Nissan 97 rear brake pulsates / sticks

[quest97]

97 Nissan Quest right rear brake pulsates and sticks. The wheel rim gets hot. The 3 other wheel brakes are fine. Dealer has replaced brake shoes, resurfaced drum, replaced ABS Actuator, and the problem still persists. Seems to happen most when the van has passengers (4 or more) in the car. The car vibrates and feels like the tire is out of round.
When the wheel gets hot and the brakes are applied, the left rear wheel brake makes pulsates and makes pulsating / clicking noise.
Help!

[Doug Rodrigues]

Brake pulsation is usually caused by warped rotors or drums. Warped rotors or drums are caused by overtorquing the lug nuts which distorts the metal. (i.e., the tire changer using the 250 ft. lb. impact wrench) If your warped drums were machined to get the inside diameter back in round, that would result in different thicknesses of the drum at 90 degree angles. Seems to me that the damage is already done and that your drums are even more susceptible to warping in the future. How the pulsation relates to the load of the van is beyond my imagination. I can't see how it's even related?

Since the dealer (I assume the manufacturer's dealer of the vehicle in question) has already tried to fix the problem and charged you for it, I would suggest that you write that dealer a registered letter (you keep a copy) putting them on notice that since they've already charged you for the "repair," but the problem continues, that in a future event the brake problem should be the cause of an accident, you will follow-up with a civil action. Such a letter usually intimidates most dealers into doing enough research into the problem to finally getting the problem fixed for good. Otherwise, you'll be nickel and dimed to death while they experiment with many non-fixes.

Sometimes there are problems with certain models that the manufacturer wants to keep hidden because a recall would break the bank for them financially. Such was the problem with the '68 through '72 Volkswagen crankcases that were too soft. The philosophy is that eventually the problem will go away as the cars become worn-out. Somewhere on the internet is a web site listing all the problems that various makes of vehicles have, and the secret non-advertised recalls available. "Secret," as in offering a discount on certain repairs only if the customer complains, OR fixing it for free IF the customer complains loudly. Perhaps if you surf the internet you can find that site. Maybe your brake problem is one of those on the recall list.

[VILLAGERS4ALL]

the villager has a brake load spring under the body attaching to the brake valve switch.. i bet the quest does as well. it proportions the brakes when loaded.. check into it, get you a villager/quest book.

[IH8SPM]

Have them check the rear axle bearing and your E brake cable for damage. You may also have a bad abs sensor which keeps the brakes pulsing thinking its slipping.