Brakes wearing unevenly, replacement options

[rfj62]

I got my 2012 4Runner inspected in May, the dealer told me that the brakes were getting low and probably will need to be replaced by winter, he also told me that the rear brakes were lower then the front which I found odd, I thought the fronts always wear quicker. I have about 46,000 miles on the original brakes. Over the past few weeks a squeal has developed, sounds like the low wear indicator. I look at rear pads and found some uneven wearing on the inside pad. The top of the pad is almost down to bare metal while the bottom has a decent amount of life left.


Top has the least amount of pad.



Top is on right. There is more usable pad from top to bottom.



I have to get a new set of pads and rotors because the rotors are also warped. I like the feel of the factory Toyota ones but am disappointed that the rotors are warped. I am not someone that is heavy on the brakes unless I need to be.


Has anyone used Power Stop brakes like this one ? All ratings seem good.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O6QJ9U...TF8&colid=3ORQUZ5OJQGZ9&coliid=I1JDKKUV2JLTH4

 

[mrevilandy]

My personal experience when it comes to brakes is factory is usually very good especially the toyotas, however it's still hit or miss since it's a Third party manufacturer. I've never had any problems buying any reputlbe brand that's around mid range prices for pads and rotors. I've used power stop before on different vehicles and they were fine.

Besides warped rotors did they check on your calipers?

 

[rfj62]

Besides warped rotors did they check on your calipers?

The dealer didn't tell me the rotors were warped, I can just feel it in my steering wheel and brake pedal.

What should I check on the caliper? I can grease the pins, anything else?

 

[Renegad44]

I use the rotors at the link below on my Corvette, Lexus, and 4Runner, all are crossed drilled, but not slotted. Been using them since 2005 and never had a problem on any vehicle.
On another note, last week, first brake job at 82k+ miles on the 2011 4R Limited, new pads, and rotors turned, my mechanic said no need for new rotors, and he's been working on my vehicles for 20+ years.
Cross-Drilled Brake Rotors

 

[philsey]

The dealer didn't tell me the rotors were warped, I can just feel it in my steering wheel and brake pedal.

What should I check on the caliper? I can grease the pins, anything else?

After two brake "issues" in 70,000 miles, I have learned that my 4R needs the calipers inspected (eg pins checked/lubed) periodically - which I'll have done now with OCs.

OEM brake components are damned good when ^^ is done. I now have all new thanks to a great service manager, and they are great. You should machine the rotors with new pads.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Philsey beat me to it! Uneven wear between inner and outer pads usually tells me I have a sticky or sludged up pin. When it does not "float" freely along the pins, it tends to put more pressure on one pad than the other, so cleaning and re-greasing the pins should keep the uneven wear down to a minimum.

As for pads/rotors, most folks here say the oem parts are just as good, if not better, than the aftermarket stuff you can find. 70k on mine and they still look decent with even wear and no noise or pulsation, so I'm gonna go along with what others are saying.

If you do go with aftermarket branded stuff, go with decent stuff at least. EBC, Raybestos, Porterfield (if you wanna spend some money on GREAT pads!) would be my choice of brands to look at.

 

[rfj62]

I use the rotors at the link below on my Corvette, Lexus, and 4Runner, all are crossed drilled, but not slotted. Been using them since 2005 and never had a problem on any vehicle.
On another note, last week, first brake job at 82k+ miles on the 2011 4R Limited, new pads, and rotors turned, my mechanic said no need for new rotors, and he's been working on my vehicles for 20+ years.
Cross-Drilled Brake Rotors

Thanks, I'll check them out. I kind of expected to be put brakes on at 80k, not less then 50k mile.

 

[rfj62]

After two brake "issues" in 70,000 miles, I have learned that my 4R needs the calipers inspected (eg pins checked/lubed) periodically - which I'll have done now with OCs.

OEM brake components are damned good when ^^ is done. I now have all new thanks to a great service manager, and they are great. You should machine the rotors with new pads.

I will keep the pin greased from now on, thanks guys.

I always used Toyota parts before on my Land Cruisers and never had a problem, I have a good relation ship with my parts guy. Still wondering why the rear pads wore quicker then the fronts and why the rotors warped, that doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Most likely they have been dragging for a while, which will cause them to wear quickly. Again, this is a symptom of a sticking caliper due to a dirty or corroded pin. Only other thing that would make them drag would be air in the lines, as the air expands it pushes the pads outward to the rotor ever so slightly, but enough to cause brake drag. Same goes for dirty pins, they don't allow the pads to back off of the rotor.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I will keep the pin greased from now on, thanks guys.



I always used Toyota parts before on my Land Cruisers and never had a problem, I have a good relation ship with my parts guy. Still wondering why the rear pads wore quicker then the fronts and why the rotors warped, that doesn't make any sense to me.

