Brake Noise - What Am I Doing Wrong?

[Whiplash Willy]

At about 15k miles, my 4runner started developing a loud squeak as I am coming to a stop. I also started noticing slight steering wheel shake as I brake when driving downhill. If I "Bedded In" the breaks the squeak would go away for a few days, but always come back.

I took it in for warranty work at about 20k miles, and they replaced the front pads, and turned the front rotors with an on car lathe. That fixed the squeak and the steering wheel shake. Now that I am at 25k miles the squeak is back, and I have a feeling that it is only a matter of time before the steering wheel shake is back.

When I first got the 4runner, I never bedded in the brakes, but after the new pads and resurfaced rotors, I bedded them in.

I have a feeling that either something is wrong with some other brake component, or my driving habits are causing these issues. Any ideas on what else I could check that could cause these issues?

During my daily commute I do drive down 2 long and steep hills, so there is prolonged use of the brakes, which I could see causing problems with warped rotors, but the squeak, I don't know. What kinds of driving habits could cause a squeak when coming to a stop?

 

[Stifler]

hot brakes through cold water can warp rotors.... just a thought (Shakes)

as fo rthe squeal if you are riding the brakes alot you could be causing the pads to glass over

 

[m85476585]

The pads could be glazed or contaminated or something like that. You should downshift on long steep downhills if it doesn't do it automatically. Most of the time you should be able to maintain a constant speed without using the brakes at all by downshifting.

 

[rigtec]

"...Now that I am at 25k miles the squeak is back, and I have a feeling that it is only a matter of time before the steering wheel shake is back.
..."

Hi WW,

As I was reading your description of the dealership's approach to your trouble, I couldn't help but notice that there was NEVER any mention of the rear disk brake assembly; which is subject to the exact same 'conditions or driver braking habits' as the front. So if you're braking each morning on a particularly steep slope or incline, the front 'and rear' rotors will reach very high temperatures (Together) to stop that truck. To completely eradicate the problem(s) with the brakes squeaking, and the shimmy in the steering wheel, the dealership 'should have' opted to do a Four wheel 'rotor resurfacing' and brake pad 'De-glaze/reconditioning'. This is likely the reason your braking issues threaten to become an on-going effort and many trips back to the dealership.

SUGGESTION: When you go back to have the squeak checked again, tell them that you want them to do a four wheel rotor resurface and pad de-glazing. :usa2: rgds!

rigtec, cheers

 

[rigtec]

"...During my daily commute I do drive down 2 long and steep hills, so there is prolonged use of the brakes, which I could see causing problems with warped rotors, but the squeak, I don't know. 'What kinds of driving habits could cause a squeak when coming to a stop?'"

Almost forgot to address your last concern. Some driving habits may be responsible for premature brake wear, but a brake squeal is the result of a glazed brake pad (shoe), vibrating sympathetically (in concert) with the rotor. Constant heat, pressure and foreign matter cause the pad surface to harden like glass, and so occasionally may need to be buffed to restore it's proper surface constitution or texture... even the most conscientious of drivers cannot avoid this condition.
:cheers: