I have a 99 4Runner which I love but has had constant brake problems for the past 2 years (I purchased it used in 2003). The entire front end shakes when I brake. The faster I am going when I brake, the more violent the shaking. In March of 2005, I had the rotors smoothed and the shaking stopped for about a month. Then in November of 2005 I had a front and rear brake job and I believe they smoothed the rotors again (which I thought rotors should only be smoothed once). This $400 repair only fixed the problem for about a month also. I just dropped it off at the same mechanic because it is still under warranty from the November repair. However, I have a feeling they are going to come up with some other expensive repair. Please help! I am a 29 year old female who knows nothing about working on cars and don't want to be taken for a ride!
Front end vibrates when braking
- Thread starter millerlm
- Start date
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The mechanic just called me back and said that the only thing he sees is the rotors are warped again and they are resurfacing them again. He says he can't find anything that can be causing them to warp so quickly - that my calipers appear to be fine.
What type of aftermarket rotors are good to put on a 4runner? Thanks!
What type of aftermarket rotors are good to put on a 4runner? Thanks!
toybox
New member
I agree that Toyota rotors SUCK!
I had mine resurfaced once under warranty but the problem came back again. I will be getting some quality aftermarket rotors soon to put on my truck.
I can't say that it won't be expensive since you are having a shop do it but I would at least tell them you do not want the rotors resurfaced and you want new rotors (and not Toyota rotors). The aftermarket rotors for my '03 are about $115 each. I would say you are looking at about $450 total from a shop to do this job.
I had mine resurfaced once under warranty but the problem came back again. I will be getting some quality aftermarket rotors soon to put on my truck.
I can't say that it won't be expensive since you are having a shop do it but I would at least tell them you do not want the rotors resurfaced and you want new rotors (and not Toyota rotors). The aftermarket rotors for my '03 are about $115 each. I would say you are looking at about $450 total from a shop to do this job.
toybox
New member
millerlm said:
That's ridiculous! They keep warping so they are going to take more metal off of them for a third time! They are going to warp again very quickly.
Make sure your shop is torquing your lug nuts correctly, I think it is 80 ft/lbs. putting lugs nuts on tighter or different from the others on the same wheel can contribute or cause warping. They may just be blasting them on as tight as they can get them which is not a good thing.
fireteacher
New member
buy the brembo rotors.
Tom Kozesky
New member
Millerlm and the rotor problems
I agree that the oem rotors have had many issues and if this is
going to be an ongoing problem for you then stop wasting your
money and time on the rotors you have now. I have found that
Brembo maks an excellent after market rotor at a very reasonable
price. The company that I have done business with is Import
Replacement Parts / [email protected] / order line: (452) 398-
1846. My sales guy is named Jeff and he is an excellent resource
person. If you mention that you are a member of the Honda-Tech
community there is an additional discount.
2. I would find a new mechanic. To pull your rotors and resurface
them and charge $400.00 is a crime. Rotors should only be cut
perhaps once or no more thab twice...NEVER 3 times.
3. Consider an upgrade to a good ceramic pad if you go with a set
of new front rotors. They are not that expensive...$40 -$50 and
will make a world of difference.
4. Consider having all your tires pulled and re-balanced. This will
cost about $10-$12 per tire and is usually money well spent.
5. If you are going thru the above expense, consider a 4 wheel
alignment. There is some rather new technology with the alignment equipment and the two places I have seen the
equipment is Firestone and NTB...National Tire and Battery.
The cost is between $40-$60 but be on the lookout for specials.
Try going to Mastercare.com for local sales and specials at Firestone.
6. At the time of the alignment and wheel balancing, make sure
that the proper and correct air pressure is put into each time. There is generally a few pounds difference between the front vs. the rear. This information cal be found in the owners manual, inside the drivers door or inside the glove compartment box.
7. Be careful for the first few hundred miles after the work is done
on the brakes. Avoid applying heavy pressure until everything is seated properly.
8. Consider working a deal with sombody to do the alignment, wheel balancing, etc all at once.
9. Have you new mechanic check your calipers so they are applying equal pressure throughout and are not frozen: unequal pressure = irregular pad wear = warped rotors.
10. Good luck and if is taken care of properly you should have many miles of happy braking.
I agree that the oem rotors have had many issues and if this is
going to be an ongoing problem for you then stop wasting your
money and time on the rotors you have now. I have found that
Brembo maks an excellent after market rotor at a very reasonable
price. The company that I have done business with is Import
Replacement Parts / [email protected] / order line: (452) 398-
1846. My sales guy is named Jeff and he is an excellent resource
person. If you mention that you are a member of the Honda-Tech
community there is an additional discount.
2. I would find a new mechanic. To pull your rotors and resurface
them and charge $400.00 is a crime. Rotors should only be cut
perhaps once or no more thab twice...NEVER 3 times.
3. Consider an upgrade to a good ceramic pad if you go with a set
of new front rotors. They are not that expensive...$40 -$50 and
will make a world of difference.
