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HighlanderGeneral discussion forum for the Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid.
This is a discussion thread titled "What is minimum thickness of rear rotors?", within the Highlander forum, part of the SUV Forums category.
I have a problem I have no idea how to solve. I'm not car savvy but some parts of this story does not make any sense to me. I have Toyota Highlander 2004 Limited Edition, 6 cylenders.
I went to local Firestone and they printed out that rear rotors shall be replaced at 0.390 inch (9.9 mm). I went to Meineke and they printed out that rear rotors are 0.394 for standard thickness and 0.335 for minimum. This 2 measuremenets does not make any sense to me since according to Firestone minimum thickness is almost equal to standard thickness provided in Meineke.
Meineke is using AllData as source and Firestone I beleive is using something called Mitchum as source.
I also called dealership trying to find out which standard thickness rotors come from factory with but they were unable to provide this information.
Can somebody informed explain me this situation?
Greg
Last edited by artisticcheese; 05-22-2008 at 04:06 PM.
Is it not stamped on the rim of the rotor? It's usually covered in rust, especially where I live (they salt roads often), but should be on the side. I'll look over the weekend if I remember.
Perhaps the local firestone is of the "we don't turn rotors" mentality that most brake places have. It doesn't cost much more just to get new rotors, and they get the profit from the parts (though probably small), but more importantly they save the labor.
Is it not stamped on the rim of the rotor? It's usually covered in rust, especially where I live (they salt roads often), but should be on the side. I'll look over the weekend if I remember.
Perhaps the local firestone is of the "we don't turn rotors" mentality that most brake places have. It doesn't cost much more just to get new rotors, and they get the profit from the parts (though probably small), but more importantly they save the labor.
I don't know what is stamped on rotor since I did not removed wheels and inspected it. I just don't understand how according to Firestone source minimum thickness is almost equal standard thickness used by Meineke?
20. INSPECT DISC THICKNESS
(a) Using a micrometer, measure the disc thickness. Standard thickness: 10.0 mm (0.394 in.) Minimum thickness: 8.5 mm (0.335 in.)
If the disc thickness is less than the minimum, replace the disc
Meineke wins
cheers
Is this manual available online or from some verified source?
So if I come to Firestone their spec says discard at 0.390 (9.9 mm) which pretty much will force you to get a new rotor even though you did not really wear original one or for brand new car. This is very wrong from my point of view and will force you into buying something which you don't need.
Last edited by artisticcheese; 05-23-2008 at 01:06 PM.
Manual you can buy from dealer, ebay etc, Probably costs a few hundred. let see if I can grab that page for you
Do you feel that it's warranted to approach Firestone HQ and ask why their standard is basically to discard brand new rotor? Or since I'm not car savvy I'm missing something from a bigger picture like that it's cheaper to replace rotor then to turn it etc?
no problem, you might want to ask why the differnce but they prob could care less. Just my opinion.
Thats why I avoid big "commercial" shops and go the small mom and pop type, but thats just me. What you might want to do in the future, make friends with a mechanic or bodyshop/mechanic person. Its much cheaper on repairs!! Thats what I did!!
no problem, you might want to ask why the differnce but they prob could care less. Just my opinion.
Thats why I avoid big "commercial" shops and go the small mom and pop type, but thats just me. What you might want to do in the future, make friends with a mechanic or bodyshop/mechanic person. Its much cheaper on repairs!! Thats what I did!!
Good luck and dont hesistate to ask for info
I don't really think it's Firestone issue rather then source they use (something called Mitchell or something like that). They just rely on that source to decide when to discard a disc. I don't have access to that source (would be great if somebody can verify it). I called different Firestone shop and they checked for me online second time and verified that their source tells them to discard at 0.390 so I doubt it's issue with local Firestone shop but with the whole chain or Mitchell online service.
Like I posted earlier, as great as computers are, the minimum thickness IS STAMPED ON THE DISC!!! It doesn't matter what any computer says, the people who know the most about how thin it can be have already documented that measurment in the most obvious way possible. So even an idiot can say "hey, I'm measuring this object, I wonder how big it should be... oh, it says right on it".
Again, many many, I would say the majority of shops would rather just put on new discs than turn existing discs. Because it takes time and labor is expensive. Because they can make a little bit of money on the parts. Because they don't have to worry about a defect in your existing disc ruining their work and making you dissatisfied. This is nothing new, and not limited to brake discs.
