2011 te t4r unreliable brakes

[BCtrail]

So problems started with brakes when the original pads wore down to minimum and noone heard the squealer tabs so non oem pads were installed when winter tires went on. Shortly after break in of new pads rotors warped. The runner's front end would do a swirl to the right then pull left wen brakes were applied moderately. When brakes are applied agressively the left front brake locks up first then the whole runner spins to the left with other 3 corners locking up. I have been to local toyota dealership after the rotors we're replaced and have been told nothng is wrong. Hmmm.... Not too safe for a company with safety as their middle name... Maybe too many safety meetings?
I am taking the runner to another dealership and meeting with the service manager and a master technician. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when I honk on the brakes. All of this is very disappointing to me as the 2009 dodge 2500 we had before this was full of braking and steering issues hence the move to a production vehicle made in japan.

Just putting my two cents in. I as well am from BC with much snow and mountain driving on my 2010 trail ed. Just did the brakes this past weekend at 98,000kms. At jim pattison toyota surrey.
With 10%on front and 10% on back. Im highly impressed for the oem brakes that lasted 5 yrs with no issues. Did a complete flush on the system and out the door like new again for 700$. Thats why i own a Toyota quality.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

The only issues I have had with my 4runner are brake issues, although not as bad as the OPs.

At 15k, I took my 4runner into the dealer because the breaks were squealing when coming to a stop, and were shaking when breaking downhill (Warped Rotors). They resurfaced the front rotors and replaced the pads. Rears checked out ok.

At about 30k, they started squealing again, and the rotors have a slight warp as well....

I am not sure if I just have bad luck, an underlying problem, or my driving style/route warps rotors, but I am kind of annoyed I can't go more then 15k without warping my rotors. Even if I buy new OEM Rotors and pads, I worry at how long they will last. And now that they are out of warranty, that won't be cheap, and I don't know if it will be good to resurface the rotors again.

I seem to have a history though with Toyota SUVs and warped rotors.

My 2001 4runner had warped rotors at 90k when I bought. I replaced the rotors and pads, and they were fine for the 20k miles I had it for.

My wife's 2006 GX470 also had warped rotors at 83k miles when we bought it. I haven't done anything for this yet, as she doesn't really notice it, but I should take care of it soon.

As far as breaking performance and pad longevity, the toyota oem pads seem fine, but I would really like to get to the bottom of why my rotors always warp, and start squeaking within 5-10k miles...

 

[Factor]

Ok so it's been a while and I have calmed down. The root of my unreliable brake problem was a faulty abs computer. I had this vehicle looked at by Kelowna toyota 2 times and they told me there was no problem. On the third time I called about the problem the service technician told me maybe there was no problem. So I hung up the phone and called sun country toyota. Same thing with them as their service manager assured me there was no problem. They sent me home in an unsafe vehicle. After I was accused of everything under the sun as this problem being my fault, the dealer finally replaced the abs computer solenoid relay...I'm on the hook for the rotors that warped due to the computer grabbing the brakes a little bit all the time. I also had to pay for diagnosis costs. Absolutely disgusted with toyotas ability to resolve problems as my family's life was in jeopardy every time we drove in this vehicle. I had been arguing with toyota about this problem for a long time. Toyota dealerships in bc and toyota in general do not value the lives of their customers or listen to what they are saying.. So as far as I'm concerned .. Or anyone else driving a toyota is concerned... Toyota sucks just as bad as any other car company.. If not worse for not reacting properly to customer complaints. In hindsight I should have called the local news and had them film me barrel roll the pos by stepping on the brakes hard at 100km/hr... Anyone interested in a 2011 4runner trail? Good thing I have calmed down

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Mag chloride adds a whole other thing to the equation.

That shit gets into everything, will almost rust glass and ought to be banned because of the vehicle and environmental damage it causes.

The DOT loves it because its cheap, easy and subsidized heavily by the manufacturer.

Talk to any truck driver that has to drive on it and ask what it does to their $100K tractors and you will get an earful. Stuff is garbage IMO.

 

[Antman]

Ok so it's been a while and I have calmed down. The root of my unreliable brake problem was a faulty abs computer. I had this vehicle looked at by Kelowna toyota 2 times and they told me there was no problem. On the third time I called about the problem the service technician told me maybe there was no problem. So I hung up the phone and called sun country toyota. Same thing with them as their service manager assured me there was no problem. They sent me home in an unsafe vehicle. After I was accused of everything under the sun as this problem being my fault, the dealer finally replaced the abs computer solenoid relay...I'm on the hook for the rotors that warped due to the computer grabbing the brakes a little bit all the time. I also had to pay for diagnosis costs. Absolutely disgusted with toyotas ability to resolve problems as my family's life was in jeopardy every time we drove in this vehicle. I had been arguing with toyota about this problem for a long time. Toyota dealerships in bc and toyota in general do not value the lives of their customers or listen to what they are saying.. So as far as I'm concerned .. Or anyone else driving a toyota is concerned... Toyota sucks just as bad as any other car company.. If not worse for not reacting properly to customer complaints. In hindsight I should have called the local news and had them film me barrel roll the pos by stepping on the brakes hard at 100km/hr... Anyone interested in a 2011 4runner trail? Good thing I have calmed down

Cool story. I believe it all. Really, I do!

