
Stay tuned.

[GTS767]

I have not changed the booster yet, but found out that there is a TSB from Toyota BR001R that talks about Brake pedal vibration during initial pedal stroke. The cause is the brake master cylinder that needs replacement.

Airjet, thanks for all the logically troubleshooting hints. Though I neglected to mention that the vibration/gitter also occur when the car is at rest and in idle.

I will replace the master cylinder this weekend, and if the above does not go away, I will report back.

thanks and this is a great site.

[Airjer_]

Interesting, I'll have to look over that TSB. Thanks for the heads up!!

[GTS767]

Just replaced the master cylinder, over the weekend, and pulsation stopped and all is normal.

[effbee]

I am facing the same problem. When I press the brake pedal at high speeds, the brake pedal starts to jitter and I can feel it on the steering wheel also. It might be the master cylinder. I will check it over the weekend. Could you tell me how much did it cost you to replace the master cylinder?

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by effbee

I am facing the same problem. When I press the brake pedal at high speeds, the brake pedal starts to jitter and I can feel it on the steering wheel also. It might be the master cylinder. I will check it over the weekend. Could you tell me how much did it cost you to replace the master cylinder?

I would first check your car for warped front brake rotors. That is the more common cause of a pulsating brake pedal when applying the brakes.

Mike

[somick]

There is a TSB for this generation of Camry's for brake pulsation. It has a new master cylinder part number. Check your local library, they may have access to those TSBs.

Good luck,

Sam