Unless your plan involves going Ralph Nader on Firestone or Mitchum antperspirant, who on earth cares?
Have you ever read the onion.... "area man concerned auto shop may be selling unnecessary parts" could be a headline.
Also, keep in mind turning them thins them significantly (.01~.02 in), so you can't have discs at the minimum turned. By the way, how thick were your discs?
Like I posted earlier, as great as computers are, the minimum thickness IS STAMPED ON THE DISC!!! It doesn't matter what any computer says, the people who know the most about how thin it can be have already documented that measurment in the most obvious way possible. So even an idiot can say "hey, I'm measuring this object, I wonder how big it should be... oh, it says right on it".
Again, many many, I would say the majority of shops would rather just put on new discs than turn existing discs. Because it takes time and labor is expensive. Because they can make a little bit of money on the parts. Because they don't have to worry about a defect in your existing disc ruining their work and making you dissatisfied. This is nothing new, and not limited to brake discs.
Unless your plan involves going Ralph Nader on Firestone or Mitchum antperspirant, who on earth cares?
Have you ever read the onion.... "area man concerned auto shop may be selling unnecessary parts" could be a headline.
Also, keep in mind turning them thins them significantly (.01~.02 in), so you can't have discs at the minimum turned. By the way, how thick were your discs?
My disks were at factory specs according to Meineke and below minimum according to Firestone. This is another area which makes me worried that Firestone tries to sell me service which is not needed.
If this is standard practice (selling you new rotors instead of turning them), I don't understand why Meineke did not try to do the same thing to me? Anyway quote for putting new rotors in was around $449 from Firestone, turning existing ones at Meineke was $240 so this is very significant for me.
I still don't get it how this business works. If for local shop is better to replace rotors then to turn them then why Mitchell says that minimum is at 0.390. Does it mean that shops relying on Mitchell will always replace rotors regardless of the actual measurement becouse according to factory manual which was provided to me rotors come from factory with 0.394.
FWIW: I had the tires rotated and balanced on the wife's HL at NTB. They came back and tried to sell me all kinds of stuff. Rear shocks are leaking, rear rotors are thin, pads need replacing. I ignored them, and continued on. Even it does need all that work, I'll do it myself. All that work is relatively easy money for shops, that's why they like to recommend it.
For me (since I don't have a lift) it takes me longer to jack up the car and remove the tires than it does to remove a set of pads and rotors. Though, I've never done it on this car, it is probably pretty similar.
When turning a rotor and cutting material....yu could end up Cutting beyond the Minimum tolerance. Even though the rotor first measured-out and appeared to be resurfaceable.
It's a gamble....Then, all that labor/Time used to cut them was wasted.
A shop would rather sell yu cheap NON OE made in China rotors and mark them up to OE prices.Beware.
Generally rotors may be cut just once, approx. half way through it's service life. Under ideal circumstances. Any legitimate set of rotors will be stamped with the min and standard allowable limits. This is what yu go by.
Also many shops either don't have a cutting Lathe or do not maintain them well. The latter can ruin an otherwise resurfacaeable set of rotors...causing a Runout condition and thus poor braking.
The BEST way to cut rotors is always using an On-Vehicle cutting Lathe. It will cost more to do. And equipment is more expensive. This is what yu see mainly at Well equipped Dealerships. Sometimes just replacing the rotors is the best alternative.
LT
Last edited by LifeTech; 05-24-2008 at 09:52 AM.
Reason: spel
My disks were at factory specs according to Meineke and below minimum according to Firestone. This is another area which makes me worried that Firestone tries to sell me service which is not needed.
If this is standard practice (selling you new rotors instead of turning them), I don't understand why Meineke did not try to do the same thing to me? Anyway quote for putting new rotors in was around $449 from Firestone, turning existing ones at Meineke was $240 so this is very significant for me.
I still don't get it how this business works. If for local shop is better to replace rotors then to turn them then why Mitchell says that minimum is at 0.390. Does it mean that shops relying on Mitchell will always replace rotors regardless of the actual measurement becouse according to factory manual which was provided to me rotors come from factory with 0.394.
I would question the CalipermeasuringInstrument or the person using it that determined remaining thickness. Measurements are in MM. Doesn't take much to be "off". The margin of error can be great!
What is minimum thickness of rear rotors?
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