Nead rear rotors:

[rgcary]

Need rear rotors:

I'm in need of rear rotors on my '05 4Runner. They have been shaved one time already because the vehicle sat for a LONG time at 1900 miles before being bought, were shaved at 2200 miles because of this. I've not had to do any rear brake work since then. Now I think they're warped and in place of shaving again (I have 55,000 miles) I'm thinking of replacing rotors and using Brembo's, which are close to stock. They want $73/each and Toyota wants $155/each for rear! Crazy! I've used Brembo in the past on other cars and they seem to do well.

Any thoughts on this? Is it easy to take the rear rotors off? Any pictures or directions you can share? I could probably have it done for around $60-80 and save my time. Might be worth it?

Thank a lot!

Rick

 

[jeober]

Getting the rear rotors off can be trickier than the fronts. Some tips other than beating on the rotors:

1) Use some WD40 around hub.

2) Use two 8mm screws to break the rotor loose (there is a provision for this). Do not try to completely remove the rotor with these since the parking brake shoes may be hanging up on the drum and you'll cause damage to the parking brake system.

3) There is the typical star wheel inside the hub that you can turn through a hole with a screw driver to back off the parking brake shoes if these are hanging up the rotor removal.

 

[rgcary]

Thanks.

It almost sounds like it's worth having someone do this for me. I've installed brake pads before on the front/rear's of cars, but I'm just a DIY kind of guy with the basic home tools and learn as I go. I'd hate to break something and have the $60-80 job increase in cost due to my lack of knowledge.

 

[riverwolf]

Never heard of sitting for a long time causing a problem with brake rotors/pads. How did you decide it was the rear rotors and not the fronts? Anyway...

Depending on your hurry, there are lots of options for rotors. Forum sponsor Partznet.com has Toyota rears for $105/each, fronts are $85 for the SR5/LTD (319mm rotors).

I'm actually replacing my front rotors this weekend. Decided to go with Centric Premiums...$53/each front, $43/each rears for the 4th Gens at RockAuto. Net research says good things about the Centric premiums.

If you search here, as well as T120, ToyotaNation, and TundraSolutions you can probably find some pretty detailed writeups on brake jobs. I've stumbled over some pretty detailed Lexus writeups as well, that would apply equally to Toyotas.

Good luck!

-Brent

 

[rgcary]

riverwolf

When I press on the brakes I can feel it and how it does not come to a slow gradual stop. It's kind of a chugging feel, but the steering wheel does not shake. I'm going to jack it up and see if any of the wheels do not spin freely to be certain it's the rear before I buy Brembo's. Last time they were all shaved was around 2200 miles and I have 55,000 now.

Per Toyota if your SUV sits for a while it can warp the rotors, which is what happened in my case. It sat for a LONG time. The guy I bought it from had health problems and eventually could not drive so they had the vehicle sitting for a while before turning into the dealer.

So why are you replacing yours?

 

[riverwolf]

Re: riverwolf

When I press on the brakes I can feel it and how it does not come to a slow gradual stop. It's kind of a chugging feel, but the steering wheel does not shake. I'm going to jack it up and see if any of the wheels do not spin freely to be certain it's the rear before I buy Brembo's. Last time they were all shaved was around 2200 miles and I have 55,000 now.

Per Toyota if your SUV sits for a while it can warp the rotors, which is what happened in my case. It sat for a LONG time. The guy I bought it from had health problems and eventually could not drive so they had the vehicle sitting for a while before turning into the dealer.

So why are you replacing yours?

I'd love to see the document from Toyota claiming age warps rotors. They're non weight bearing components. Tires can flat spot from sitting too long and things like gaskets aren't done any favors due to lack of lubrication, but I just can't come up with a scenario where sitting would damage a rotor. Surface rust from sitting will make some unpleasant noise when they were first used again, but that goes away quickly with use. Based on the Toyota explanation, I should return the rotors I just received...one was manufactured 12/08, the other box didn't have an obvious date.

I've been attempting to ignore a "warped" rotor for close to probably 3 years now. Probably happened the last time I let the dealer touch it, which included a tire rotation and the likely use of an air gun to (over)tighten the lugs. In my case, it's definitely on the front, but is only really noticeable when braking above 60mph. With another family vacation to the Smokeys in the near future, just decided it was time to bite the bullet and replace the rotors/pads, even though I made the same trip last year without any problems. A few weeks ago, my original pads were still ~5-6mm (about 50% left) with 60K on the clock so it just hurt my feelings to have tossed them out any sooner.

