Brake Imbalances. What kind of trouble am I looking at?

EDIT- UPDATE: Turns out I am getting totally new brakes at the rear

Now, I am left wondering with one more thing...

My front brakes imbalance is at 22%. As I mentioned earlier, the maximum % allowed to pass inspection is 25%. So I am wondering how easily/quickly brakes can become imbalanced.

I plan on selling this vehicle within 5 months, so I probably should get the front done too, whether that means getting totally new brakes up front or just having them adjusted.


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Had my 2001 Prerunner inspected today, and was told that my rear brakes were imbalanced by 99%! I have a copy of the graph he showed me.

The maximum allowed to pass inspection is 25%, and my front brakes are at 22%.

I took it to my mechanic today and he needs to look at it to troubleshoot. I don't even know if the truck has disc or drum brakes. So anyway, my question is how much should I expect this to set me back?

 

It sounds like one side of your rear is doing all the braking. does the truck pull to one side when you stop/slow down?

The other figure you quoted is probably how much you've got left on your brake pads. The front brake pads (and rotors if you need them) are easy to replace if you've got a basic wrench set and some time. The rear...you'll have to figure out why one side is grabbing and the other isn't. You have drums in the back.

Too many what-ifs to give you a decent price assessment right now, sorry.

 

Drum Brakes on the Rear. Not sure where you are located, but if there isn't a rust issue, they probably just need adjusting. I have found that keeping the rear drums adjusted makes a big difference in braking.

 

Using the parking brake on a regular basis
keeps the rear brakes adjusted automatically.

If ya don't engage the parking brake often enough
then the rear brake engagement will go out of alignment.
And the pads will wear unevenly or incorrectly,
thus causing uneven brake pad - drum wear.

If the brake auto-adjust mechinism(s) is rusted or frozen in place
then obviously the auto-adjust brake syst. will not work as it should.
And the brakes will wear unevenly

Any rust or corrosion will need be cleaned up
/or components will need replacing so that it can function as it should.

Uneven brake wear that goes long without attention
will likely need a full repair using fresh components.

Brakes are a critical element of any vehicle
and their maintenance or repair should not be ignored.

Obviously the state inspection is meant for those
whom disregard their vehicle maintenance.
And need a reminder to do so.

 

Is this a California thing for new vehicles that can be read via the OBDII and a scanner ??

I just can picture some people I know installing brake pressure gauges on all 4 wheels

You would drop your truck Monday morning and if your lucky pick it up Friday and go home without brakes

 

California does not do "state run" vehicle safety inspections.

But don't worry... this state will shaft you for driving, by other means.

 

I drive an automatic, so no parking brake.

This sounds about right to me. I might just opt to get entirely new brakes all around if the cost is bearable.

 

Huh I have an automatic and I always use the parking brake. It saves your transmission. I always put it in neutral then pull the parking brake then put the transmission in park.

 

Wait...what year is yours? I got a 2001 prerunner. All I have is the emergency brake

Edit: ok I'm stupid. Didn't know those were the same thing. I've never used it so I'll do that from now on whenever I park I know that especially helps when you're parking on hills. Hmm

 

X2, I do the same thing. Little push and pull of a lever is good enough insurance for me.

--Dan

 

Sounds about right. Put 1K# in the bed and the back brakes will work.

 

Yeah i bet with you having never used your parking brake has caused most of your issues there since it has never been able to self adjust themselves...

 

Well it turns out I am getting new rear brakes.

I know the rear has drum brakes, but what about the front?

 

There is no adjustment available to the front.

You don't say anything about mileage or condition. It's unusual to need rear brakes before 100k or so. But shoes and a hardware kit should be inexpensive, material wise.

If the front rotors are not excessively scored, and the pads are adequate thickness, evenly worn, ask the mechanic to pull the caliper mounting bolts, clean, lubricate and replace. This may free them up to work a bit more evenly.

 

Well, she's just about to hit 155K miles, which is considerably low for a 2001 model. But I am the 3rd owner now so I only have a brief knowledge of its history. My mechanic's estimate was under $500.

But what do you mean there's no adjustment for the front? Is that because they're disc brakes as opposed to drum? sorry I am clueless to the difference.

 

For just the rears?

Even with all new parts (which should make labor less) that's a lot-'o-bucks.

I mean I know we don't know what's wrong exactly, but still.............

Correct.

They can be 'serviced', but not adjusted.

 

Hmm.. well I'm going to get it inspected again once the labor is done. Wonder how quickly that 22% imbalance will increase.

but if the rear was imbalanced at 99%....yikes. I wonder how much I was unnecessarily taxing my front brakes when stopping. It must have been killing them.

 

Imbalanced is a side to side thing on one axle. Your 99% only means one rear brake was not working.

22% in the front means one is working better than the other. 'Why' is the question. Again, highly possible that a simple inspection and servicing of the mounting pins could correct this.

 

Interested to know where they have state inspections for brakes?