Replace front rotors after 30,000 miles?

[Dansnare]

I brought my 04 in for its 30,000 mile service, and the technician says both my front brake pads and rotors need to be replaced.

Is it premature to do the rotors? This will be the first service of any kind on the brakes, and it has always seemed to me on other vehicles that if the rotors are damaged its because you should have replaced the pads earlier.

The dealer has inspected the brakes every 5,000 miles and this is the first time they have said anything about the brakes.

Should they have warned me about the brakes earlier or is it reasonable to need new rotors at 30,000?

Thanks.

Dan

 

[sharp4runr]

Did they give any reasoning why the rotors need replacing? Is it at it's end of life (determined by the thickness of the rotor). Wierd vibrations while coming to a stop?

I just turned 30K a few weeks ago and my dealership never said anything after my service. Brakes feel just fine. I haven't pulled the wheels to do a visual check though.

Some people have had to replace rotors earlier than 30k, but I believe they were having a pulsating sensation when braking.

 

[greasefingers]

30 k miles seems too early but it is not unheard of. If you want to check them remove the front tires and measure the in-board & out-board pads thickness. I do not remember the minimum specs but I can look it up if you go this far. I think it is 2 mm and new ones are 10 to 12 mm thick? But even 3 mm thick will feel as if they need to be replaced.

 

[Sac State]

I replaced my front pads at 48K. I am glad I did, the screeching was horrible the first 48K miles on the vehicle. Now it is quiet. My rear are at 25%.

 

[GSGALLANT]

The rotors on my 2002 are original with 70,000 miles on them. I am about to replace my pads, and I still have enough room to have the rotors turned, so hopefully that will fix the very slight pulsing that I have when I apply my brakes softly now.

 

[JetTech]

The rotors on my 2002 are original with 70,000 miles on them. I am about to replace my pads, and I still have enough room to have the rotors turned, so hopefully that will fix the very slight pulsing that I have when I apply my brakes softly now.

If I apply the brakes very hard, I get a pulsating feeling through my brake pedal in my 02. I just assumed it was the antiskid system doing its job but to me it seemed very unnecessary on dry pavement.

While applying light and medium brake pressure in my 02 I get very heavy vibrations but I installed brand new pads and rotors 8K ago.

I'm now thinking I might have a busted radial in my one or more of my tires, because while driving at around 65-70 MPH I get a pretty descent vibration, which I can feel through the steering wheel. When I brake I can feel it throught the brake pedal.

 

[greasefingers]

I turned my rotors and replaced the pads on my runner. It was a mistake for me. The pulsation came back after one week. Sometimes you get lucky (if the lathe is in spec) and sometimes you get screwed. I have had rotors turned on many occasions with different vehicles without any issues, but with the 4runner I will always now just replace the both the rotors and pads with new ones.

 

[toybox]

I turned my rotors and replaced the pads on my runner. It was a mistake for me. The pulsation came back after one week. Sometimes you get lucky (if the lathe is in spec) and sometimes you get screwed. I have had rotors turned on many occasions with different vehicles without any issues, but with the 4runner I will always now just replace the both the rotors and pads with new ones.

Same exact thing with me too. As soon as I get a little axtra cash I'm getting new rotors and pads (even if I do have a lot of pad left because the rotors are really starting to annoy me)

 

[JetTech]

Are there any specific rotors that you guys reccommned?

I've been researching this 4Runner rotor issue and it seems like its a common problem. I've owned several cars and none of them had rotor issues like the 4Runner.

 

[toybox]

I checked all the local parts store and from Toyota and the prices range from $45 to $150. I'm tempted to just go with the least expensive becauseI don't know what the difference could be. And with Toyota's being the most expensive and seemingly shitty quality how much worse could the cheap ones be.

 

[greasefingers]

This has been on my mind for a year now. I only get abnormal pulsation with heavy braking; on my replacement pads and turned rotors. I am thinking of throwing on some Toyota pads with a set of DuraLast rotors. Since March I have used DuraLast rotors on my other two vehicles and can not complain (however this has only been a six month test)

 

[toybox]

This has been on my mind for a year now. I only get abnormal pulsation with heavy braking; on my replacement pads and turned rotors. I am thinking of throwing on some Toyota pads with a set of DuraLast rotors. Since March I have used DuraLast rotors on my other two vehicles and can not complain (however this has only been a six month test)

Thanks for the info. I think Duralast was one of the brands I priced along with Raybestos and a couple of other name brands and some I didn't recognize at all.

 

[Spider5]

I brought my 04 in for its 30,000 mile service, and the technician says both my front brake pads and rotors need to be replaced.

Is it premature to do the rotors? This will be the first service of any kind on the brakes, and it has always seemed to me on other vehicles that if the rotors are damaged its because you should have replaced the pads earlier.

The dealer has inspected the brakes every 5,000 miles and this is the first time they have said anything about the brakes.

Should they have warned me about the brakes earlier or is it reasonable to need new rotors at 30,000?

Thanks.

Dan

Dan, did you find out more about why the rotors would need replacement. Like most others that have replied here, I also have had pulsation problems almost since the start.

Unless the pads are worn to the point that they grined on the rotors the only reason I can see a replacement is warpage.

 

[greasefingers]

I think the original poster disappeared?? But I believe that this subject will come up a lot in the very near future, as many of the fourth gen runners have between 40 to 70 k miles on them. So it will be good to listen to success/failure stories of the different rotor-pads combinations of and of course the

 

[Spider5]

Thanks, I'll keep everyone posted in the direction I will go. I wonder if the Lexus has the same problem. Often Lexus is a lot more proactive to provide TSB for these type of things. As an example my wifes RX330 just got a recal for carpet clip replacements and checking my runner they looked the same. Since brakes are a safety item maybe even a recall is in the future.

 

[Mashimaru]

I'm at 41k milles here, and have just had the front rotors replaced, and new pads installed yesterday under warranty. Previously the dealer had cut the rotors and gave me new pads and in about a year the whole thing just warped again. With the new rotors on i still have a very very slight jerk feeling, and i believe it is coming from the rear rotors since those are the only ones that haven't been touched. I may take it in to have the rear rotors checked sometime so i'll see what happens.

 

[loudog2]

I had my rear rotars resurfaced at my 15k service. Then went back 3k later because of pulsation in steering wheel. I then had my fronts resurfaced, he also said the backs were warped again, so they replaced them under warranty.

 

[Spider5]

I had my rear rotars resurfaced at my 15k service. Then went back 3k later because of pulsation in steering wheel. I then had my fronts resurfaced, he also said the backs were warped again, so they replaced them under warranty.

Did the new once get warped or is it too early to tell?

 

[Mashimaru]

Just had the rears done today, so hopefully we'll see how this goes this time. She's on four new rotors and pads.