Keep in mind that the rear pads are thinner than the front pads from the start. So it's not unheard of to have the rears wear out. Especially considering how good the fronts are on these things.

 

[rfj62]

After two brake "issues" in 70,000 miles, I have learned that my 4R needs the calipers inspected (eg pins checked/lubed) periodically - which I'll have done now with OCs.



OEM brake components are damned good when ^^ is done. I now have all new thanks to a great service manager, and they are great. You should machine the rotors with new pads.

So I can get warped rotors machined?



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[philsey]

So I can get warped rotors machined?

Sure, it's a common practice*. They're not actually warped, they've got pad material deposited on them unevenly. "Warped" is an auto industry made-up term, like "invoice" when buying new.

Do some Googling - I'm sure there's lots of info on the www.

* EDIT: So common in fact, that modern shops have equipment to do it right on the car.

 

[Ezlife45]

Think about the following:

• 
  Front pads are larger than rear pads
  Front brakes do more work than rear brakes
  Front calipers are larger/stronger than rears

If one of your brakes (front or rear) was going to wear out first would you rather it be the ones that do the greater amount of work or not?

 

[shahsmerdis]

Think about the following:

• 
  Front pads are larger than rear pads
  Front brakes do more work than rear brakes
  Front calipers are larger/stronger than rears

If one of your brakes (front or rear) was going to wear out first would you rather it be the ones that do the greater amount of work or not?

Hmm, this could be a few things.

I'd check this video first and for most. he will explain everything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhw_d_EWrOQ

At this point your rotor could be toast since it was engaged when it shouldn't have been. (hense the uneven padwhere) unless it was part of the pads making contact because of slide pins not lube up right.

you will need to lube those slide pins first. second possibility, depending where in the rust belt you are, could be where the pads mount, rust builds up and siezes the pad. . lastly it could be pads were low and they extended past where they were supposed to. I think the last 2mm the piston is all the way out and could be extending more than it was designed too.

if your piston retracks all the way, smoothly then I'd just do pads rotors and hardware. toyota oem brakes are very very good. Don't think you can get any better. you got every life out of those pads.

 

[rfj62]

Sure, it's a common practice*. They're not actually warped, they've got pad material deposited on them unevenly. "Warped" is an auto industry made-up term, like "invoice" when buying new.



Do some Googling - I'm sure there's lots of info on the www.



* EDIT: So common in fact, that modern shops have equipment to do it right on the car.

Warped. That I did not know. I just assumed they were actually physically distorted, not a build up of material.


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[catrains]

The dealer didn't tell me the rotors were warped, I can just feel it in my steering wheel and brake pedal.

What should I check on the caliper? I can grease the pins, anything else?

the problem maybe the brake pads are always on. binding does happen in the rust belt when that happens the steering wheel will vibrate.
pads can rust into place very common , looking at your picture the pads to me look like a binding condition but may also be the caliper pins etc..


when rotating tires check for this issue.

 

[KingPrat]

Most modern cars apply more early pressure to the rear brakes, and the fronts are engaged more as you need more deliberate braking. Helps reduce nose dive when you're hitting your brakes in non-panic situations.

It's called brake proportioning.

Pretty sure 4Runners have a rear-bias brake proportion, as the rear pads on my 04 wore faster than the front. Completely normal.

Now, if your pads are wearing unevenly side-to-side, then you probably have a caliper issue.

 

[nevada]

I will keep the pin greased from now on, thanks guys.

I always used Toyota parts before on my Land Cruisers and never had a problem, I have a good relation ship with my parts guy. Still wondering why the rear pads wore quicker then the fronts and why the rotors warped, that doesn't make any sense to me.

based on those pics, you may have some rust build up, behind the pad hardware. this will put much more pressure on the pads, and prevent them from sliding as easily. thus, they stay applied slightly.

while its good to keep the pins lubed, and moving free, you need to make sure the pads move within the bracket easily also.

Most modern cars apply more early pressure to the rear brakes, and the fronts are engaged more as you need more deliberate braking. Helps reduce nose dive when you're hitting your brakes in non-panic situations.

It's called brake proportioning.

Pretty sure 4Runners have a rear-bias brake proportion, as the rear pads on my 04 wore faster than the front. Completely normal.

Now, if your pads are wearing unevenly side-to-side, then you probably have a caliper issue.

yep, im seeing more and more cars wearing out the rear brakes before the front.

 

[rfj62]

Thanks for all the input, I'll be buying new rotors and pads and replacing them this week.



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[rfj62]

I'll definitely keep a closer eye on the calipers to make sure everything is sliding smoothly.


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