Steering Shimmy on Braking - 2015 TRD

[GNB]

I have a 2015 TRD with about 19K miles mostly easy city driven.

No vibration in steering wheel at highway/driving speed. However, recently I notice when braking the steering wheel shimmy's. I did have the tires balanced & rotated about a month ago. I checked and the lugs did not seem over tightened ( I re-torqued them). I will take the vehicle back to the tire place to have the balance checked.

The shimmy appeared suddenly. I first noticed it after the vehicle had not been driven for several days during and after Hurricane Harvey. Vehicle has never been in or driven in deep water. Maybe I just need to drive and apply the brakes really hard a few times.

Hope it is not the front brake rotors. Visually, the brakes and rotors look good.

Any ideas on what could be causing this ?

 

[e60ral]

you can't visually tell if it's your rotors

 

[SacStateHornets]

Rotors need to be resurfaced. Can't imagine they would be getting thin with low miles.


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[GNB]

you can't visually tell if it's your rotors

I agree. I'd probably replace the rotors . Is a bad balance or thrown wheel weight a possibility ?

 

[Airgazm]

Shimmy in the steering wheel when breaking is almost always warped front rotors. My guess is they got the torque incorrect and they warped when they got hot after the tire work. One bad braking incident will warp them, like going down a steep hill and getting them hot, but having the torque inconsistent will allow them warp very easily.

 

[e60ral]

I agree. I'd probably replace the rotors . Is a bad balance or thrown wheel weight a possibility ?

not likely if you just have vibrations under braking

 

[1jzgte]

take it back to the dealer and let them deal with it. You're still under warranty. Sounds like a warped rotor.

 

[GNB]

take it back to the dealer and let them deal with it. You're still under warranty. Sounds like a warped rotor.

Yes, my vehicle is still under warranty.

Do you think Toyota will cover the warped rotor(s) or blame it on the tire store?

 

[e60ral]

I don't think pads and rotors are covered under warranty

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[philsey]

You're going to hear "warped" rotors a lot. They are not actually warped, rather they have an uneven surface from brake pad deposits. Google "warped rotors" or do some youtube searching to get informed about disc brakes.

The rotors need must be "resurfaced", which is a simple lathing process to cut them down just enough to remove the uneven surface. A modern shop will do this on the vehicle. Most rotors will stand resurfacing once easily, maybe twice

At 19k, this is unusual, and there is a cause. Could be riding the brakes ... but I'd suspect a brake caliper is hung up and the pad is dragging on the rotor. This happened to me at 20K. I'm of the opinion that 4R brakes need routine maintenance (slide pins cleaned/lubed), especially in winter areas. I'd guess that prolonged sitting could exacerbate things.

Warranty? Doubtful, but try. My dealer cut me a break, but brakes are a wear item, and not covered. Depends on how persuasive you are.

Also will be greatly to your benefit to get familiar with the terms and workings of disc brakes first. If your dealer is the greedy type, who knows what they'll tell you.

 

[SR5Bart]

I don't think pads and rotors are covered under warranty

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Pads and rotors are covered 3/36 unless they are worn down and that's causing the vibration. If the rotor is out of round or warped they will cover the brake job under warranty

 

[GNB]

You're going to hear "warped" rotors a lot. They are not actually warped, rather they have an uneven surface from brake pad deposits. Google "warped rotors" or do some youtube searching to get informed about disc brakes.

The rotors need must be "resurfaced", which is a simple lathing process to cut them down just enough to remove the uneven surface. A modern shop will do this on the vehicle. Most rotors will stand resurfacing once easily, maybe twice

At 19k, this is unusual, and there is a cause. Could be riding the brakes ... but I'd suspect a brake caliper is hung up and the pad is dragging on the rotor. This happened to me at 20K. I'm of the opinion that 4R brakes need routine maintenance (slide pins cleaned/lubed), especially in winter areas. I'd guess that prolonged sitting could exacerbate things.

Warranty? Doubtful, but try. My dealer cut me a break, but brakes are a wear item, and not covered. Depends on how persuasive you are.

