A very bad brake job - help please

[overlandout]

Okay, so i messed up big time.

Biggest issue: front left rotor rubbing/wobbling.

I have a 2007 4runner sr5
V8 AWD.
I have 17"wheels.

I just upgraded/installed 5th gen powerstop brakes. Rotors, pads, calipers.

The front left rotor was stuck on. I used a rubber mallet to try removing it first. Then penetrating lubricant and mallet. Eventually I grabbed my tire iron, its got a crow bar pointed end on it. I placed the end between the rotor and the spot that the calipers bolt into. A few hard pulls on it like this popped the rotor off.

Now, i was really smashing the heck out of this thing with the mallet. 4lb deadstop mallet. As hard as i could. (I was getting frustrated.)

I bent the dust shield out of the way for the larger 5th gen rotors. Then installed the pads/calipers.

At this point i spun the rotor by hand and noticed it wobbles. A lot. Bad enough that it contacts the calipers at one point. You cant turn it past that by hand.

Thinking that maybe putting the wheels and lug nuts on might be all it needs, i finished the rest of the brake job.

Nope. That rotor is wobbly as all get out. Completely undriveable.

Front right wheel and brakes appears fine.

Here's my question: Is it possible that i bent something when trying to remove the old rotor? Would it be the huh assembly?

I have never hear of someone having this happen or had anything like it in past brake jobs I have done. But, i have never had to wail on a rotor so much to break it lose.

I can't drive this thing at all. Willing to do just about anything to get it fixed for work monday morning. Please help!

Ill try to get video and pics. May have to wait until morning. I'm parking on an apartment rooftop. (My "garage")

 

[Rodtheviking]

Most likely crud/rust not letting the rotor seat on the hub properly, pull it off and wire brush the hub and the area around the studs.

 

[overlandout]

Most likely crud/rust not letting the rotor seat on the hub properly, pull it off and wire brush the hub and the area around the studs.

I'll give it a look. But i did clean it off pretty well before putting the rotor on. This would be fantastic if that's all it is.

 

[Montego Murph]

Is it possible that you have a failed wheel bearing on that corner?

 

[overlandout]

Is it possible that you have a failed wheel bearing on that corner?

That totally could be it. I've never experienced a failed wheel bearing. No idea what that is like. Wouldn't i have noticed it prior to the brake job? Maybe the new rotors and calipers accentuate it since the rotor is larger?

 

[Blue109]

Possible that the wheel bearing was on its way out...and repeated wacks with a BFH and a pry bar finished it off. I havnt pulled a 4runner hub apart yet so I may be way off...but that would be my guess based on the other makes ive worked on. Thats not really the type of force that area is designed to deal with.

 

[overlandout]

Possible that the wheel bearing was on its way out...and repeated wacks with a BFH and a pry bar finished it off. I havnt pulled a 4runner hub apart yet so I may be way off...but that would be my guess based on the other makes ive worked on. Thats not really the type of force that area is designed to deal with.

Sounds like i have a few new options in the morning. Also picking up some kind of anti seize so i don't need a BFH again.

 

[AuSeeker]

if it's the hub/bearing assembly you should be able to see it wobble with the rotor off and turning it by hand, or at the very least hold something like a screwdriver tip stationary almost touching the hub and then rotate the hub and you should see if the hub gets further away or touches the tip as you rotate the hub.

That being suggested, I doubt you did any damage to the hub assembly unless the bearing was about to go completely bad anyway because the bearing/hub has to endure a tremendous amount of sideways force just under normal driving conditions of turning left and right, not to mention potholes, the occasional curb bump/hop, etc., etc.

My guess is it's either rust buildup behind the rotor as suggested or you've bent the rotor.

 

[overlandout]

Thanks everyone!

The rust buildup appears to be where the wobble came from. Spent a couple hours scrubbing the hubs. The rotors spin nicely now.

