Any Ideas What Could Be Wrong

So, my brakes began squealing and being at around 27k miles, I figured its time to change the pads with all the off-roading and heavy wheels/tires putting more strain on the brakes (lets not forget my lead foot as well). So I removed the brakes last weekend, I was going to put on new pads except that the rotors looks tarnished and slightly worn. I removed them and took them to a local shop to have them refinished, they told me that they had rusted and then measured them and they came in too close to safely refinish given the rust spots.

I bit the bullet and bought new rotors, put them on and somehow the new pads would not fit, so I put the old pads on and drove it for a week. Same thing, same occasional squealing when cruising and it sounds like theres a pebble lodged between the rotor and pad. I kept driving thinking the old pads need to wear down to fit flat with the new rotors. This past Saturday, I put the new pads on and the same thing, occasional squealing both under braking and when just cruising.

tl;dr - Brakes, mainly front passenger side, squeal even though I changed both the pads and rotors and doing a few detailed inspections of the brakes and their surrounding areas. It has caused an alcohol dependency with me trying to figure this out.

Thank you all

 

I would take the pads back off. Clean the rotors with brake cleaner. Take the pads and make sure you dont have anything on them. I usually take the pads and lightly scuff the surface on cement to get any weird film off them.

 

Sure hope you find the answer and post it cause mine does the same thing!

 

Well, if there is something wrong with them, why do they keep squealing even with the new pads/rotors... My brother in law says they might be the bearing hub... Which kinda sounds worrisome... just wanted to get everyone else opinions, is it likely to be the bearing hub? Should I burn my tacoma or get a new brother in law???

 

Is braking force amplifying a problem with a front wheel bearing? If you jack up your front end can you feel excessive play in the wheel bearings?

 

That is what I am going to try next, except I just returned the $200 jack that was the only thing that would barely get my wheels off the ground to change the brakes... Is the right LCA a safe jacking point to check for play? If so, I can use the beta-jack to lift it enough to check

No, braking does not amplify the sound, it comes and goes under braking and when just cruising

 

Most of the brakes pads I’ve done have shims on the back between them and the caliper that have to be greased, they’ll start making noise if they dry out. Not sure if the 3rd Gens have them

 

I did not see any shims, I did see a spring like pin to keep the pads pushed away from the rotor and another spring like safety pin to keep them in the brake shoes

 

I have not used an LCA to jack from, but it seems like a lot of people have. Lots of discussion in this thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...is-instead-of-frame-what-is-this-part.572545/

 

Did you get aftermarket pads and rotors? Also on tacomas and even tundras the back end plate bends easy. Get a screw driver and punch it back through the wheels and see if that helps. It's happened alot to the guys I work with and even myself. You also might have the brake hard wear grinding on the rotor itself. Put it in the air and spin it with the wheel off you can. If the back end plate isn't the issue.

 

Glazed rotors

 

Old rotors and pads, make noise. New rotors and pads, makes same noise. The problem is most likely something else. My guess is that you have a bearing going bad on you. I noticed you have a 2017 model. Is it still under warranty? Also, when offroading, do you ever submerge the axles in water or mud even if only briefly?

 

Check that the calipers are working properly and are not seized or otherwise inhibited.

 

Have you checked the rears?

 

Yes, I've had them under water/mud

 

The rear brakes? Neg, the sound comes from only the front

 

Do the rotors have that metal shield behind it. Supposed to keep stuff out but, it bends easy and can touch or be close to your rotor and touch them at times, bumps, loads etc. Or is something struck in there, rock.

 

You should have stainless steel shims one solid one vented for a total of two on each brake pad...that’s how they come from the factory. It helps if you spray the back of the pads with disc brake quiet then install the shims.

 

Brakes don’t squeal from the pad touching the disk, so if they were squealing before, changing disk & pads will not be a permanent fix. Brakes squeal from movement / vibration in the pad against anything it touches (brake piston, brake caliper, retaining clip) or from caliper movement against its pins. Pull everything apart, clean it up, use copper grease on appropriate areas, put them back together. It’s usually a buildup of crap / rust in particular areas that causes it, so cleaning and copper grease is the best option.

 

What kind of pads did you buy? What material are they made out of?