03 4Runner Very Short Brake Life?

[pgibbons]

I have a 2003 4Runner that I have owned for 24 months and has 23,000 miles on it.

Recently the brakes have started pulsating when I try to stop. I suspect the rotors are warped a bit. The dealer says they can cut the rotors and put new pads on for $220.

I know the brakes are considered "wear" items, but shouldn't this be considered warranty work? I have never had to replace rotors or pads before at such low mileage. Has this happened to anyone else with an 03 or above 4Runner?

I believe it's a case of unusual and excessive wear, which should be covered under warranty.

Any suggestions on how to handle this with the dealer?

EDIT, ignore this, sorry I should have posted this in the Warranty topic

 

[pgibbons]

I have a 2003 4Runner that I have owned for 24 months and has 23,000 miles on it.

Recently the brakes have started pulsating when I try to stop. I suspect the rotors are warped a bit. The dealer says they can cut the rotors and put new pads on for $220.

I know the brakes are considered "wear" items, but shouldn't this be considered warranty work? I have never had to replace rotors or pads before at such low mileage. Has this happened to anyone else with an 03 or above 4Runner?

I believe it's a case of unusual and excessive wear, which should be covered under warranty.

Any suggestions on how to handle this with the dealer?

 

[loyd]

im in canada....i have an 03 limited with 28000 kilometres on it. lately i noticed a shudder/vibration in the brakes...took it to the dealer and they said rotors were warped. i bitched and complained about that not being "normal wear", they agreed and replaced all 4 rotors under warranty. rides like a dream again!

 

[jharris2]

Duplicate threads merged.

 

[psychoklr]

I have a 2003 Sport with 80,000kms and no problems with original pads

 

[pdoel]

Grrrr.

My 4Runner is at the dealership right now. In December, at 17,000 miles, they had to replace the front brake pads.

It's been squealing quite a bit lately (the last month or two), and for the last week, the brakes will squeal even when they aren't being used. If I tap the brakes, the squeal goes away for a little while.

The dealer is telling me my front pads are worn, and need replaced AGAIN. I now have 24,000 miles, so that means these pads only lasted 7,000 miles.

She said she's seen brakes last anywhere from 5,000 miles to 60,000 miles.

My last 4Runner ('99) had 60,000 miles when I traded it in, and I NEVER replaced the pads.

 

[Fro-Runner]

Why don't you people buy the superior performance aftermarket brake pads? When my brake pads wear out, I plan to purchase superior performance aftermarket slotted rotor discs and superior performance heat resistant pads. You can do a search online or see the websites from car magazines such as Motor Trend for help in this area.

You get what you pay for......and I know Toyota isn't putting on the superior performance quality pads and rotors on your 4 Runners!

 

[V8Limited4wd]

Grrrr.

My 4Runner is at the dealership right now. In December, at 17,000 miles, they had to replace the front brake pads.

It's been squealing quite a bit lately (the last month or two), and for the last week, the brakes will squeal even when they aren't being used. If I tap the brakes, the squeal goes away for a little while.

The dealer is telling me my front pads are worn, and need replaced AGAIN. I now have 24,000 miles, so that means these pads only lasted 7,000 miles.

She said she's seen brakes last anywhere from 5,000 miles to 60,000 miles.

My last 4Runner ('99) had 60,000 miles when I traded it in, and I NEVER replaced the pads.

sounds like they put in cheap pads... oem pads never squeak. i say demand that you watch them take them out and compare them to oem pads.

 

[pdoel]

Well, here's an update since August when I had my front pads replaced.

These pads lasted 2,000 miles before all the squeals came back. I had it in for inspection, so mentioned all the squeals and squeeks I'm hearing from the brakes.

Basically, the main squeal occurs only at a certain level of brake pressure. When it starts to squeal, if you take your foot just slightly off the brake, it goes away. Or if you push a little harder, it goes away. If you ride it at that same level, it just squeals endlessly.

On my way out to the dealership, I noticed that I was also getting a more subdued squeal just at normal driving (no foot on the brake).

And lastly, I've always heard the little release of air when you push on the brake. But when the brakes start to go, I get a weird whistling noise. Almost like those whistles you have as a kid, where you pull the thing out at the end of the whistle, and the tone changes, and as you push it back in, the tone changes again. (kinda like a trombone type whistle). It would make this noise as I depressed the pedal, and when I released.

The dealer had the car for the day. The only problem they found was that a backing plate behind one of the rotors was dented, and that was rubbing and causing one squeal. But they said the pads were all still like new and nothing was wrong.

So now it's a week later, and the squeals are worse than ever. What frustrates me is that when they needed replaced after only 7,000 miles, the dealer asked why I didn't bring it in sooner when it squealed. So now I do, and they do nothing.

I've never had a vehicle that made so many, and such strange noises with the brakes. I'm supposed to take it back in to have them look at it again, but I just wonder why I even bother.

 

[NCSCOTT]

sounds like they put in cheap pads... oem pads never squeak. i say demand that you watch them take them out and compare them to oem pads.

All pads have a small steel arm extending from the back of the pad that rubs againts the rotor and will cause your brakes to squeak when they are close to wearing out. Even OEM pads. If you ignore it long enough they will squeal all the time since the pads are almost metal to metal.

Wearing out pads at 7k miles sounds like the calipers are not letting the brake pads fully fall back from the rotors and they are rubbing all the time. OR??? You are not a 2 footted drive are you??? 1 on the gas, 1 on the brake??? Probably not, But I had to ask.

I would ask them to take a good look at the calipers. Good Luck

 

[psychoklr]

Just an update I have a 2003 4Runner Sport that has 99,000kms and still the original brake pads and I just had the 96,000km service and they said there is still 4mm left on the from and 7mm on the rear !! I drive about 150kms a day city and 170kms a day highway so it's not like I don't use them all the time. Maybe you should change the way ya drive

 

[Northof49]

Why don't you people buy the superior performance aftermarket brake pads? When my brake pads wear out, I plan to purchase superior performance aftermarket slotted rotor discs and superior performance heat resistant pads. You can do a search online or see the websites from car magazines such as Motor Trend for help in this area.

You get what you pay for......and I know Toyota isn't putting on the superior performance quality pads and rotors on your 4 Runners!

You may be surprized of the high quality of Toyota OEM brake componentry.....you will be very hard pressed to improve upon them without spend way more money.

Not to point fingers, but those having problems with premature wear generally have non-brake friendly driving habits.....if a dealer replaced/will replace brake items under warranty, they are simply being nice

Of course in some cases, such as pdoel's, there's obviously something else going on.