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Front right brake squeal 2003 Prerunner

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Motogash, Feb 26, 2014.

  1. Feb 26, 2014 at 3:09 PM
    #1
    Motogash

    Motogash [OP] Member

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    I am getting brake squeal from the front right side. Only at slow speeds. I have taken this apart numerous times and cant find anything. The pads and rotors look fine. I checked the rock guard. That's not it. The rotor hub is loose, it moves, has play, even with caliper attached. I'm not sure if that is normal. The left rotor does not have play. This is an 03 Prerunner. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

    Thanks
     
  2. Feb 27, 2014 at 4:14 AM
    #2
    Rons01TRD

    Rons01TRD Well-Known Member

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    Check and see if one of your caliper pistons are frozen.:notsure:
     
  3. Feb 27, 2014 at 4:47 AM
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    Mod

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  4. Feb 27, 2014 at 11:35 AM
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    Motogash

    Motogash [OP] Member

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    I did try putting goop on the pads. These are green stuff pads with EBC slotted rotors. The pads came with adhesive anti-squeal shims also. How do I check to see if a caliper piston is frozen? I was able to push the pistons back recently when I took the pads out. Does that mean that they are not frozen? Wouldn't one or the other have been locked in place?
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2014
  5. Feb 27, 2014 at 4:35 PM
    #5
    Motogash

    Motogash [OP] Member

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    The other puzzling thing about this squeal is that it is intermittent. It comes and goes. It seemed to start about two thousand miles after I replaced the pads. I did not turn the rotors and I'm not sure if you can have slotted rotors turned. They only had about 25k on them. At this point it is 35k. Could a warped rotor cause a squeal?

    Thanks for your input

    KG
     
  6. Feb 28, 2014 at 4:57 AM
    #6
    Mod

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    Alot of brake shops wont turn drilled or slotted rotors,,because it can shatter the cutter bit. So you end up going thru a bunch of bits for 1 rotor,,not cost effective. You can have them ground/cut,,on a pro lathe. Or another option is to just rough the surface with a sanding disk laying a orbital pattern overlapping to the wheel rotation,,then back. both sides of the rotor. If they are not warped,,use the sanding disk method. I can go into detail on this,,but it's pretty user friendly.


    Backing up to the first thing that might have went awry:
    You might have had a pad not seat to a rotor. It didn't seat like it should have, due to smooth/used/unsurfaced rotors and new pads being brought together. Doesn't matter what kinds of pads and rotors you have, there is a break in/seat period. The pad and the surfaced rotor have to machine/mate together over time and mileage,,with easy mileage.. Now different days it will seat,,somewhat,,then other days it will squeal. Not saying that you didn't take it easy those first 500-1000 miles. Really high performance brakes,, are usually short lived anyways. I don't think yours are really high
    performance,,but upgraded to a level I might do.

    You say the left rotor is tight and the right is loose?. Left caliper might be stuck. That squeal noise can translate. Run a couple lug nuts/spacers up against the bare rotors?, then you checked calipers/other stuff again?.

    Any loose pads with brake pressure applied on them?. That will give you your stuck caliper/piston,,or it should be visible like that. If 1-2+ pistons are not making contact to the pad with that test,,there is the squealer identified!. If the pistons collapsed back into the calipers with same resistance, they should be fine. If 1 came up really tight or extra tight as you reset them, and it took extra pressure to push back in ,then that one might be the stuck noise maker. Captain Obvious says to ask you if the cap was off of the reservoir as you pushed them in?


    Do you think those EBC pads will re-seat to a freshly surfaced rotor??. They say they are harder than OEM. Might be a good idea to re pad and surface the rotors at the same time. The warranty says 10K/12Mo on those pads,,and I think you are right at that now?.

    If it was me KG, I would double check the stuck caliper idea,,because it was first and I don't want to disregard my first impression.. Then I would surface the rotors with a sanding disk on a air tool. 60 or 80 grit works fine. Blast clean the surfaced rotors with brake clean. Air blow the pads off,, look for obvious things on the pads, wear levels, imbedded grit. If all ok, then Goop the pads, Reassemble and run it. I have done this very thing with squealing used pads,,and it has solved the problem. If you want, you can hand sand the face of the pad a bit,,go in circles.
     
  7. Feb 28, 2014 at 6:09 PM
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    Motogash

    Motogash [OP] Member

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    Thanks for the advice...I will check the calipers and sand the rotors if the calipers check out. I've got an Oreilly's here that will resurface the rotors but it comes with a warning.
     
  8. Mar 1, 2014 at 4:48 AM
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    Mod

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    No, you warn Oh''Really's,, Don't F up my rotors!. If they don't feel 100 confident with turning your rotors,,then turn away from the deal. Just them throwing any warning out there,,should be a warning to you. They are a HUGE chain store and should guarantee that work and be glad to get it,,even if they have to outsource. Find a machine or brake shop and talk to the manager.
     
  9. Mar 1, 2014 at 5:47 AM
    #9
    ROCKIN RICHIE

    ROCKIN RICHIE Well-Known Member

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    I have an 02 PRERUNNER and this same thing just happened to me after doing the brakes. The backing plate that keeps water off the brakes gets weak with time and folds in... rubbing on wheel assembly. This is a common event with these trucks. Just pull off the wheel and bend it back, you probably won't see where it rubs but bending back cured mine. Good Luck.
     
  10. Mar 1, 2014 at 7:38 AM
    #10
    theath1007

    theath1007 New Member

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    X2 I had the same intermediate squeal. Dust shield was bent and rubbing the back of the rotor. Simple fix to what I thought was going to be a big problem.
     
  11. Mar 1, 2014 at 2:58 PM
    #11
    Motogash

    Motogash [OP] Member

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    I think you are right Mod. I switched those pads out without doing any surface prep to the rotors. I used to be able to get away with that on those cheaper rotors and pads. Hopefully the sanding will do the trick. By the way, I checked the rock shield and bent it back a few weeks back...that wasn't the problem. I'll do the work Monday and get back.

    Thanks
     
  12. Mar 2, 2014 at 5:39 AM
    #12
    Mod

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    Excellent, hope it works out for you. If the squeal comes back,,you'll know what to do.
     
  13. Mar 8, 2014 at 11:36 AM
    #13
    Motogash

    Motogash [OP] Member

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    Sanding the rotors and lightly sanding the pads seems to have been the answer. The calipers looked to be okay. One week later and no squeal.

    Thanks for the input.
     
  14. Mar 8, 2014 at 2:46 PM
    #14
    Mod

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    Perfect!. You are reseating the pads and usually there is more pedal used to stop. More pedal=more heat and it's had heat on those items already. Warped rotors would make it all null and void right about now.
     

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