vibration when braking

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brettmc

New member
I have a vibration when braking. It worse the faster I'm going and the harder I brake. I want to remove the front rotors and get them turned. What tools do I need to do this? Is there a write up on the web anywhere on this?

I'm about to go outside (as soon as it cools off some!) and remove a front wheel to check the pad thickness. I'll get some pads tomorrow if I need to replace them.

I'm a fairly good shade tree mechanic. I've got a hot 96 formula that I turn wrenches on. I've only had the t4r 7 months so this will be a good way to get better acquainted. This is a 06 limited with 70k miles.

Any help on this will be greatly appreciated!

Brett
 
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Sounds like the rotors definitely need to be resurfaced. I've never worked on the brakes on the 4runner (as I just got mine a few weeks ago), but on almost every car I've seen (except 90-97 Honda Accords, which are AWFUL), you only need a socket wrench to take off the calipers and an impact driver to get out any phillips-head screws holding the rotor onto the hub (if that's even the case on these 4runners). Wait for a definitive answer from someone else first, though.

I can say one thing for sure, it's almost always a good idea to replace the pads when you replace or resurface your rotors. This has to do with the surfaces of the pad and rotor properly mating together.

Edit: this may help as well http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance/11793-brake-pads-cut-rotors.html
 
Last edited:
I took off a front wheel and there's a good bit of pad left.

Thanks for the reply Keith. I couldn't tell how the rotor was retained when the wheel was off. Anyone else?
 
brettmc said:
I took off a front wheel and there's a good bit of pad left.

Thanks for the reply Keith. I couldn't tell how the rotor was retained when the wheel was off. Anyone else?
Click to expand...

Did you see the link I posted when I edited my post? It seems to provide a pretty definitive answer of how the rotor is on there (basically, only held on by the caliper and tightened wheel). Edit: oh yeah, and probably some rust!
 
After fighting rotor problems for years on Volvo 240's, I learned I could make the rotor warping go away by using a torque wrench on the wheels. Forget about "torque sticks" dealers and tire shops use. Loosen and re-tighten to specs when you get home. You'll be amazed....
 
JIC I need to get rotors, what size do I get? NAPA has a 12.5" and 13.3" ultra premium rotor listed. NAPA guys says if I have 17" wheels, get the 13.3...and if I have the 16 inch wheels, get the 12.5. I think I remember reading somewhere on here that only t4r sports got the 13.3s.
 
so 13.3 inchers it is! I just called NAPA and they don't stock the ultra premium rotors in st louis. They'll have to come from chicago so I won't be able to use those this weekend. They do have the ultra premium pads which I will pick up after work today.

Now, back to rotor resurfacing. Would this be a good thing to do? I just called o'reilly's and they don't recommend resurfacing. Would this be due to the fact they'd rather sell a new rotor for more than they'd get for resurfacing 2?
 
I'll measure them tonight or tomorrow when I remove them for resurfacing.

Can anyone give me a reason to not resurface my rotors?
 
Make sure your caliper pistons are not siezed. It's a common problem on the 4runner. I haven't done mine yet but I'm thinking of just going ahead and buying a set of rebuilt calipers.
 
I read on this site about how to do that. Place a wrench on the pistons and use a c-clamp to compress them. I sure hope mine are ok.
 
calipers werent seized thank goodness. however, the frickin rotors won't come off. been soakin both in pb blaster & beatin on em with a dead blow hammer to no avail. Might get a torch tonight or tomorrow morning and heat em up. Can anyone suggest anything else to help get em off?
 
I finally got the rotors off by heating them and using a 3 jaw puller. I had to remove the dust cap and lay a wrench across the axle nut for a base to push against with the puller. I took the rotors for resurfacing but they wouldnt fit on o'reilly's lathe so I ended up getting lifetime wagner rotors at a discount of 74 each plus tax. I put a light coat of bearing grease everywhere the rotors mate to the suspension so they should come right off the next brake job. I'll wait until tonight after traffic settles down to get out and bed the new napa pads.
 
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