How bad is the dealer gonna F me...?

[TheJokingExplorer]

Ive had my 2017 4runner for about seven years never with any problems. A few weeks ago my drivers side rear brake started squeaking only when I would brake. No problem this has happened before just replaced pads and it was back to normal. Normally, I would jut replace the pads myself but I just didn't have time so I dropped it off at Toyota. Next thing I know they send me a link to look at repairs saying my rear axel is bent and it's gonna run about 2k. Vehicle drives fine, no vibration and nothing is leaking. Ive never wrecked the vehicle so idk how the axel would get bent... Anyone have this happen?

 

[MZ2215]

I'd say time for a 2nd opinion. I had my local Toyota dealer tell me they couldn't align my '15 because the cam bolts were froze (despite previous alignments being done twice in the last three years) and that they'd need to cut the lower arms off and replace them at a cost close to $3k. Independent shop had it aligned in 40 minutes.

 

[fkheath]

Ive had my 2017 4runner for about seven years never with any problems. A few weeks ago my drivers side rear brake started squeaking only when I would brake. No problem this has happened before just replaced pads and it was back to normal. Normally, I would jut replace the pads myself but I just didn't have time so I dropped it off at Toyota. Next thing I know they send me a link to look at repairs saying my rear axel is bent and it's gonna run about 2k. Vehicle drives fine, no vibration and nothing is leaking. Ive never wrecked the vehicle so idk how the axel would get bent... Anyone have this happen?

Get a second opinion.

Also get specifics. What is actually bent? When people say "axle" they usually mean the tube from the differential to the wheel, but it could also be the axle shaft. Or something else? Have them point to the exact part on the parts diagram.

I've never heard of a 4Runner rear axle getting bent.

Edit: The more I think about this, the more I think something fishy is going on. You go in with just a squeak when braking, which usually means glazed pads, rotors, or parts not lubricated right such as pins where the pads slide. Then they tell you the "axle" is bent and will cost 2K.

 

[TheJokingExplorer]

Get a second opinion.

Also get specifics. What is actually bent? When people say "axle" they usually mean the tube from the differential to the wheel, but it could also be the axle shaft. Or something else? Have them point to the exact part on the parts diagram.

I've never heard of a 4Runner rear axle getting bent.

Edit: The more I think about this, the more I think something fishy is going on. You go in with just a squeak when braking, which usually means glazed pads, rotors, or parts not lubricated right such as pins where the pads slide. Then they tell you the "axle" is bent and will cost 2K.

I think they are talking about the axle flange?(correction, it must be the axel shaft) Here is a link to the video Toyota sent me showing the rotor out of alignment.
https://imgur.com/a/6fGPBdi

 

[El Dusty]

I think they are talking about the axle flange?(correction, it must be the axel shaft) Here is a link to the video Toyota sent me showing the rotor out of alignment.
https://imgur.com/a/6fGPBdi

Thread below should help.

Bent rear axle...are you kidding me?!

Your video shows the axle flange runout being measured which would indicate a bad axel with a bend between the axle shaft and flange. Needs replaced if it exceeds the tolerance.

Are your rear tires wearing weird at all? That would confirm the issue. Since you potentially have a bent flange an alignment wouldn't tell the whole story because as it rotates it would change angle.

Let us know.

 

[fkheath]

Are your rear tires wearing weird at all? That would confirm the issue. Since you potentially have a bent flange an alignment wouldn't tell the whole story because as it rotates it would change angle.

Let us know.

You can't do a wheel alignment on a car with a solid rear axle, like the 4Runner.

 

[fkheath]

I think they are talking about the axle flange?(correction, it must be the axel shaft) Here is a link to the video Toyota sent me showing the rotor out of alignment.
https://imgur.com/a/6fGPBdi

What are the units on the dial gauge? If the run out is small, you can probably live with it. If the run out is large, I would think you would have a vibration when you drive.

 

[TheJokingExplorer]

What are the units on the dial gauge? If the run out is small, you can probably live with it. If the run out is large, I would think you would have a vibration when you drive.

Good question and I don’t know. It seems the new brake pads got rid of the squeeking when I brake. However, I do have some squeeking when the rear drivers side suspension is compressed but no vibration.

