Rotor replacement

Howdy,
My 2020 TRD Sport is in at the shop and has 63,500 km/40,000 miles on it. I’ve been getting some vibration when braking at highway speeds down hill. The dealer says that the pads are fine but the rotors need replacing. That doesn’t seem like a lot of mileage on the rotors but I’m not sure if that is “normal” or not?

Thanks for the feedback!

 

If your wheel lugs were over torqued at any point, or you hit a lot of water with hot brakes, it could happen. I have a 21 Highlander with the exact same issue at 40K miles. I just replaced my Taco rotors at 70K and they were perfectly fine.

 

Low mileage for rotors to be bad/worn out, but really depends on how hard you were using the brakes in those 40k miles (towing, etc.).

BTW you should always replace pads when you replace rotors.

 

Agree above: lug torque & hard braking. Fronts already do the majority of braking your 4500+lbs, so if the 40,000 mi driven is a lot of stop & go, it’s reasonable to believe they’re warped.

Always a good idea to get a 2nd opinion though, and the dealer will charge you top dollar.

 

Lots of factors like mountains, towing, driving habits, etc.

 

if you get new rotors get new pads.

 

Thanks all. Just talked to the dealership and there’s still 8 mm on the pads so only about 30% worn. My advisor has recommended waiting to replace the rotors until the pads are more worn so that everything is replaced at the same time.

I do a lot of mountain driving, plus stop and go as a DD along with a bit of towing so based on the comments here, I’m guessing this will be an ongoing issue. Are there better rotor upgrades available that would minimize this happening so quickly?

 

Do people not turn down rotors anymore?

 

I just had my 4Runner rotors turned, but that was a mom and pop shop.
I think turning rotors is going the way of the tire plug..

 

I had a vibration at 40K miles on my factory brakes. Normally like to stay OEM but put PowerStop on last summer and am very happy. Also I am all on pavement so drilled and slotted is fine for me.

$192 Power Stop Brake Kit For 2007-2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2005-2022 Toyota Tacoma 6 Lug, 2003-2009 4Runner 12.56" Rotors - Front Carbon-Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads & Drilled Slotted Rotors Replacement, K137

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005FKS28C?ie=UTF8

Also, if you are replacing rotors I would want to put on new pads too.

 

If/when you get new rotors, retorque the lug nuts yourself when you get home. You can bet a stealership wrench monkey doesn't know what a torque wrench is and will just over torque your new rotors. Better yet, just do it all yourself. Swapping rotors is easy on this truck.

 

Waste of time and effort

 

The rotors are made in China and better just to get new ones. LOL, I don't know this for sure but they are relativity inexpensive these days compared to what they were back when I was turning wrenches.

 

This is the way to go with your needs -- https://www.powerstop.com/product/power-stop-drilled-slotted-rotors/

 

i go to Napa, they have good, better and best to chose from.

 

I'm at 241,000. My rotors have been turned 2 or 3 times due to vibration. I'll need new rotors next time they need to be turned.

 

With the cost of labor, compared to the cost of rotors made in China, it is sometimes cheaper to just replace them.

 

If they warped when they were thick - they will warp easier when they are thiner.

 

Check your rear brakes and make sure they are adjusted properly. If they aren't then your braking is all done with the front brakes only

 

Turning rotors are a liability. Our shop sold the machine as too many shops wanted out of spec rotors turned. Yeah, just say no doesn't always work the way you think.