4. Consider having all your tires pulled and re-balanced. This will
cost about $10-$12 per tire and is usually money well spent.
5. If you are going thru the above expense, consider a 4 wheel
alignment. There is some rather new technology with the alignment equipment and the two places I have seen the
equipment is Firestone and NTB...National Tire and Battery.
The cost is between $40-$60 but be on the lookout for specials.
Try going to Mastercare.com for local sales and specials at Firestone.
6. At the time of the alignment and wheel balancing, make sure
that the proper and correct air pressure is put into each time. There is generally a few pounds difference between the front vs. the rear. This information cal be found in the owners manual, inside the drivers door or inside the glove compartment box.
7. Be careful for the first few hundred miles after the work is done
on the brakes. Avoid applying heavy pressure until everything is seated properly.
8. Consider working a deal with sombody to do the alignment, wheel balancing, etc all at once.
9. Have you new mechanic check your calipers so they are applying equal pressure throughout and are not frozen: unequal pressure = irregular pad wear = warped rotors.
10. Good luck and if is taken care of properly you should have many miles of happy braking.
Tom Kozesky
New member
Millerlm and the rotor problems
I agree that the oem rotors have had many issues and if this is
going to be an ongoing problem for you then stop wasting your
money and time on the rotors you have now. I have found that
Brembo maks an excellent after market rotor at a very reasonable
price. The company that I have done business with is Import
Replacement Parts / [email protected] / order line: (452) 398-
1846. My sales guy is named Jeff and he is an excellent resource
person. If you mention that you are a member of the Honda-Tech
community there is an additional discount.
2. I would find a new mechanic. To pull your rotors and resurface
them and charge $400.00 is a crime. Rotors should only be cut
perhaps once or no more thab twice...NEVER 3 times.
3. Consider an upgrade to a good ceramic pad if you go with a set
of new front rotors. They are not that expensive...$40 -$50 and
will make a world of difference.
4. Consider having all your tires pulled and re-balanced. This will
cost about $10-$12 per tire and is usually money well spent.
5. If you are going thru the above expense, consider a 4 wheel
alignment. There is some rather new technology with the alignment equipment and the two places I have seen the
equipment is Firestone and NTB...National Tire and Battery.
The cost is between $40-$60 but be on the lookout for specials.
Try going to Mastercare.com for local sales and specials at Firestone.
6. At the time of the alignment and wheel balancing, make sure
that the proper and correct air pressure is put into each time. There is generally a few pounds difference between the front vs. the rear. This information cal be found in the owners manual, inside the drivers door or inside the glove compartment box.
7. Be careful for the first few hundred miles after the work is done
on the brakes. Avoid applying heavy pressure until everything is seated properly.
8. Consider working a deal with sombody to do the alignment, wheel balancing, etc all at once.
9. Have you new mechanic check your calipers so they are applying equal pressure throughout and are not frozen: unequal pressure = irregular pad wear = warped rotors.
10. Good luck and if is taken care of properly you should have many miles of happy braking.
I agree that the oem rotors have had many issues and if this is
going to be an ongoing problem for you then stop wasting your
money and time on the rotors you have now. I have found that
Brembo maks an excellent after market rotor at a very reasonable
price. The company that I have done business with is Import
Replacement Parts / [email protected] / order line: (452) 398-
1846. My sales guy is named Jeff and he is an excellent resource
person. If you mention that you are a member of the Honda-Tech
community there is an additional discount.
2. I would find a new mechanic. To pull your rotors and resurface
them and charge $400.00 is a crime. Rotors should only be cut
perhaps once or no more thab twice...NEVER 3 times.
3. Consider an upgrade to a good ceramic pad if you go with a set
of new front rotors. They are not that expensive...$40 -$50 and
will make a world of difference.
4. Consider having all your tires pulled and re-balanced. This will
cost about $10-$12 per tire and is usually money well spent.
5. If you are going thru the above expense, consider a 4 wheel
alignment. There is some rather new technology with the alignment equipment and the two places I have seen the
equipment is Firestone and NTB...National Tire and Battery.
The cost is between $40-$60 but be on the lookout for specials.
Try going to Mastercare.com for local sales and specials at Firestone.
6. At the time of the alignment and wheel balancing, make sure
that the proper and correct air pressure is put into each time. There is generally a few pounds difference between the front vs. the rear. This information cal be found in the owners manual, inside the drivers door or inside the glove compartment box.
7. Be careful for the first few hundred miles after the work is done
on the brakes. Avoid applying heavy pressure until everything is seated properly.
8. Consider working a deal with sombody to do the alignment, wheel balancing, etc all at once.
9. Have you new mechanic check your calipers so they are applying equal pressure throughout and are not frozen: unequal pressure = irregular pad wear = warped rotors.
10. Good luck and if is taken care of properly you should have many miles of happy braking.
fireteacher
New member
:iagree: Good posting Tom!
Tom Kozesky
New member
the rotor problem
Thanks, Fireteacher
Thanks, Fireteacher
