Warped Discs On 4.3 Xt5

[benxt5]

As the title suggests, I think i may have warped discs on my 4.3.

I can feel the car pulsing slightly under braking, definately speed related and getting gradually worse (or I'm noticing it more). I can definately feel it as I pull up to a complete stop. Almost a feeling of being rocked back and forth at low speed braking.

I can't think what else it might be so have booked in for new front discs and pads.

I have 2 questions...

1. Could it be anything else?

2. How much is a fair price for front pads and discs fitted?

Thanks in advance,

Ben.

[tatteam]

As the title suggests, I think i may have warped discs on my 4.3.

I can feel the car pulsing slightly under braking, definately speed related and getting gradually worse (or I'm noticing it more). I can definately feel it as I pull up to a complete stop. Almost a feeling of being rocked back and forth at low speed braking.

I can't think what else it might be so have booked in for new front discs and pads.

I have 2 questions...

1. Could it be anything else?

2. How much is a fair price for front pads and discs fitted?

Thanks in advance,

Ben.

I don't think that it has anything to do with discs, I think its more the ABS system that makes you feel pulsing. I think its normal to feel that type of braking.

May be someone more competent like Anc can give you more detailed view about your concern.

[benxt5]

I don't think that it has anything to do with discs, I think its more the ABS system that makes you feel pulsing. I think its normal to feel that type of braking.

May be someone more competent like Anc can give you more detailed view about your concern.

Thanks for the reply. I don't think it is ABS related. I know how that feels and can see how my description could be confused with this but i'm almost certain its not.

I am thinking discs as it feels like the pad is biting more/braking harder at a point through each rotation, giving that gentle rocking I described.

I have had a look and a feel but can't tell and I guess it would only take a fraction of a mm out of flat/straight to cause that extra bite that I am describing.

My big concerns is that if I have to brake hard at speed then I could potentially crack the disc or worsen the problem to the point that I need new callipers as well as discs and pads - and that will be expensive!!!

[anchorman]

Its a very common problem on RAVs and will require both discs and pads. You can either write to TGB who may well stump up some of the money or you can go to a decent local. I can get both discs and pads for about £120 - if you travel this way I will get them for you.

If you are reasonably competent you will find the instructions pinned - same as a 4.2.

[benxt5]

Its a very common problem on RAVs and will require both discs and pads. You can either write to TGB who may well stump up some of the money or you can go to a decent local. I can get both discs and pads for about £120 - if you travel this way I will get them for you.

If you are reasonably competent you will find the instructions pinned - same as a 4.2.

Cheers Anchs and thanks for the offer. I have booked in at the local garage we have used for years - very trusted and good value. If the parts are £120ish then I guess I will be looking at £180 with labour.

I probably could do it myself but I would rather not take the risk with something as important as brakes!

[kencat]

mines started doing the same thing 17000 miles ! seams worse after its been washed ?

mine is fine if your brake hard its when i brake very lighty ! cant feel any thing in brake pedel tho!

disks have allways look dirty dont seem like any wear on them ! iv never had this problem on a car before ?

if thay get worse looks like new disks and pads ebc do them on line £150

[Davrav]

mines started doing the same thing 17000 miles ! seams worse after its been washed ?

mine is fine if your brake hard its when i brake very lighty ! cant feel any thing in brake pedel tho!

disks have allways look dirty dont seem like any wear on them ! iv never had this problem on a car before ?

if thay get worse looks like new disks and pads ebc do them on line £150

VERY common problem with the RAV [and other Toyotas] - pad material depositing on discs instead of abraiding them clean.

Get in in to Toyota - the warranty is mileage limited on brakes but I think you are just within. Discs should last for two sets of pads at least. As you say, never had this problem with any other car [37 years driving in my case]

[anchorman]

Didn't you start driving until you were 40 Dave?

You guys with the dodgy discs should be writing to Mr T. Your stance should be unreasonably short life/premature failure. Make absolutely certain that you are not complaining about disc/pad wear but brake judder.

[bothwell_buyer]

sharp intake of breath - ancs has deleted his mauve picture of himself supping wotver train drivers sup !!!!

Yer problem Mr benxt5 is more than likely as mentioned the pad material transference onto the disc - ie the piston on a/both discs aint returning properly and the disc is being held on the red hot disc after youv stopped/braked. When the pad can't return back cos the pistons are sticking then the pad material gets welded onto the disc surface causing high spots which then leads to the pulsating effect on the brake pedal.

