Pads 90% worn and rotors warped on 2003 @ 20,000 miles??????

[Boxer]

Please help,

I had my vehicle in for a regular maintenance and the service department telephones at work to say my front brake pads are 90% worn and rotors are warped and close to $300.00 to replace the pads and machine the rotors. I had a vibration the last month or so, slight one at that, when braking at higher speeds (55 or more) and exiting on to an off ramp. I have searched this forum and I do have the newer caliper design on my 2003 but I also read that some 2003 may be covered under the front TSB, has anyone else had brake problems with a 2003 with the new calipers? And what was your fix? This can't be right, warped rotors at 20,000, surely I can't have my brakes done every 20,000! Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Boxer

[nhparrot]

Originally Posted by Boxer

Please help,

I had my vehicle in for a regular maintenance and the service department telephones at work to say my front brake pads are 90% worn and rotors are warped and close to $300.00 to replace the pads and machine the rotors. I had a vibration the last month or so, slight one at that, when braking at higher speeds (55 or more) and exiting on to an off ramp. I have searched this forum and I do have the newer caliper design on my 2003 but I also read that some 2003 may be covered under the front TSB, has anyone else had brake problems with a 2003 with the new calipers? And what was your fix? This can't be right, warped rotors at 20,000, surely I can't have my brakes done every 20,000! Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Boxer

If your VIN is lower than 5TB**##1#3S340241, then the BR004-02 TSB applies. Mention the vibration and have them check to see if BR004-02 is applicable.

[Boxer]

My VIN number is higher than what you stated, sorry should have mentioned that also.

Boxer

[Stooge]

You do lots of stop and go traffic. Sounds like you already have the Landcruiser brakes on the truck. The pads are real soft, dusty and wear quickly, just like my Sequoia. Pad swap and rotor change is a breeze. tirerack.com has OEM Brembo news rotors for $50 apiece. They also sell Satisfied brake pads as well as the EBC "green" pads. I recommend the Satisfied units but the not the EBC. The parts are received in a day or two, the rotors are just as good as the OEM's and the cost is under $150 delivered. You can do the work yourself and save another $100. I would not have the rotors turned, that will not permanently fix your vibration problems. I would however have the rotors turned if the Stealership has a "hub mounted, on-car, brake rotor lathe." This will cure your vibration woes!

[mandzach]

dont feel like your alone- 03' 4x4 -rotors are warped with 11,000 miles on it.
not real bad vibration all the time when breaking but at times it gives me the vibration - pads are fine - i blame myself for this for stoping hard while traveling fast. it makes me mad anyway because the truck should be able to stop hard all day long at any speed - just like my 89' 4x4 did!
and yes my vin# is higher also

[JeffD]

You will get used to it. I have been replacing brake pads/discs every 20-25K for 175K. luckily nothing else on these trucks wear out so quickly. My girlfriends maxima which I drive like a maniac, and tow a 3 bike motorcycle trailer with still has its original pads and disks with about 60K. And gets double the gas mileage towing the bikes.

[Mike Donofrio]

Originally Posted by JeffD

You will get used to it. I have been replacing brake pads/discs every 20-25K for 175K. luckily nothing else on these trucks wear out so quickly. My girlfriends maxima which I drive like a maniac, and tow a 3 bike motorcycle trailer with still has its original pads and disks with about 60K. And gets double the gas mileage towing the bikes.

I second that, Jeff--I replace my front pads about every 20-30K and I am on my third set of rotors...That said, this is till better than driving a Ford of Chevy...

I posted to find out what sort of aftermarket brakes people are using and it would appear that you can upgrade to the cryo treated rotors and Kevlar pads with some success. Once I can afford it, this is where I am going next. I f**kin hate my brakes (or should I say: breaks)

[Genthar]

Originally Posted by Boxer

Please help,

I had my vehicle in for a regular maintenance and the service department telephones at work to say my front brake pads are 90% worn and rotors are warped and close to $300.00 to replace the pads and machine the rotors. I had a vibration the last month or so, slight one at that, when braking at higher speeds (55 or more) and exiting on to an off ramp. I have searched this forum and I do have the newer caliper design on my 2003 but I also read that some 2003 may be covered under the front TSB, has anyone else had brake problems with a 2003 with the new calipers? And what was your fix? This can't be right, warped rotors at 20,000, surely I can't have my brakes done every 20,000! Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Boxer

Another issue may be keeping your rear drums adjusted. Some people with earlier models had problems because they either did not use or rarely used their parking brake (the only way to adjust the rears on the Tundra, it does not adjust them when hitting the brakes while backing up.) or they had one of the older adjusters that only adjusted in large increments (replaced with TSB if I remember correctly). I'm not sure what year the gear design was changed, but still, keeping your rear brakes adjusted with regular usage of your parking brake might help.

