- #22 of 41
-
Re: Replacing Matrix pads [gmanpumps]
by nuclearman
-
Sep 06, 2007 (4:02 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: gmanpumps (Jul 14, 2006 3:59 pm)
Replacing rotors is easy. Remove the wheel, pull off the caliper (two bolts), slide the old one off and the new one on. It took me about an hour to do both front wheels. Replace with quality rotors. Spend a little extra and get a pair of quality slotted and/or cross-drilled rotors. Then replace the brake pads with a good semi-metallic or even better ceramic. You'll really notice the difference.
|
- #23 of 41
-
Re: Matrix brakes [ericam]
by nuclearman
-
Sep 06, 2007 (4:09 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: ericam (Sep 06, 2007 7:15 am)
Welcome to my 2003 Matrix world. I have always been a Toyota man, but this Matrix is proving to be a piece of engineering crap. At 85K miles my catalytic converter went south. Of course it was only warranted for 75K. Now, I have the same problem as you, my right front caliper is frozen. One day I'm driving down the road and a loud roar from the right front tire followed by horrific shaking of the steering wheel. I pulled over immediately, checked the front tire and noticed the wheel was extremely hot. After a lot of checking, found the caliper frozen in place. It sucks too because I had just replaced the rotor and ceramic pads. Now in addition to a new caliper, I have to replace the pads and rotor again. The rotor got so hot it warped pretty good (tire dealer didn't do a good job of torquing lug nuts). Doing a little search on these types of blogs, I find the catalytic converter and calipers to be a common problem on the 2003 Matrix. Of course Toyota says they haven't really had any complaints. My next car will probably be a Subaru. (Funny how they stopped making the 4WD Matrix like I have. I wonder why?)
|
- #24 of 41
-
Re: Matrix brakes [kiawah]
by nuclearman
-
Sep 06, 2007 (4:14 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: kiawah (Sep 06, 2007 7:39 am)
Good point about the brake fluid and need to bleed/replace on a regular basis. Based upon research on the web and talking to several mechanics, it's a bigger problem than you would think and can lead to costly repairs. One other issue that I found, the boot will sometime crack (with heat and age) and the salt from winter road treatment will get into the boot and corrode the piston from the other side. Also a good point about replacing both calipers at the same time.
|
- #25 of 41
-
Re: Matrix brakes [nuclearman]
by ericam
-
Sep 07, 2007 (6:34 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: nuclearman (Sep 06, 2007 4:09 pm)
So in addition to my brake going out the first time... I just got the car back from the dealership, with a new brake system, I had the car for less then 24 hours and it happened again to the same brake. This time though, I was driving for about 5 blocks when the right front brake seized up again and the rotor was extremely hot again. Any comments or suggestions on this one... I have brand new calipers, rotors, pads, the works and the problem is still not fixed. My next though was the master cylinder, but the dealership said that they checked that the first time and everything was fine. And I was under the impression that if the mast cylinder goes out, it affects both brakes.
|
- #26 of 41
-
Re: Matrix brakes [ericam]
by kiawah
-
Sep 07, 2007 (7:04 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: ericam (Sep 07, 2007 6:34 am)
Well this is simple, take it back. You paid to have it fixed, and they didn't fix it.
This is a little hard to diagnose further without looking at it, but I'll give you my thoughts of what come to mind...hopefully others might chime in as well.
- first thing that comes to mind, is that they didn't get the caliper and brake pads (or the wrong brake pads) put back correctly, and something is binding
- second thing that comes to mind, is that you might actually have a frozen piston on the left side caliper (you didn't replace this, right?), which isn't doing any braking whatsover, in which case all of the front braking is done by the right side....and it is getting hot under what one might consider normal braking. If you let go of the steering wheel when you put on the brakes, will the car continue tracking straight? or does the wheel and car turn to the right?
- might be a crimped brake tubing/hose in the front right.
- starting to get less likely, but might have a blockage of some sort in the brake distribution circuit. I don't have the Matrix service manuals to know exactly what is included with the Matrix.
- Assuming the master cylinder is like almost every other vehicle, you'd have a front and back fluid circuit. No problem there would effect only one wheel.
|
- #27 of 41
-
Torque on caliper mounting bolts?
by lmacmil
-
Sep 12, 2007 (6:40 am)
-
|
|
Anyone know the torque on the front and rear caliper mounting bolts on an XRS? My son replaced his pads but didn't have a manual and I'm not sure if he even had a torque wrench. I would like to torque them to spec. Thanks.
|
- #28 of 41
-
Rotor Removal
by gdhagleriii
-
Dec 30, 2007 (11:02 am)
-
|
|
Hello, I have a 2004 Toyo Matrix. I'm going to be replacing the rotors and brakes on it. Before i get started wanted to know if there is a special tool i need to take off the rotor when i first took tire off to inspect rotors i noticed a nut holding on the rotor which i suspect is connected to the half-shaft. Im asking because the new rotors i have seem different than the old ones. Any help would be great, thanks for the help in advance.
|
- #30 of 41
-
Re: Rotor Removal [gdhagleriii]
by davidostrander
-
May 04, 2008 (12:33 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: gdhagleriii (Dec 30, 2007 11:02 am)
I have the same question, on the 4wd XR is there a special tool needed to replace the rotors? I took off the caliber and can still not get the rotor off. It looks like it is held to the shaft.
|
- #31 of 41
-
Toyota Matrix 2005 ABS Grindindg Noise Brakes
by chailes
-
Dec 20, 2008 (8:57 am)
-
|
We have a 2005 Toyota Matrix and the ABS brakes have a terrible grinding noise which the dealer says is normal as the brakes have to pulsate and consquently a noise.
However this is an excessive noise that grinds when the brakes are applied during snowy or icy conditions.
Any suggestions to fix the problem.
Charles
|
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Wagons 
