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Toyota Avalon Brakes, ABS, VSC, etc.

175 messages,  Last post on Apr 05, 2012 at 3:08 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Avalon, Brakes, Sedan

Messages Page 14 of 19

#122 of 175 Re: 2003 Toyota Avalon XL [scgrnmom] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 15, 2007 (8:45 am)

Replying to: scgrnmom (Jul 14, 2007 10:13 pm)
The dealer could easily check for sticking calipers by using a type of thermometer that can measure rotor temperature. It is true that overheated rotors will warp. It is also true that cheap rotors will warp, or rotors that are under-engineered for the weight of the car.
 
One possible and final solution for you...presuming your calipers are checked and NOT sticking (again, by testing the temperature after the car has been driven)...is to install a higher quality aftermarket rotor. Certainly many people have successfully beaten the "rotor dance" by doing this.
 
I don't think turning your old rotors was a good idea as it creates a kind of vicious circle...by cutting the rotors they have less mass and with less mass they can heat up even faster, thereby warping faster, etc
 
Visiting Host

#123 of 175 Re: 2003 Toyota Avalon XL [Mr_Shiftright] by scgrnmom

Jul 18, 2007 (8:11 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 15, 2007 8:45 am)
The old rotors were turned with only about 10,000 miles on them. My daughter took my car to the Toyota dealer while I was away on a trip.
 
I've been asking others about the brakes. I used blue ceremic pads when I put new pads & new rotors on. They were supposed to be the best. A friend says they cut into the rotors more & perhaps a softer pad would help.
 
We checked the rotors for wear & they do not all look alike. One looks more worn than the other 3. Haven't taken it to the shop yet to check the calipers.

#124 of 175 Re: 2003 Toyota Avalon XL [scgrnmom] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 20, 2007 (3:45 pm)

Replying to: scgrnmom (Jul 18, 2007 8:11 pm)
Well that's quite suspicious...perhaps the rotor is not moving properly on its slide (if that's the type your car uses---can't recall)...but pads should wear the same.
 
Yes you're right, some pads are "very good" but hard on rotors.

#125 of 175 Re: 2003 Toyota Avalon XL [Mr_Shiftright] by scgrnmom

Jul 20, 2007 (6:21 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 20, 2007 3:45 pm)
I went in this morning for an oil change. The mechanic looked at the rotors & said they all looked the same to him. (I didn't think so) Anyway, they are the ones with the holes in them that would help them keep from overheating. The guy said he didn't think the caliphers were sticking, but I want a second opinion. The Parts place I bought the rotors said they are the best & so were the pads and she said she suspected the caliphers.
 
If I have to buy new rotors, should I buy new pads too?
 
I have to make a trip to Virginia in two weeks. The Toyoto Dealer I bought the car from is up there. Would it be safe to drive that far & look into getting the work done there?

#126 of 175 Re: 2003 Toyota Avalon XL [scgrnmom] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 20, 2007 (6:26 pm)

Replying to: scgrnmom (Jul 20, 2007 6:21 pm)
Well drilled rotors might have chewed up your pads. Don't use drilled rotors!!! Get a good quality stock rotor and a pad like Performance Friction brand or some such.

#127 of 175 Re: 2003 Toyota Avalon XL [scgrnmom] by mcclearyfl

Jul 21, 2007 (7:08 am)

Replying to: scgrnmom (Jul 14, 2007 10:13 pm)
There have been many posts regarding the problems associated with overtightening the wheel lug nuts, invariably resulting in a heavy pulsation normally associated with warped disks or sticking calipers.
 
I have just replaced the tires on my 55K 2003 Avalon XLS, and the pulsation was immediately obvious. The lugs on all four wheels were greatly overtorqued, and required considerable effort with a long lugnut rod to loosen them. I tightened them to a little more than finger tight, and drove round the block a couple of times. I then retightened them, taking great care to perform this operation very evenly and carefully, spreading the pressure across the whole wheel. I applied sufficient torque that I could easily loosen the nuts with the small wrench that comes as standard equipment.
 
The excessive pulsation has gone. There is a very slight vibration that I consider normal for an Avalon that has never had a brake service, though my 2002 Saab (which has a much better disk system) is a smooth as the day I bought it.
 
So check those wheel lug nuts !!

#128 of 175 2006 Avalon Limited Brake Issue by dpyer

Oct 19, 2007 (9:39 am)

I had an oil change yesterday and was told that my front brake pads have less than 10% left with only 18k miles on my '06 Avalon. That doesn't sound right to me but was told that with city driving, the pads can wear down that quickly. Anyone else experience this?

#129 of 175 Failed Brakes on 2005 Toyota Avalon by btitle

Nov 06, 2007 (9:54 pm)

I was driving at a slow speed with a fair amount of traffic and when I went around a curve I heard a noise from the rear of the car and the car felt like I had gone over a curb. I then applied the brake and the brake pedal was completely depressed but the car did not brake and I hit another car. The impact was not too great but the entire right front of my car crumbled, however, the air bag did not inflate. The car was on a busy street so the police moved it when they arrived. I assume the brakes worked at that time but there was no discussion about it. The car is now in the body shop and I spoke to the proprieter about having the brakes checked. Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should do. I am a recent widow and my husband always took care of the cars so I am at a loss.

#130 of 175 Re: Failed Brakes on 2005 Toyota Avalon [btitle] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 08, 2007 (9:10 am)

Replying to: btitle (Nov 06, 2007 9:54 pm)
Well you should wait until a detailed report comes back from the body shop. Presumably, an actual catastrophic failure of the brakes would not heal itself and should be readily apparent.
 
If the brakes check out perfectly, I'm afraid you'd have to at least consider driver error (hit the wrong pedal) or confusion.
 
Also, they should check for debris under the brake pedal (old water bottle, etc.) and possibly a defective power brake booster---which would give you a very very hard pedal so that it might feel like there were no brakes (but there are if you push hard enough).
 
Also, you might very well have hit something in the road prior to the crash, damaging the rear brakes.

#131 of 175 2003 Toyota Avalon by scgrnmom

Nov 07, 2007 (9:14 pm)

I'd written before about my Avalon concerning the brakes and being told I had disk problems after recently getting new brakes, tires, etc. I was in Springfield, Va & took my car to the Toyota Dealer. He said there was nothing wrong with my brakes. There was still plenty of space on my disks. He said, there was no point in getting a brake job done or replacing the disks. You might as well keep driving it until they wear down.
 
The car shimmys when I put on the brakes. I have 4 new tires. Will this not wear my tires out very quickly?

Messages Page 14 of 19

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