Rear Disc Problems

November 18, 2007

On our 2001 1.8NV (front wheel drive) we had new rear discs fitted and new pads.These were genuine items but 12 months later they needed replacing again! Discs are very rusty and pitted! Anyone else had this???

November 18, 2007

Usually low mileage vehicles are prone.

Cheers

November 18, 2007

As anchorman says, low mileage = little use of rear brakes. I have been told that 70% of braking power is tackled by the front brakes, so if you are a careful driver with light use of the brakes, then maybe the surface coating of rust which will form on any car discs when unused for a few days, is getting a better chance to do more damage. From memory, on another posting here recently, the rear discs are pretty thin as well so there is not much leeway for rust damage or scoring.

It's one of these things where lack of use leads to greater damage.... what sort of mileage are you doing a year? All short runs or long runs, then imagine how many times the rear brakes are used each time.

My RAV4 has rear drum brakes which are the originals! However the front discs have now been replaced at least 4 times. I found the Toyota disc seemingly soft and have spent a fair bit in upgrading the disc and caliper set up, but then its a one-off.

I doubt if you get any/much salt-grit put on your roads compared to up here but then again if you're driving near the coast I suppose you might get a spray of salty water (according to the papers up here Norfolk lies under 6' of the English Channels/North Sea.)

I'd maybe ask a trusty mechanic to check that the rear calipers are working ok and haven't got gummed up - you maybe wouldn't notice with front wheel drive and the braking ratios. Tother thing is whether you're running with any load to make the brakes work harder, or is it a 5 door with just 1 or 2 passengers?? The MOT of course would catch whether the rear brakes are efficient. I use non-Toyota garages for my MOT as dealers ripped me off with 'having to replace the discs Sir' at a cost of £300+.

I can't pretend to be an expert of any sort on your young RAV, but I would think about getting the caliper action checked just to make sure they are working properly. Again, I have had problems with the front Toyota calipers not working properly. The new ones fitted are immensely smooth and much more efficient and are non-Toyota and did cost a fair whack. However, I don't ever expect to have the hassles I had with the T caliper.

The young man at The Garage had said to me that often the caliper jams on the sliding pins and all they need is a good clean. Again, can't help you much on your model as I don't know which type you have.

One thing that is normal is you replace discs in pairs. Partly as you can't buy them singly. I've listened to all the good arguments, but I had a pair of discs which I had to replace because the dustshield on one side only had disintegrated and scored the offside disc. I have a collection of good nearside discs now !!!

November 18, 2007

Very comprehensive reply bothy! Nice one.

PS the discs aren't handed so if you can find a reasonable pair you could use them. That kind of frugalness should appeal to a Scot!!!

November 19, 2007

Very comprehensive reply bothy! Nice one.
PS the discs aren't handed so if you can find a reasonable pair you could use them. That kind of frugalness should appeal to a Scot!!!

Oh aye richt. Noo ye tell me !!

Onywan wantin tae buy various discs frae Toyota; EBS or Rotordisc please let me know cos I believe in recycling; contrary tae ma wifes wish tae chuck em oot!!

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :unsure: :unsure:

November 19, 2007

i just remove those rear discs by times to clean them and make sure that all is free of rust. indeed the toyo dealers keep telling me that i need new rear discs and i keep telling them sure keep dreaming. ;)

the rear brakes aren't used as much the front ones, it's about 80% - 70% as being written here before so that's why they die more of rust then of use... also make sure that those two bolts connecting the caliper are freed (there are little ruber gommets on it) from rust and can freely move.