Also will be greatly to your benefit to get familiar with the terms and workings of disc brakes first. If your dealer is the greedy type, who knows what they'll tell you.

Thanks , good information! I am familiar with disk brakes and have done my own brake jobs ( pads and rotors) for over 20 years on various vehicles. My 2015 4Runner sat in the driveway for about 5 days in heavy rain during Harvey . It was afterwards while driving that I noticed the shimmy on braking. This morning I took a drive and applied the brakes hard several times in an attempt to smooth out the rotors from what could be superficial corrosion ( I know, wishful thinking). The shimmy seems to have diminished, so perhaps just driving the vehicle a bit more will help out. Does this make sense?

My older vehicle is a 2002 Sequoia which I've owned since new. When it was new I went thru several OEM rotors (warping) until I gave up on them and switched to Brembo and ATE ( I think). On the Sequoia, my experience with Toyota oem rotors was poor. Also switched to Hawk pads which I believe provide better braking. Never had rotor issues since on the Sequoia which is approaching 200K miles and all maintenance performed by me.

Another poster said the pads and rotors are covered under the 36/36 warranty. So if it doesn't resolve, I'll take to dealer. Otherwise, I would probably replace and upgrade the rotors and pad.

 

[GNB]

Pads and rotors are covered 3/36 unless they are worn down and that's causing the vibration. If the rotor is out of round or warped they will cover the brake job under warranty

Thanks, great information ! If the shimmy issue continues, I will take to the dealer under warranty. I almost would rather replace myself than have the vehicle stuck at the dealership. But if the warranty covers the rotors ,I'll use it.

Update: I just checked my warranty book and the exclusions include "worn" brake pads which is not the situation. So thanks again, It does appear Toyota should cover warped rotors under the 36 month warranty.

Thank you

 

[philsey]

Thanks, great information ! If the shimmy issue continues, I will take to the dealer under warranty. I almost would rather replace myself than have the vehicle stuck at the dealership. But if the warranty covers the rotors ,I'll use it.

Update: I just checked my warranty book and the exclusions include "worn" brake pads which is not the situation. So thanks again, It does appear Toyota should cover warped rotors under the 36 month warranty.

Thank you

Please update when you find out. I'd like to know so I don't post misinformation again.

BTW - be sure you ride along if you go to the dealer, you know .... to avoid the dreaded "symptom not found". GL

Oh, and sry about posting like you didn't know brakes ... shouldn't have ass-umed.

 

[GNB]

Please update when you find out. I'd like to know so I don't post misinformation again.

BTW - be sure you ride along if you go to the dealer, you know .... to avoid the dreaded "symptom not found". GL

Oh, and sry about posting like you didn't know brakes ... shouldn't have ass-umed.

No worries, I learn something new every time I pick up a wrench. This was a bit of a strange case , as the shimmy (perhaps coincidentally) started after the vehicle sat in the driveway after the tremendous rainfall of Harvey for days. This also seems consistent with what you have written. I don't like having to take the vehicle into the dealer , so will exhaust all other possibilities (i.e drive it a lot). In fairness to Discount Tires, I was able to easily loosen the lug nuts with a hand wrench before re-torquing to specs. So, I don't think they over tightened the lugs .

 

[Soneill]

Shimmy in the steering wheel when breaking is almost always warped front rotors. My guess is they got the torque incorrect and they warped when they got hot after the tire work. One bad braking incident will warp them, like going down a steep hill and getting them hot, but having the torque inconsistent will allow them warp very easily.

This I did not know about. I have been through 2 set of rotors and pads(covered under parts warranty), only to still have the brake shudder on stopping. Im going to try one more set and torque to spec, we shall see what happens.

 

[GNB]

Update

The brake shimmy I was experiencing seems to have gone away .

My conclusion, surface corrosion due to the vehicle sitting out in very hard rain and high humidity for 4 days during the Harvey hurricane.

I drove the car and applied the brakes hard about half a dozed times and have been driving the vehicle since with no shimmy. If this was the case, the brakes are very sensitive to unevenness on the rotors.

Kinda makes sense now, but I will keep my eyes on it.