However, i think i jacked up my parking break. Can't get a pic to upload for some reason. There's a little rod with a spring. It seems to no longer pull the brake shoe in anymore. If i spin the hub it makes contact with the back of the stud and pops out of place.

 

[overlandout]

Found a diagram. Its the "shoe hold down spring"

 

[AuSeeker]

Thanks everyone!

The rust buildup appears to be where the wobble came from. Spent a couple hours scrubbing the hubs. The rotors spin nicely now.

However, i think i jacked up my parking break. Can't get a pic to upload for some reason. There's a little rod with a spring. It seems to no longer pull the brake shoe in anymore. If i spin the hub it makes contact with the back of the stud and pops out of place.

If you pulled the rear rotors off wiithout back off the parking brake shoes adjuster then that is what damaged the pin that the "shoe hold down spring" and retainer attaches too, the pin is not a straight pin and if you pull off the rotor without back off the shoes it pulls on the shoe/s and most of time it straighten out that pin to some degree and allows the spring and retainer to contact the back of the axle flange.

You need to get new a hardware kit which should have a new pin in the kit so you can replace the pin, or in a pinch you can try and bend the pin back to it's original shape so it pulls the shoe in as it should.

 

[overlandout]

You guys are awesome.

Rotors all got scrubbed w steel wool, wire brush, and brake cleaner. Fixed my wobbles.

I definitely am at fault for the jacked up pin. I pulled that thing out, bent it back to shape and reinstalled. Backed the e brake off all the way until i can replace the hardware.

Everything else seems to be working. Looks like i get to keep my job for now.

Next project, torn boot on my power steering.

 

[gaber6]

Get a new hardware kit.
I bent my pin back and a few days later I had a seized ebrake melting to the inner disc drum thing. It'll save a headache later if this happens, and it's only $16 now.

 

[overlandout]

Get a new hardware kit.
I bent my pin back and a few days later I had a seized ebrake melting to the inner disc drum thing. It'll save a headache later if this happens, and it's only $16 now.

I got the new brake hardware, what a pain to install. Also, thinking I may have to swap the rotors for 4th gen. Apparently they are slightly different center hole sizes. Could have been part of my problem with the parking brake,

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

I got the new brake hardware, what a pain to install. Also, thinking I may have to swap the rotors for 4th gen. Apparently they are slightly different center hole sizes. Could have been part of my problem with the parking brake,

I literally just went through the same thing. Was trying to run 5th gen rear rotors and they didnt work at all. Take them off and run 4th gens. Make sure your parking brake isn't hanging on anything and you should be good to go.

 

[gaber6]

Yeah the rear shoes are such a pain. Took me an hour of trying to get the springs on until I YouTubed the trick of how to assemble everything in the right order using a wire to pull the spring tight from through the hole.

 

[overlandout]

What a nightmare this has been. I'm actually slightly afraid to drive it now.

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[overlandout]

I literally just went through the same thing. Was trying to run 5th gen rear rotors and they didnt work at all. Take them off and run 4th gens. Make sure your parking brake isn't hanging on anything and you should be good to go.

Where did you get parts? Wonder if rock auto will take back the 5th gen rotors?

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[That_Titanium_4RNR]

Where did you get parts? Wonder if rock auto will take back the 5th gen rotors?

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I ordered all parts through rock auto. Luckily my 4th gen rear rotors were in near perfect condition so I reused them for the time being. However I was not able to make a return with Rock auto on the rear rotors because I had installed them. I am currently trying to sell the rear rotors...kind of sucks because I paid 100$ for the 2 rotors and I know I wont be able to get nearly anything for them.

 

[overlandout]

I ordered all parts through rock auto. Luckily my 4th gen rear rotors were in near perfect condition so I reused them for the time being. However I was not able to make a return with Rock auto on the rear rotors because I had installed them. I am currently trying to sell the rear rotors...kind of sucks because I paid 100$ for the 2 rotors and I know I wont be able to get nearly anything for them.

Looks like you and I are in the same boat. I did order new 4th gen rotors though.