A Few Problems With My Beautiful Avensis

[RoyalIrish]

Hi All,

I just swapped my Surf for a spanking 2001 1.8 VVTi and it has a few problems that I'd like some 'educated' advice on.

I have a binding front drivers brake and I am at a loss to reason why!

I have stripped the brakes down, cleaned them and applied copper grease to the slide pins, support plates etc. I've checked the pistons and they seem to be ok and moving freely, albeit a little stiff but they look to be in good shape.

The drivers side seems to be constantly rubbing as if it hasn't disengaged from the disk properly and the disk is getting very hot after a short journey.

I know this happens when the pistons are dodgy and sticking but they seem to be ok and moving as per expectation, am I missing something?

Someone said that the brake flexihose may be perished, is this a possibility?

Also, when pulling away in 1st/2nd gear there is a low grumble/rattle/rumble from the front passenger side, any ideas what this could be?

Thanks!

Gary

[alan333]

re the brake sticking on one wheel - Try letting some fluid out the bleed nipple on the caliper when the brake is jammed on and see if it releases the brake. If it does then I'd say your problem is "before" the caliper. If not then it's more likely to be a problem at the caliper.

The bad news is that I had this once on an X Type Jag - it was the servo that was faulty.

[Cml24]

Hi mate,

I've a 2001 avensis as well, that I've only had for a month or two.

Just had to take the day off work to rebuild my brake calipers as one of mine was sticking.

Alans advice sounds good. And if it turns out to be the calipers they aren't that hard to rebuild if you're reasonably competent. Or buy a pair of refurbed ones.

Also, I've been told it's best not to use copper grease for the slide pins, as it dries out and doesn't lubricate that well. It can apparently also perish the rubber boots as it's petroleum based. I used Mintex Cera Tec for my rebuild.

[RoyalIrish]

I stripped the calipers down yesterday to see the pistons etc. because it was the only thing I never checked and guess what?

The pistons were 'slightly' rusty on a tiny patch toward the outer lip and this was enough to 'bind' the brakes.

I pumped them out and gave them and the bores a real good going over with 400/1200 wet and dry and they are now like new.

The brakes are perfect now, no noise and no binding.

I'll do the same on the back ones at the weekend!

Next step is new disks and pads but money is tight at the moment!

I think I will remove the copper slip from the slide pins and stick some other 'grease' on them as I've noticed that it seems to cause an 'airtight' seal sort of vacuum and makes the pins very hard to move, hmmm, strange one!

I also noticed that my brake fluid is 'very' green! Is this a Toyota thing because I just topped them up with Carlube Dot 4, hope this is ok?

The grumbling noise at low revs is still doing my head in, everything feels tight underneath but it sounds like the exhaust rumbling when the car is labouring!

Gary

[Cml24]

When I took my caliper apart mine were horrid inside! That's shetland weather for you. I could tell when I had the caliper un-mounted and someone pushing the brake pedal, one piston was fine and one was stuck, but to be honest I'm suprised they weren't both stuck.

My dust boots were full of rust and rubbish as well, which probably didn't help.

My brake fluid looks normal, so I'm not sure. Just topped up mine with Dot 4 when I re-bled them, as I just assumed that's what it would be....