brake problem! need the pros in here!

Hey guys,
i have a 2009 tacoma i have always had problems with my brakes since the truck was about 1 year new, the problem is my front discs get warped every 1-3 months! im so tired of this problem i have replaced my brake pads 7-8 times i have replaced my rotors about 4-5 times, machined them countless times, once i machine or replace my rotors my truck is as smooth as a lake for 1-3 months tops! then little by little i start to feel the vibration in my steering wheel, it has gotten so bad it shakes the whole truck now when braking, even my hood shakes.
I have changed my brakes, i have taken it to countless shops, i balanced the wheels i got an alignment, im stuck guys the last mechanic i spoke to told me to buy vented disc brakes? will this help?

thanks im open to suggestions !

 

I had the same problem in my 02 trans am, gm had the worst rotors. At around 3000 miles I got the warped rotor vibe. Had them turned and within 1000 it came back. I ended up going with Baer eradispeeds and I never had the problem again. Because of this I changed my tacoma's rotors out for after market slotted rotors and they bite great and I have had no vibe ever( although I never got it with the stock rotors). Just my 2 cents

 

Hi all.

Hi Timbo.

Sounds like you brake very aggressively and your rotors overheat.
- You don't drive with 2 feet, right ? (just in case your dragging the brakes all the time)
- Do you notice brake fade when there is no vibration ?
- Do your pads wear very fast ? Do they wear evenly ? Left-Right wear even ? (digging for a mechanical problem in the brake system causing the brakes to drag)
- Do you have a infrared temp gun ? If not you could just check with your hand to get an idea of how hot the rotors are just after you park (don't actually touch the rotors !)

If you determine the problem is overheated rotors then yes, some aftermarket units could be the answer. Another area to check into is a different pad material that may run cooler with your driving habits. If you have the clearance to your rims and you want to spend more, some larger diameter rotors would help even more - if your problem is overheating.

Just some suggestions ...

Cheers
Ray.

 

are you using a torque wrench when you tighten the lug nuts???

 

Do you drive through lava then immediately 4 wheel in the snow?





























sorry about that, I just wanted to be part of the 21 question game....

 

This.

Improper lug nut torque can cause rotor warpage quite quickly. Never trust a shop to do this correctly.

 

X2 Make sure your lug nuts are torqued to 83 lbs.

 

Lots of good advice here!

Gotta love TW!

Let us know how you make out OP!

I had a similar issue with warping and switched to a slotted & vented rotor.

The issue has not returned.

I also put 60K on my truck in 2 years...

 

Another quick tip for lug nut torque if you frequently remove the wheels:

When your done with doing your work, have the lug nuts snugged to the wheels, and lowering the truck -- lower it just enough until the wheels make contact with the ground (about 1" of tire contact) and stop lowering, then finish off torqueing the lugnuts with your torque wrench.

This always guarentees that the wheel surface will be mounted perfectly flat with the hub, and the torques will be true.

 

I went through the same thing with mine when it was new although it was more of a cycle. Every couple of months, the brakes would cause shaking, then it'd go away for a few months, then come back, etc... This went on for about 3 years. My brakes were finally shot earlier this year so I replaced them with Autozone ceramic pads and Autozone blank rotors and the issue has not returned in 10,000 miles.