4Runner Brakes

I have a 1998 4Runner and need some opinions on brakes.

First, my front rotors are warped and are in need of replacement. I
have owned several Toyotas in the past, and this seems to be a common
theme, the OEM brake rotors just don't seem to last. FYI, I had them
resurfaced about 40000 miles ago and replaced the pads. Also, I always
torque the bolts on the wheels when changing tires. I've seen Brembo
advertised and am wondering if this is a good replacement.

Second, my rear drums never seem to stay adjusted. I adjust them, and
they are fine for a while, but after about 1000 miles, not so good. It
really seems that too much of my braking is happening in the front, and
none or very little at the rear. I believe that this is part of the
problem with my rotors warping (too much heat).

Any thoughts?

<wrb (AT) mn (DOT) rr.com> wrote

I have a 1998 4Runner and need some opinions on brakes.

First, my front rotors are warped and are in need of replacement. I
have owned several Toyotas in the past, and this seems to be a common
theme, the OEM brake rotors just don't seem to last. FYI, I had them
resurfaced about 40000 miles ago and replaced the pads. Also, I always
torque the bolts on the wheels when changing tires. I've seen Brembo
advertised and am wondering if this is a good replacement.

Resurfaced rotors will not last as long as new rotors because there is less
metal to dissipate the heat. If you got 40,000 miles since a rotor was
resurfaced, and assuming that there was a like mileage before they were
resurfaced, I'd say that is probably average to slightly above average wear.
I don't think you are going to get more than 60,000 or 80,000 miles on any
aftermarket rotor.

I've dealt with quite a few different drivers driving Toyotas, and the
pattern I've noticed is that people who drive them are either hard on the
brakes and tend to have more rapid wear and warpage than people who are not
hard on the brakes. In other words, some peole experience warpage and rapid
wear on several different Toyotas, and some people do not.

When I say "hard on the brakes," I mean the opposite of what most people
think. Someone who stops very gradually, applying the brakes for a distance
of over 50 yards to stop from 30 miles per hour is hard on the brakes.
Someone who nails the brakes hard, releases the pedal, and then brakes hard
again as the car slows down is actually easier on the brakes.

Second, my rear drums never seem to stay adjusted. I adjust them, and
they are fine for a while, but after about 1000 miles, not so good. It
really seems that too much of my braking is happening in the front, and
none or very little at the rear. I believe that this is part of the
problem with my rotors warping (too much heat).

Any thoughts?

Who is adjusting your rear drums?
--
Ray O
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That would be me. I do it using the technique I was taught 30 years
ago. I adjust the shoes until I feel a slight drag on the wheel.
After I adjust them like this, my brakes seem to work as expected, that
is most of the braking force on the front, yet still feeling the rear
brakes engage. The more miles I put on them though, eventually I get
the feeling that all my braking is happening on the front. It's as if
the self adjusting mechanism in the rear does not work, but I have
checked this out and find nothing wrong with the mechanism. It really
feels as if I do not get the pressure to the rears as I should.

<wrb (AT) mn (DOT) rr.com> wrote

That would be me. I do it using the technique I was taught 30 years
ago. I adjust the shoes until I feel a slight drag on the wheel.
After I adjust them like this, my brakes seem to work as expected, that
is most of the braking force on the front, yet still feeling the rear
brakes engage. The more miles I put on them though, eventually I get
the feeling that all my braking is happening on the front. It's as if
the self adjusting mechanism in the rear does not work, but I have
checked this out and find nothing wrong with the mechanism. It really
feels as if I do not get the pressure to the rears as I should.

When you adjust the rear drum brakes, adjust them so that the wheel turns

once to one-and-a-half times when you spin it by hand with moderate force.
Both sides should be as even as possible. I believe the self-adjusters for
the rear brakes are activated by applying the parking brake. If you do not
occasionally use the parking brake, the rear brakes will not adjust.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

Ray, thanks much for your replys. I rarely use the parking brake,
being a flat lander and all. I figured that the self adjusters worked
more or less like the american cars build in the 60s ans 70s, once the
travel of the shoes reached a certain point, the mechanism would engage
the star wheel and expand the shoes a bit. What you say makes sense
though, so I will use the parking brake more frequently to see if that
helps keep the rears adjusted.

<wrb (AT) mn (DOT) rr.com> wrote

Ray, thanks much for your replys. I rarely use the parking brake,
being a flat lander and all. I figured that the self adjusters worked
more or less like the american cars build in the 60s ans 70s, once the
travel of the shoes reached a certain point, the mechanism would engage
the star wheel and expand the shoes a bit. What you say makes sense
though, so I will use the parking brake more frequently to see if that
helps keep the rears adjusted.

You're welcome and good luck!
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply