Mark42
Fleet Admiral
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2003
- Messages
- 9,334
A month or so ago the brake light went on in our '07 AWD Sienna. This is our primary tow vehicle for our boats. When I checked, the light was on because the brake fluid level was too low. So I topped it off, and made the ever so forgetful "mental note" that the pads are probably wearing low.
Two days ago I drive the Sienna fully loaded with 7 adult passengers all over central NJ in stop/go traffic, highway, and side streets. Brakes make no noise, and perform fine.
Yesterday Cinthia comes home and says that the brakes are making noise and insists I take a test drive. Sure enough, the car doesn't leave the driveway and I can hear a faint "metal on metal" sound.
I run off to the auto parts store and get the top grade OE replacement pads for the front axle, and install the pads. About $78 for the pads out the door.
While the calipers were off, I could see that the top 3/8" or so of the inside of the drivers side rotor was scored from metal on metal contact. The pads proved it. Apparently as the pad wore thin, a 1x2" piece broke off (Toyota parts) and let the backing plate touch the rotor. It was a superficial scrape, and not deep. So I installed new pads, and removed excess fluid from the brake reservoir. I was especially annoyed that the Toyota brake pads had no "wear sensor" that makes noise on the front brakes. But they put them on the rear brakes. Go figure. I like Toyota, but some times the designers are a bunch of dumb asses. And BTW, their idea of "tilt wheel" sucks big time. (rant done).
Tomorrow we leave for vacation, and will be towing the Bayliner. Nice to know the front pads are fine. Visual inspection of the rear pads show about 15K miles to go. Will change when we come back home.
Just wanted to share this experience. If I let the brakes go, they would have made a mess of the rotors, and then I would be in for a big job. Glad my wife heard the noise and insisted I take a test drive. As things turned out, we can leave for vacation tomorrow as planned.
Two days ago I drive the Sienna fully loaded with 7 adult passengers all over central NJ in stop/go traffic, highway, and side streets. Brakes make no noise, and perform fine.
Yesterday Cinthia comes home and says that the brakes are making noise and insists I take a test drive. Sure enough, the car doesn't leave the driveway and I can hear a faint "metal on metal" sound.
I run off to the auto parts store and get the top grade OE replacement pads for the front axle, and install the pads. About $78 for the pads out the door.
While the calipers were off, I could see that the top 3/8" or so of the inside of the drivers side rotor was scored from metal on metal contact. The pads proved it. Apparently as the pad wore thin, a 1x2" piece broke off (Toyota parts) and let the backing plate touch the rotor. It was a superficial scrape, and not deep. So I installed new pads, and removed excess fluid from the brake reservoir. I was especially annoyed that the Toyota brake pads had no "wear sensor" that makes noise on the front brakes. But they put them on the rear brakes. Go figure. I like Toyota, but some times the designers are a bunch of dumb asses. And BTW, their idea of "tilt wheel" sucks big time. (rant done).
Tomorrow we leave for vacation, and will be towing the Bayliner. Nice to know the front pads are fine. Visual inspection of the rear pads show about 15K miles to go. Will change when we come back home.
Just wanted to share this experience. If I let the brakes go, they would have made a mess of the rotors, and then I would be in for a big job. Glad my wife heard the noise and insisted I take a test drive. As things turned out, we can leave for vacation tomorrow as planned.
