Front Brakes Again after 20Kmiles

[alaskaman]

So at the dealer today they inspected brakes during an oil change. We did the fronts at 97k (now at 115K) and today they found rotors warped. Said I was hard on brakes (not true I typically use tranny to slow on long hills) or they "overheated". They use OEM.

Thoughts appreciated.

 

[Thumbie]

You could have a dragging caliper.... but that's just a wild guess.

When your brakes get really hot (like coming down from the mountains), do not come to a complete stop. Cruise casually until they are normal temp. maybe consider a higher performance pad. It's a heavy car with a lot of momentum.

 

[alaskaman]

You could have a dragging caliper.... but that's just a wild guess.

When your brakes get really hot (like coming down from the mountains), do not come to a complete stop. Cruise casually until they are normal temp. maybe consider a higher performance pad. It's a heavy car with a lot of momentum.

Thanks for that.

 

[dkyleb]

If you take a quick look around, you'll find that sticking callipers are an extremely common issue with these vehicles.

 

[alaskaman]

If you take a quick look around, you'll find that sticking callipers are an extremely common issue with these vehicles.

Thanks. Im surprised there is not a TSB on those little pistons.

 

[az4runner02]

Do your feel the shake when you get on the brakes? Just because the dealer says you need something isn't always the case.

 

[alaskaman]

Do your feel the shake when you get on the brakes? Just because the dealer says you need something isn't always the case.

Yes, that's what got my attention - the shake.

 

[az4runner02]

Ah gotcha, well thats crappy. I hate reading about these brakes warping so easily.

 

[z28forlife]

I work for Lexus and these cars/trucks are notorious for warped rotors. I see it literally every single day on a vehicle.

 

[V8Man]

Over thighting wheel lugs will do it easy. Everytime you have to tell them the torque specs. Tire monkeys think, six lugs, big tires, 4x4 = tighten the shit out of it! Even if they set the wrench right it's not good. A couple hundred bounces on the floor and their wrenches are off spec.
Basically tighten too much, add heat and pressure is how blacksmiths bend metal.

 

[alaskaman]

I work for Lexus and these cars/trucks are notorious for warped rotors. I see it literally every single day on a vehicle.

Like many my 1st set went 80k miles. When they put the new pads/rotors on I knew that there was something not right. Took it back 1k later and they did all the tests they could do. Now 19k miles later and I need new rotors and pads. That's ridiculous. They swear (dealer) they use OEM parts but that is poor explanation. I'm going to write to Toyota and see what they say. Will relay that message.

 

[alaskaman]

Talked to the dealer again. Brakes were done at 94K and rotors are warped at 115K. They said heat does this. Called BS. I drove my original pads the length 4 times of the North American continent from Alaska to Mexico getting lots of hard stops on ice and snow and hot in Mexico. Never once did the rotors "warp". Not at 19K they are toast. Inferior quality replacement rotors? bad pads? misaligned calipers? I am thinking of sending this issue to Toyota.

 

[dkyleb]

Talked to the dealer again. Brakes were done at 94K and rotors are warped at 115K. They said heat does this. Called BS. I drove my original pads the length 4 times of the North American continent from Alaska to Mexico getting lots of hard stops on ice and snow and hot in Mexico. Never once did the rotors "warp". Not at 19K they are toast. Inferior quality replacement rotors? bad pads? misaligned calipers? I am thinking of sending this issue to Toyota.

Send it to Toyota, if you want. They're not gonna do anything about it. Brakes are a very very common issue with these vehicles. There is no way of avoiding it besides switching to a 5th gen setup.

 

[jfry008]

Warped rotors

Did the dealer replace the rotors or just 'turn' them when the brakes were replaced?

 

[alaskaman]

Did the dealer replace the rotors or just 'turn' them when the brakes were replaced?

Rotors were replaced.

 

[alaskaman]

This is my note to Toyota.

My original front brakes on my 4Runner lasted 94,000 miles. Truly amazing. These front brakes endured travel traversing the North American continent 4 times from Alaska to Mexico. Ice stopping, heat in Southern California. Travel during arctic storms. I replaced the brakes at 94,000 at the recommendation of the dealer Now at 115,000 miles 19,000 miles later, I am told that the rotors are warped. I am ginger on brakes never had a panic stop in the last year and now I face another brake job. This is simply irrational given my previous experience on Toyota parts. My dealer is simply excellent but the performance on the parts is not. Please advise.

 

[Zadams31]

I'm not a car guru but I had this same issue on my 2000 4Runner warped rotors every few thousand after two different shops, a guy at a Bay Area put a softer brake pad on and the warping was gone! He told me sometimes the pads can be a big issue with warping the rotors. Whatever he did fixed it I drove the car for another 2 years and didn't have a problem. Have only experienced it a here and there on my 2007.

 

[alaskaman]

I'm not a car guru but I had this same issue on my 2000 4Runner warped rotors every few thousand after two different shops, a guy at a Bay Area put a softer brake pad on and the warping was gone! He told me sometimes the pads can be a big issue with warping the rotors. Whatever he did fixed it I drove the car for another 2 years and didn't have a problem. Have only experienced it a here and there on my 2007.

Interesting idea....thanks.

 

[amalik]

You could have a dragging caliper.... but that's just a wild guess.

When your brakes get really hot (like coming down from the mountains), do not come to a complete stop. Cruise casually until they are normal temp. maybe consider a higher performance pad. It's a heavy car with a lot of momentum.

If a steep decline, it's better to use a lower gear than the brakes.

I.e., 'engine brake'

 

[alaskaman]

If a steep decline, it's better to use a lower gear than the brakes.

I.e., 'engine brake'

My original pads enduring countless slam down on ice on studded tires. In Tok Alaska it was -40 and it was slick and rough hard ice roads. All the way down to Mexico it was a tough ride. Add to that travel in over 120 degrees in the desert up and down steep terrain on and off road and N E V E R had this type of issue.

A truck designed to voyage like a 4Runner should not have be to mamby pamby with the f'n brakes.