Its actually more common than admitted among many cars. The opinion usually is that yer disc has warped so you need new discs and pads.

In fact the disc normally has the minimum thickness cast into the inside of the bell of the disc and most discs can be lightly skimmed once ot twice to get rid of the pad material.

You can replace both discs and the pads but if its happened then its going to happen again cos you haven;t sorted the cause.

the cause is incorrect operation of the calipers.... the calipers must work properly - ie the pistons must retract properly when yer foot is aff the pedal, and the corresponding shoe bracket thingy must slide back on the other side of the calipert to the piston.

I bought a set of calipers for my number 1 RAV with each caliper having 6 cylinders - 3 each side. However I still had some problems with caliper pistons sticking - it must be the salt/grit and muck on our roads !!!!

Since getting my racing calipers rebuilt I haven't had any problems and the mintex pads ( I think.... the ones that ancs got for me) are behaving amazingly well.

I bought a Previa 1997 model and the rear caliper pistons had stuck and absolutely wrecked the rear discs and pads.

So - get the caliper action and the pistons well cleaned first and then get the discs and pads. If you can get this donme on waranty, ask to see the worn pads and discs and an assurance in writing that the caliper action has been checked and confirmed 100% ok.

[bothwell_buyer]

apologees for any typos and spelling mishtakes as at this time of night my sight becomes poor.............

[Big Kev]

I am now sitting at 17,000 miles, and car will be 2 years old at the end of this month. As witnessed by Anchs, my discs are absolutely bowfin' with pad material, whilst the 6 year old 3 door petrol sits there with discs like bloody mirrors...!!!! (Bothy...ah know....that's what we should ALL be driving...)

I mentioned it to Mr.T at the 10k service, and all he did was sing the company song, and send me back home still not convinced that he had just been singing a well practiced song.

If I was to go back now at this juncture, I think I would still be sung the company song, as the brakes may me filthy, but there is no sign of pulsating brakes.....YET.

Since I have the outstanding issue of alloys with measles on the inner rim, should I be mentioning the discs again....?

Big Kev

[greenwidow]

I had the same problem on my 4.3 and was told by dear Lindops to use the brakes very hard occasionally to get rid of the judder, poor idea, why should I? The things should work without doing that. Thinking back to my Ford part selling days I remembered the Cortina mk3 had the same problem which was cured with pads which had a layer of abrasive material for cleaning the disk. Searching around found EBC Ultimax which have a similar layer, they make a horrible noise for the first fifty miles or so and then they work perfectly, I've had no more problems since fitting them a year ago and would will use them next time too. Very cheap and easy cure.

[bothwell_buyer]

Using the brakes hard does help to get rid of the material residue so lindops were right. Glad you found the EBC work well - I had tried them but found them poor.... then again the brakes are used when I'm landing.

[shcm]

Just my tuppence worth.

My 4.2 always had nice clean disks, but got through a set of pads and disks down to minimum thickness quite quickly for me (I generally don't wear them that fast). Pads and disks changed together, so a ratio of 1:1 there.

My first 4.3, did suffer from depositing a little - pulsating on deceleration from high speed not particularly clean disks - but the disks didn't appear to be wearing that fast.

My present 4.3 has gone back to looking like it will be disks changed with pads again. I'm fairly sure the pad material has changed compared with my first 4.3 too. Far more muck on the wheels.

So, my point is that, I just get the feeling that Toyota (or their supplier) have been playing with pad material, in order to perhaps try and achieve the 2:1 pad/disk wear ratio (or even to try to stop dirty wheels ;) :D). They have not been too successful and have now reverted to a more aggressive pad material to stop the depositing.

If it is a 1:1 ratio, well, to be honest, it doesn't really bother me. Think I'd rather have that than the depositing. I'll just change 'em when required.

[Big Kev]

Using the brakes hard does help to get rid of the material residue so lindops were right. Glad you found the EBC work well - I had tried them but found them poor.... then again the brakes are used when I'm landing.

Tried it Bothy....quiet road, get up some speed....brake hard a few times. Not a blind diff of bitterence. In fact, I am now going on my own theory that if the pads are going to dump material on the disc, they will only do so even quickerer if ye brake hard, if you capiche me....?

I stand to be contracepted, and since we no longer have any Rav driving brake experts, I invite drivers of any make of car to

shoot down my ramblings....

