Brake Problems

[captain204mike]

i need some help,
i have a 03 4runner with v6
my 4runner is at the dealership right now being looked at, they have had it for 2 days and cant find the problem, so i thought i would ask here
of course this isnt under warranty
but when i press the brake it the vehicle pulls to the right
they said that after looking at it, that the rear rotors are warped and needs new rotors and pads on the rear, and the front looked good,
so i had them replace those, after that they took it out for a drive and said it still pulls to the right
and now they dont know what the problem is, said they would have to start by looking at the abs system etc...
i dont know what to do, i cant afford alot of diagnostic on it, just for them to keep telling me they dont know whats wrong.
thought maybe someone here had a similiar problem.
there going to want to keep replacing stuff until they find it is what im afraid of. and that will get expensive
anyhow maybe someone has a answer

 

[nc211]

if all the brakes are original, which at that age i would assume so, then it makes absolutly no sense whatsoever that your rears would wear before your fronts. have you actually visually inspected them yourself to confirm? if not, it would be worth the effort, and the $15 bucks to borrow the lift at your nearest garage. to me, this simply sounds like uneven pad wear on the front, which is pretty common when pads start to get thin.
my fronts were replaced at 53k, and still on the originals on the rear, at 63k, with about 30% left.

how hard does it pull?

ps. toyota in general, in fact all dealerships, like to replace crap when its not under warr...thats where big profits are made. the better the car=the more clueless the mechanic, or so they hope you believe anyway.

 

[snhrph]

I agree with nc211 - the front is usually first to go.
I would start by looking at the front brakes first - pulling to the right when the brake is pressed is a hint that that problem may be on the right side.
Also, you may want to get a second opinion before the "stealership" attaches your bank account.
Did your brake pedal (or the truck) pulse when brake was pressed? That would be indicative of a warped rotor.
Judging by what the mechanics at the "stealership" are telling you, they figured that you have plenty of disposable income and need help disposing... :biggrin2:
STS or Midas may be a decent alternative, if you do not have a trustworthy local mechanic in your area.

 

[wolfgang]

Sounds like a frozen (stuck) caliper piston/pistons to me - others have complained that they frequentluy rust or corrode and have to be replaced.