 

[fkheath]

I think they are talking about the axle flange?(correction, it must be the axel shaft) Here is a link to the video Toyota sent me showing the rotor out of alignment.
https://imgur.com/a/6fGPBdi

My bad. Not right what I posted.

 

[TheJokingExplorer]

No abnormal wear pattern on my rear tire.

 

[rdruss]

No abnormal wear pattern on my rear tire.

Then you are good to go, get your brakes done somewhere you trust other than dealer or find the time to do yourself.

 

[El Dusty]

You can't do a wheel alignment on a car with a solid rear axle, like the 4Runner.

I understand that but reading an alignment on the rear axle on a 4runner would still describe camber problems like a bent axel housing or bent axel flange. Like I said it wouldn't tell the whole story.

 

[apc9199]

If that is a metric indicator, your total indicated runout is around .1mm or less than .005". I don't know what factory spec is but I wouldn't let them touch my vehicle over this issue. Get the brakes done and continue to happily drive your vehicle.

 

[El Dusty]

If that is a metric indicator, your total indicated runout is around .1mm or less than .005". I don't know what factory spec is but I wouldn't let them touch my vehicle over this issue. Get the brakes done and continue to happily drive your vehicle.

If it was measured at 0.1mm runout then this would be close to double the allowable per the manual. It is a ridiculously small tolerance.

With 0.05mm runout on a 6.5" flange it would be at a 0.017° angle. With 0.1mm of runout it would increase to .0347°.

 

[SocalSam]

You know your truck's driving and wear characteristics better than any service ticket writer or grease monkey who test drove around the block. Trust your instincts when dealing with these people.

 

[TheJokingExplorer]

If that is a metric indicator, your total indicated runout is around .1mm or less than .005". I don't know what factory spec is but I wouldn't let them touch my vehicle over this issue. Get the brakes done and continue to happily drive your vehicle.

According to the 4runner service manual from Toyota. The maximum rear axle shaft runout is 1.50mm and the rear axle flange runout is 0.05mm.

 

[TheJokingExplorer]

You know your truck's driving and wear characteristics better than any service ticket writer or grease monkey who test drove around the block. Trust your instincts when dealing with these people.

I agree which is why I'm having a hard time believing that this axle shaft is so out of spec that I need to spend 2k replacing it. Especially since the only symptom is a small squeak hear and there. At the same time I don't want to "assume" I know more than what I really do and then down the line I have an even larger issue.

 

[fkheath]

You know your truck's driving and wear characteristics better than any service ticket writer or grease monkey who test drove around the block. Trust your instincts when dealing with these people.

Do you have any vibration when braking? If the brake disc wobbles too much or is warped, then you will feel a vibration when braking as the pads move back and forth to accommodate the wobble. If you have no vibration, you should be good too go, as others have said about the run out.

 

[TheJokingExplorer]

Do you have any vibration when braking? If the brake disc wobbles too much or is warped, then you will feel a vibration when braking as the pads move back and forth to accommodate the wobble. If you have no vibration, you should be good too go, as others have said about the run out.

I have no vibration when braking.

 

[El Dusty]

I agree which is why I'm having a hard time believing that this axle shaft is so out of spec that I need to spend 2k replacing it. Especially since the only symptom is a small squeak hear and there. At the same time I don't want to "assume" I know more than what I really do and then down the line I have an even larger issue.

There are other options to fix this besides replacing the axle like machining the rotor to account for runout. There are also shims, not sure I would trust them. Both would be more of a bandaid to the actual problem.

To be super clear, your slightly bent axle flange is causing everything mounted to it to also have runout i.e. your rotor and wheel / tire. As your tilted rotor spins it makes the contact surface between the pads and rotor not parallel and dynamic (squeaky). Your wheel & tire are also wobbling although you are not feeling that.

The more runout the more it will reduce your brakes performance, eat up your pads / tires and make noise. We are speculating you are double the allowed.

I think the tolerance is ridiculous and would have thought the caliper could account for some minor misalignment issues but we are talking about high speed rotating parts that need to be parallel to other surfaces to function.