 

[Jhalko]

Cool story. I believe it all. Really, I do!

Inspected my brakes while rotating the tires, really shocking how much pad is left on the originals with 80k+ on my truck.

 

[jpachard]

This is a dissimilar pad issue. Rotors on modern cars rarely "warp". I race cars and have worked in the Motorsport industry for a while and we see this type of thing happen all the time but it's easy to fix, read below.

Technical explanation: when pads come into contact with a rotor, a layer of material from the pad is deposited on to the rotor. If, when you change your pads and pad A is not compatible with pad B, potential hot spots get created on the rotor surface, resulting in the symptoms you describe. Good news is there is a simple fix. Remove your rotors and run some scotch rite over them or something similar to scuff up the surface. This will remove all previous pad deposition on the rotor. Bed in new pads as per manufacturers suggestions and you should be good to go.

Cheers, James


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Huh! I too owned a dodge, a 2000 durango, bought brand new from the dealership (don't hate me for it!) with 13 miles on it.

18k into ownership, the brakes were shot. Squealing, pulsating, and wear indicator squeakin' away. Talked to dealer, said its "normal wear and tear" I said no friggin' way. Called the 1-800-4-a-dodge help line, know what the lady told me?

"you're lucky! most durangos only get about 13k out of the brake pads/rotors"!

As for Toyota not liking their customers, I don't think that's really it, they are just like every other company out there, trying to save as many bucks as they can. Have you tried escalating the issue with them? Seems sorta silly to push it any further, as brakes and rotors really aren't that much money, its not like you're in it for thousands of dollars here, so its sort of pointless to try to sue them for your damages, but that would be the next step-legal process to recoup your money due to their negligence.

Now, I totally understand where you're going with this. Brakes are a very important part of the vehicle, even moreso than the engine/trans, and right there with steering. Personally, your local dealership should have stepped up for you and called Toyota on your behalf to get them to comp the brake job that was performed. This is why I say to try to keep a calm, straightforward, non-combative attitude and discussion with the local service manager. If you get them in your ballcourt, they'll stick up for you. Piss them off though, and they'll shit on ya every chance they can. Don't ask me how I would know about this, I will only offer the fact that it involves the same god-forsaken durango!

I guess I'm gettin' too old, but at this point, I'd just say fawk it and move on, knowing that the dealership is not there to protect or help me unless they are making a buck off of me, and I'd just as well drive a bit further to another dealership to sort of start over again with a new manager and a clean slate.

Don't hate your 4runner for it, some parts go bad from time to time, it happens. And know that you will not have this problem with brakes again. And, if by chance it does happen again, you'll know EXACTLY what it is and will get it fixed quickly and properly this time 'round!!!

 

[adam2562]

The only issues I have had with my 4runner are brake issues, although not as bad as the OPs.

At 15k, I took my 4runner into the dealer because the breaks were squealing when coming to a stop, and were shaking when breaking downhill (Warped Rotors). They resurfaced the front rotors and replaced the pads. Rears checked out ok.

At about 30k, they started squealing again, and the rotors have a slight warp as well....

I am not sure if I just have bad luck, an underlying problem, or my driving style/route warps rotors, but I am kind of annoyed I can't go more then 15k without warping my rotors. Even if I buy new OEM Rotors and pads, I worry at how long they will last. And now that they are out of warranty, that won't be cheap, and I don't know if it will be good to resurface the rotors again.

I seem to have a history though with Toyota SUVs and warped rotors.

My 2001 4runner had warped rotors at 90k when I bought. I replaced the rotors and pads, and they were fine for the 20k miles I had it for.

My wife's 2006 GX470 also had warped rotors at 83k miles when we bought it. I haven't done anything for this yet, as she doesn't really notice it, but I should take care of it soon.

As far as breaking performance and pad longevity, the toyota oem pads seem fine, but I would really like to get to the bottom of why my rotors always warp, and start squeaking within 5-10k miles...

My 4runner and my previous cars but mostly my 4runner would warp easily until I put hawk pads on.. I've used hawk on many cars and once I put them on, that would be the end of my warped issues.. I'm sure many of you would be skeptical about it. But try it before u knock it

 

[jpachard]

My 4runner and my previous cars but mostly my 4runner would warpneasily until .uk put hawk pads on.. I've used hawk on many cars and once I put them on, that would be the end of my warped issues.. I'm sure many of you would be skeptical about it. But try it before u knock it

Yes, relates to my post above, Hawk have a pretty aggressive compound that will remove previous pads deposition on the rotor. Now that you are sticking with one brand of pad, "warping" issues go away.

Cheers, James

 

[-JD-]

Problem I have with this story is you saying that the brakes were bad enough to cause you to "barrel roll" the 4Runner. If the brakes were that bad I refuse to believe Kelowna toyota, or any toyota dealer really, would tell you they are fine and send you on your way.

Dealerships can miss things, sure. But brakes that are that bad are hard to miss/ignore.