Brake noise, warm brakes, slow speed, not engaged

2003 Tacoma Double cab V6

There is an annoying noise coming from ds, front brake/wheel. Whining break squeal when I'm not touching the brakes after driving for a bit Sounds like it touches halfway through the wheel rotation. Mechanic said there is still pad left and they aren't ready for replacement.

Am I looking at a rotor that could be resurfaced, a caliper piston not engaging, a cheap pad, or a back plate that could be bent back? Or something else?

 

Wheel bearing? Your mechanic sucks. He should be able to diagnose it. Do have access to a jack?

 

Warped rotor? If they were really got then got cooled fast from hitting water it can cause a distortion in the rotor which might cause the sound. I would also check your pads to see of they are wearing equally. If not then you have to find out why, either that being the rotor, pads not pulling back all the way, something stuck between the pad and rotor, possibly the wheel bearing. I had th same sound and after changing pads and rotors it went away.

 

Just y factory one in the back seat

 

That intermittant squeal could be the pad wear-indicator coming in to contact with the rotor (what it is supposed to do when the pad-thickness is below a certain level). Not all pads have these, however. If this is what it is, simply replacing the pads will make the noise go away.

 

First thing I would look at is if the metal dust plate is contacting the rotor. Afterward check the thickness and wear of each side of the rotors and pads with your own eyes. Then I would check for a stuck caliper piston. Clean and grease the shims and pins. Do a simple wheel bearing test to check for any play in the wheel bearing.

 

^Agree with Vereor on his advice

I would suspect its not a rotor issue but a problem with your pads/shims and doubt its your caliper as well. If the rotors were warped the brake would feel rough or uneven like they are pulsating or vibrating. Doubt its your caliper since you would have noticed a big difference in your braking not properly stopping, and your mechanic should have noticed uneven wear on the pads given he checked both brakes (or noticed the calipers not retracting properly).

From my experience usually brake noise come from cheap pads (especially ceramic) which causes noises in general especially while braking or when the brakes are still cold. Some pads I found only causes noise when they get worn a good 40-60% of the way and the build up of the worn brake material collect on the sides of the pads which lead to noise - or the pads themselves develop a rough edge that scratch against the rotor. That or material collect on the shims and not allow the pads to properly slide while off the brake pedal. That said squealing in general usually come from cheap pads or old shims in my experience.

So, if your mechanically inclined I'd check your brakes and shims and make sure theres no build up and that the pads easily slide in the shims and are lubricated as was mentioned. Given your mechanic looked at them I would assume he already did this though so it may just be the quality of the pads.

 

sometimes its just one side of the brake pad. it get stuck and eventually wears down to the brake wear indicator.

 

Did you ever narrow your problem....?

Brian