[Boxer]

Good point Genthar,

I haven't been using the park brake, only a few times over the last year and my rear brakes shoes are only 20% worn. Only worry I have is the chance of it freezing due to the cold temperatures here, but I guess even to set it and then release it moments after would serve the purpose.

thanks

[JeffD]

I use my parking brake all the time. My rear drums and shoes lasted over 160K before I just replaced them becuase I figured I should just do it.

[Mike Donofrio]

Originally Posted by Genthar

Another issue may be keeping your rear drums adjusted. Some people with earlier models had problems because they either did not use or rarely used their parking brake (the only way to adjust the rears on the Tundra, it does not adjust them when hitting the brakes while backing up.) or they had one of the older adjusters that only adjusted in large increments (replaced with TSB if I remember correctly). I'm not sure what year the gear design was changed, but still, keeping your rear brakes adjusted with regular usage of your parking brake might help.

Good point and a helpful reminder is that there are rear brakes kits from Toyota and various auto parts stores that include springs, tensioners, C-clips, starwheels, etc These are SUPPOSED to be replaced at every brake change but I tend to do it every other or every third brake change....

[file014]

I had the dealership tell me this past week that my rear tercel brake shoes were down to 5%. I later found out that they didnt even look at them. So your dealer could be handing you a load of crap. Frankly I dont think its too hard to do a pad slap on the front disc brakes. Ive not done it, but front brakes are not bad I hear. If the rotors are warped, I dunno what to do. Make toyota give you new ones under warranty. If they wont, Id just leave em as-is. Ive got original rotors and drums on my 10 year old tercel and they vibrate a little, but who cares. Im sure as heck not spending $300 for new rotors on a POS old car. I say play the warranty card.

[sequoiasoon]

oh, oh, oh YES! I can't wait! If I get that much out of them, I'll be ecstatic. My old Ford Exploder needed front pads every 10-12 k. This wasn't even heavy breaking! I had the truck 6 years. Did 5 sets of pads and 2 sets of rotors (at $110 each) Warped would have been great, mine actually cracked. Nothing like OEM Ford quality! The factory pads were also riveted (not bonded) they would get to about 3/16" pad left and crumble apart with no warning. Here you are driving along no problems, stop at a light, no problem, drive a quarter mile, step on brake, FULL rivet on rotor grind! The first time it happened, my wife came home from work 6 PM, I went to leave 20 minutes later, backed out of driveway to full grind. I'm back in the house 5 seconds later screaming "WTF is your problem? You can't tell me the brakes are grinding?" She swore up and down they weren't. I looked in the driveway where she stopped, sure enough, sitting on the ground is all the pad material that fell off in chunks! After that I actually kept a "spare set" of cheap pads in the back so I could swap them on the side of the road until I could return for my "new" set of lifetime pads. My friends Suburban gets maybe 15 k on pads.

All a matter of perspective....................

[KLS]

Boxer,

Rotors hardly ever warp. My Volvo has some brake judder, but that's from pad material that is deposited on the rotors. I can fix it by sanding them clean, but it's back in a day or two (Raybestos QS QuietStop ceramic pads...maybe not the best choice for a Volvo--should have used PBR). http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/...otors_myth.htm Your rotors may have some runout, but if you measured the runout of new rotors you'd get some there, also. They aren't machined perfectly in the first place, and who's to say that the mounting surface on the hub is true?

I'd go to a good independent shop and get their evaluation...and install top quality Raybestos, Wagner, or Bendix pads. Have the rotors measured to see if they really need to be turned. If you need new rotors, the brake companies above make good ones. They also make cheapie lines...buy the good ones.

Use your parking brake at least a couple of times weekly. Just pump it and release it.


Ken

[JQ3]

I've had my '00 for 4 years and 47K miles and I've done nothing to my brakes. I do mostly city driving also. I routinely have it serviced at my local dealership too.

It's strange how some have trouble and some don't. Sorry I couldn't help...Good Luck!!