Disc Brake Help

Has anyone had issues with vibration in the steering wheel from warped front discs? I'm guessing its from bigger tires and wheels but, just had my discs replaced last year! UUUGGHHH!

 

It isn't the rotors. The brakes should be properly bedded:

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=85

 

Thanks I'm assuming the dealer would have done this. New rotors and new pads.
Its has been about a year since the work has been done.

 

I had issues like that from warped rotors and unbalanced tires. I needed to replace my tires and the brakes I am replacing this weekend. But the tires being unbalanced caused 95% of the vibration. So when I replaced the tires everything got much smoother. But it probably could have been fixed by balancing the tires.

 

What leads you to believe the rotors are warped? When you replace the rotors, the service tech should have cleaned the surface of all debris and made sure it was flat, then mounted the rotors. Then, using a dial gauge, measured the runout (basically, check that the rotor is mounted flat). When you picked the truck up, they should have told you to avoid hard braking or riding the brakes for a few hundred miles until the pads were bedded in.

Anyway your vibration is more likely caused by the wheel/tire combo. First, make sure all the lug nuts are tight. I would look for missing wheel weights or hardened mud. If that's not the cause, have them rebalanced. Could be also be caused by a wheel bearing-you can check that by jacking the truck up and trying to shake the wheel.

Good luck.

 

I had vibration when I applied the brakes, replaced the rotors and braking is smooth as silk now.

If the vibration only happens during braking, then I'd still suggest rotors.

I have no idea why mine warped, I didn't hoon it in any way.

 

You might want to consider larger breaks from a Tundra. Go here and look over the links.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/283753-front-brakes-rotors.html

 

I have never seen a dealer or a brake shop bed the brakes for a customer. It is on the owner. Education is key to success!

99.9% of all reported cases of warped rotors are not warped rotors, the issue is improperly bedded brakes.

 

I believe this only works for the 1st gen Tacoma. At least the TTORA article implies it's only a 1st gen thing.

 

78.5% of all statistics are made up.

 

If we never discussed the bedding process and instead said "avoid hard or prolonged braking for the first 100 miles", it'd all be good. Driving normally does the job for you-even if you occasionally have to brake hard. Bedding just refers to depositing pad material on the rotor evenly.

BTW, when most people say "warped", they probably mean "runout". To warp something like a brake rotor involves a lot of heat.

 

I get vibs when braking as well, but have never had a brake job or rotors replaced and have 52k on my truck. Im thinking time for an upgrade?

 

Thanks for the heads up.

 

If you want to get better braking, you can also explore a rotor/pad upgrade. Dimpled or drilled with slots helps keep the temperature down. Different materials have different performance characteristics as well. Steel braid may not improve the performance but it does improve the pedal feel. If you need longer lines, it's worth it, otherwise, maybe not so much.

 

I definitely would like to upgrade my brakes to either drilled or dimpled ones. I often pull my trailer(Boler) and that may add to the heat issue. I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee and they often had the same issue with the front rotors.

I have been looking for braided lines and upgrade rotors for my truck, but does anyone have any suggestions...?

Many of the reviews I have read about Tacomas indicate the brakes seem to be spongy.

I will get my tires/rims re-balanced but the problem (run-out) is only during braking.

 

If you really have an issue with runout, have the rotors turned or upgrade, take care to insure the mounting surfaces are clean and free of any debris, install the rotors, and install new pads.

Jimmy, I think when you talk about undersized, the correct context has to be increased rotational mass of larger wheels and tires plus the extra weight added with various armoring components-bumpers, skids, etc. Plus things like winches and extra fuel, etc. In it's stock configuration, the brakes are fine. With all that added weight, the truck does benefit from improved braking.

 

That wouldn't apply to what "savedone" said ( which I was replying to ). These things you are talking about are modifications to the truck that add on lots of weight. Even then I think the stock brakes are fine.

Lots of people say that they "feel" soft. The fact is that is due to the non-metallic brake lines which expand and give the soft feeling. The soft feeling however has no effect on actual braking. This is evidenced by the consistently shorter braking distance the Tacoma achieves over other vehicles in its class.