Braking vibration, intermittent problem

[gdewet]

I've had an intermittent braking problem for18 months now with my 2001 4Runner SR5 4x4.

Symptoms:
1. Symptoms are intermittent
2. Brake vibration felt via brake pedal. Vibrations can be bad as low as 30-40mph.
3. Steering vibration at 64-70mph.
4. Camber of road impacts the symptoms - generally a left turn is fine, but straight & right can cause vibration.

Efforts to date:
1. Brand new Michelin tires in Jan 09. The old tires were no longer round and had become off-centred (warped).
2. Brakes serviced completely by Meineke in Jan 09.
3. Toyota confirmed brakes are working as they should, Mar 09.
4. Toyota says the new Michelin tires have a "soft wall" which can cause bouncing on the road....?
5. I rotate the tires religously, ~1K mi until next rotation.
6. $1125 & counting...

Any ideas? Appreciate your suggestions & advice!

 

[4runner52]

when they did your brakes did they replace your rotors or cut them because u could have warped rotors. You will know when you brake your steering wheel will shake. About the shaking at 65mphs your tires could be out of balance. the same thing was happening to me and i balanced them and it went away. Try chacking your front end like ball joints, tir rods and wheel bearings if its vibrating when your turning. Do you hear any noises when you make a turn.

 

[gdewet]

when they did your brakes did they replace your rotors or cut them because u could have warped rotors. You will know when you brake your steering wheel will shake. About the shaking at 65mphs your tires could be out of balance. the same thing was happening to me and i balanced them and it went away. Try chacking your front end like ball joints, tir rods and wheel bearings if its vibrating when your turning. Do you hear any noises when you make a turn.

Rotors were cut as they were slightly warped. Toyota (today) said the rotors are good. However, I do also feel some steering vibration/shake when braking.

Tires are brand new from Discount Tire, and balanced by them. The previous tires were balanced 4 times, by 3 different tire companies. I may try the "lug centric" balancing as seen on another posting.

There are no noises - just the vibrations.

 

[Ghostrider]

A few thoughts since I went thru this earlier this year. i had intermittant vibrations on my 2001. I solved it by turinng the original rotors and putting them back on but I also found a few other possible causes while searching this forum
1. Rotors
2. Sticking caliper
3. Rear brakes - I read that if the rears are messed up it will distort the front brakes
4. Front pads - I used Toyota oem. No idea what Meineke might use
I know its frustrating because I went through it

 

[Stick Figure]

Rotors were cut as they were slightly warped.

this could be your problem right here. Rotors warp because the get hot, but are always cut when they are cool. When the heat back up the distortion can return. The other thing is that it is possible the rotor is not sitting flush on the hub, and the only way to cut this correctly is to cut it on the vehicle, which most shops will not have. I would pick up a good set of new rotors.

 

[LINY4Runner]

lift the front end and see if there's side to side play in the wheel/tire

inner tie rod ends are a very common problem on the 3G 4Runners and I've spent alot of my bosses time( :bash: )with balancing and rotating and replacing tires and cutting rotors when all along is was the ball and socket joint on the inner tie rod

 

[4runner52]

I would adjust the rear drums and put some new rotors on that bad boy. I dont know if the sticking calipers would really cause a vibration.

 

[Victor]

this could be your problem right here. Rotors warp because the get hot, but are always cut when they are cool. When the heat back up the distortion can return. The other thing is that it is possible the rotor is not sitting flush on the hub, and the only way to cut this correctly is to cut it on the vehicle, which most shops will not have. I would pick up a good set of new rotors.

Exactly, also the hub-rotor surface contact area must be clean so that the rotor sits perfectly with less chance of run-out. I've seen many 4Runner's 3rd and 4th gens with braking vibrations and it's usually always the warped rotors. We have fixed calipers so they aren't as forgiving as sliding calipers would be. When Stick Figure said a "good set of Rotors", I would like to add NOT the premium rotors you get from Auto Value, or Autozone, get it from the dealer, Brembo, or any high quality Japanese aftermarket ones.

 

[BeerRunner]

I can't believe no one has mentioned this, on here or at the dealer, sounds like a wheel alignment is needed to me.
when i bought my 2000 it had the same problem, tie rod was seized and needed a new boot. it was way out of alignment and cost me 50$ to free the seized tie rod, 30$ for the boot, and 75$ for the alignment. fixed speed vibrations 100% with new tires, still was vibrating on braking. new pads and rotors and it's good as new.

 

[johnny c]

My steering wheel shook at 65mph (100km) I balanced my tires 2 times, each time perfect. They still shook- our local tire expert said that 4runners (99 limited) NEED to be balanced via lug-centric. He explained that the centre hole is not neccessarily dead centre. I had him do mine and all shaking was gone. It is also important that when you do install new brakes on the front that the rear are working properly. No need to overwork the fronts. You should also make sure that the rotor sits squarely on the hub, clean completely, also bed the brakes properly in order to ensure a good "relationship" between rotor and pad.

 

[gdewet]

I've had an intermittent braking problem for18 months now with my 2001 4Runner SR5 4x4.

Symptoms:
1. Symptoms are intermittent
2. Brake vibration felt via brake pedal. Vibrations can be bad as low as 30-40mph.
3. Steering vibration at 64-70mph.
4. Camber of road impacts the symptoms - generally a left turn is fine, but straight & right can cause vibration.

Good news to report! It all appears to be fixed - THANKS to all your suggestions & advice.

There were 2 separate problems:

1. The steering vibration at 64-70mph was corrected by a wheel alignment AND wheel balance at TOYOTA delearship. Cost: $150

2. Braking vibration at 30-40mph was corrected by replacing the front rotors with TOYOTA parts and servicing the back brakes. Cost $560.

The car is running as smooth as it should be!

Thanks for all suggestions and advice!

 

[ST4runr]

I have been experiencing similar problems.

I have a slight vibration at 64-70mph and the front end would shake bad when braking at higher speeds.

This last weekend I pulled the front brake rotors off and got them both turned at Car Quest for $16. Before I had the rotors turned and while they were on the 4rnr, I noticed when I would turn them by hand, they would drag and bind hard. After they were turned, they would rotate freely by hand. My brakes are perfect now with no pull or shaking during braking. The vibration seems to be less at 64-70mph, but it is still present.

I am not sure what I'm going to do next, but the options I was considering are:
1. Check the tie rods and make sure their still good (replace if bad)
2. Rebalance my tires
3. Get a front end alignment

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

 

[ST4runr]

OOPS just noticed your last post! Spoke too soon. I'll do the alignment and balance.