Big Kev

[anchorman]

Using the brakes hard does help to get rid of the material residue so lindops were right. Glad you found the EBC work well - I had tried them but found them poor.... then again the brakes are used when I'm landing.

Tried it Bothy....quiet road, get up some speed....brake hard a few times. Not a blind diff of bitterence. In fact, I am now going on my own theory that if the pads are going to dump material on the disc, they will only do so even quickerer if ye brake hard, if you capiche me....?

I stand to be contracepted, and since we no longer have any Rav driving brake experts, I invite drivers of any make of car to

shoot down my ramblings....

Big Kev

If a Soul hamster can answer???

Working the brakes really hard would probably do more good than harm but for most people the kind of hard we are talking about would just make driving unpleasant - especially for passengers (or in your case, the boss).

Giving the brakes some rice will help but it may well only prolong the inevitable. Fortunatly, changing the discs and pads on a 4.3 is about as easy as any I've come across.

Check out my buddies;

[kencat]

my discs dont seam 2 be warped ( very little wear on discs and pads have about 8mm left )

it is a build up off sumthing on the discs !

dont know if iv done the right thing but iv cleaned the discs up a bit with wet and dry

its seamed 2 wrk no more draging wen brakeing at low speed ! dont know if it will last tho?

[crofter]

First time I tried anc's link it said "An error has occurred please try again"

Hope that is not a bad omen re your new wheels,anchorman

Del

[shcm]

Check out my buddies;

Never expected to see Richard Hammond driving a Kia.

To be honest, if your swanky stereo only plays stuff like that, I'll take the toaster please :P

[Big Kev]

......and having spent all ma days in the cardboard box industry, I take conception to the Corrugated Car collapsing like that....was never made by me, for sure. Cracker of an advert, and let me guess....that colour not available in Yoorup...?

Big Kev

[Big Kev]

my discs dont seam 2 be warped ( very little wear on discs and pads have about 8mm left )

it is a build up off sumthing on the discs !

dont know if iv done the right thing but iv cleaned the discs up a bit with wet and dry

its seamed 2 wrk no more draging wen brakeing at low speed ! dont know if it will last tho?

I would proffer, kencat, that the longevity of your actions shall be startlingly short.....but I would try it if you tell me it works for a decent amount of time.

Big Kev

[anchorman]

and let me guess....that colour not available in Yoorup...?

Big Kev

Colours are a strange thing in Kia land. There are a multitude of special editions and the colour is dependant on which one you choose. The top of the range is that green colour. They mix possum gizzards with larks vomit to get it. Don't ask about the brown or red.

[bothwell_buyer]

......and having spent all ma days in the cardboard box industry, I take conception to the Corrugated Car collapsing like that....was never made by me, for sure. Cracker of an advert, and let me guess....that colour not available in Yoorup...?

Big Kev

:crybaby: I'm so sorry - I never realised you were homeless and living in cardboard city. Please accept my apologies for having been cheeky and disrespectful....if you need a shelter to stay in, then my shed will always be available to you if you don't mind sharing it with the field mice?

[pjtynan]

mines started doing the same thing 17000 miles ! seams worse after its been washed ?

mine is fine if your brake hard its when i brake very lighty ! cant feel any thing in brake pedel tho!

disks have allways look dirty dont seem like any wear on them ! iv never had this problem on a car before ?

if thay get worse looks like new disks and pads ebc do them on line £150

VERY common problem with the RAV [and other Toyotas] - pad material depositing on discs instead of abraiding them clean.

Get in in to Toyota - the warranty is mileage limited on brakes but I think you are just within. Discs should last for two sets of pads at least. As you say, never had this problem with any other car [37 years driving in my case]

My 2008 XT4 auto started with noisy/slight juddery brakes last year at two and a half years old and 16500 miles. My Toyota dealer said that Toyota would not consider any warranty for this. Now,at 21500 miles and 2 months out of warranty the brakes are awful; terrible juddering, pulsing,discs pitted. The car was serviced by Toyota in Dec.2010 at 18814 miles and road tested by them in Jan.2011 for a different problem yet nothing was noticed by any of the technicians. Would I buy another Toyota? when h**l freezes over as they say.

Keep smiling pjtynan

[anchorman]

I'll say again.

If a Toyota dealership is approached about this problem they will say they cannot support a claim for worn brake parts.

You have to write to TGB and tell them that the car has developed an UNSAFE BRAKE FAULT of judder which makes the control of the car impossible and liable to accident.