-Brent

 

[rgcary]

riverwolf

I wish they did provide that to me, but how else could they get warped at 2200 miles? Maybe the parking brake was on for a long time and temperate change when the vehicle sat outside for so long? The pads actually left indentions in the rotors on the rear. I've never seen anything like it. It's like the rotors were etched under the pads where they were sitting for so long. The shaving took some of it away, but again last time they were touched was 53,000 miles ago. Mine is not that noticeable either, but I have OCD about maintaining a vehicle and I like things to be is working order. I put Brembo rotors our '98 Avalon and they seem to be doing very well and I've had them on my Accord many years ago so I'll stick with them for my 4Runner. Autobarn.com has them for $63/each on rear (no tax/shipping) and if you search for coupons on the internet you may be able to get them less.

I hope it works out for you. We're about 5-6 hours from the Smokey

 

[PAULUNM]

Did you try 1sttoyotaparts.com for the OEM rotors? Great prices IME

I'd personally go OEM....

 

[riverwolf]

Re: riverwolf

I wish they did provide that to me, but how else could they get warped at 2200 miles? Maybe the parking brake was on for a long time and temperate change when the vehicle sat outside for so long? The pads actually left indentions in the rotors on the rear. I've never seen anything like it. It's like the rotors were etched under the pads where they were sitting for so long. The shaving took some of it away, but again last time they were touched was 53,000 miles ago. Mine is not that noticeable either, but I have OCD about maintaining a vehicle and I like things to be is working order. I put Brembo rotors our '98 Avalon and they seem to be doing very well and I've had them on my Accord many years ago so I'll stick with them for my 4Runner. Autobarn.com has them for $63/each on rear (no tax/shipping) and if you search for coupons on the internet you may be able to get them less.

I hope it works out for you. We're about 5-6 hours from the Smokey

 

[Falls]

I don't know how important it is to stay with Toyota parts , but I need front rotors and pads and want to just do the backs right away too and get it over with.

Actually I was recommended by 2 frame and axle shops and a local mechanic to use NAPA GOLD Series . I'm going to look into this since I'm not into performance brakes . Long as they work like stock I would be happy .

 

[riverwolf]

I don't know how important it is to stay with Toyota parts , but I need front rotors and pads and want to just do the backs right away too and get it over with.

Actually I was recommended by 2 frame and axle shops and a local mechanic to use NAPA GOLD Series . I'm going to look into this since I'm not into performance brakes . Long as they work like stock I would be happy .

I'm personally not one to recommend OEM just for the sake of OEM. After all, a lot of parts are simply off the shelf items from some 3rd party supplier(s).

For something like the standard vented blanks used on the 4Runner, I'd be willing to bet Toyota is getting them from the same foundries that Raybestos/Brembo/Centric/Duralast/Napa/etc. use. I was skeptical of the Centrics at first, due to price, but if you read up on them, they rave about using the same processes, specs and so forth mandated by the manufacturer. To me, they're simply saying we buy the same rotors that Toyota does, but we're willing to put less markup on them. In turn, some outlets are willing to pass that savings on to the consumer. The Centric rotors I got from RockAuto can be found from other places for $70-80/each, putting them in line with the better known name brands.

The Centric Premiums include coated hubs and center vents to prevent corrosion...looks just like a Raybestos Advanced Tech rotor and some forums have suggested they're one and the same. I thought long and hard about the Napa's, among others, myself, but research made me feel good enough about the Centrics to give them a shot given the price difference.

I am a big fan of the OEM pads, regardless of who makes them. I've got 60K on mine and when measured a few weeks ago, they still had just under 50% material left. At $52/axle from my local dealer, who's to argue. If I can avoid letting someone over torque my wheels again, I'm looking at close to 100K per set.

BTW, as I just mentioned in another thread, Toyota recently changed the part number for the front pads...04465-35290 is now 04465-YZZ1A and made in USA instead of Japan (rears haven't changed...04466-60090). The YZZ1A part includes a new shim design in the box, making this at least the 3rd shim design used on the 4th Gen.

Speaking of brakes, I'm putting off getting down to business by sitting at the computer...heat index is currently 94

 

[92FS]

thinking of putting some drilled and slotted rotors with oem pads maybe late summer or fall

 

[PAULUNM]

thinking of putting some drilled and slotted rotors with oem pads maybe late summer or fall

Personally, I wouldn't go with drilled unless the holes are cast into the rotor. Otherwise you run the risk of cracks in the rotor between the drill holes. In my experience, drilled rotors warp faster than non drilled since there's less material to the rotor...