Well after waiting a week for the 2 1/8" socket to come in at sears I tackled the front end on my g/f's 91 4runner. I've done alot of brake jobs but I've honestly never seen that many parts come off in my life. I managed to get both calipers off and the left one had 2 pistons seized ( no surprise. ) Once that was off everything else was pretty straight forward except for those cone washers. I got the drivers side ones off in about 3 minutes so I was feeling good but the passenger side ones faught me all the way. I tried using a punch a screw driver and even a BFH. After about 20 minutes of swearing and pouding i got them all off. The guy the had done the brake job on this thing last time must not have had a decent socket because the spindle nuts looked like hell. After i got the hubs off i removed the six bolts that held the rotor on and with a big pry bar off came the rotor. I was amazed how thin the toyota rotor was especially since it had 40,000kms on it. I got to the parts store to turn the rotors and sure enough the where below spec. So i picked up some wagner rotors, pads, left caliper and pins.

It took half as long to put everything togeather. I think the best part was using that huge socket to put the hub nuts on. Althought I had to sand the hubs to get the rotor to fit back on. The canadian winters here make everything rust like crazy. I packed the bearings quickly and stuffed everything back togeather. I bolted the new caliper on and bled both sides until the crusty brake fluid was gone. Now it stops on a dime and I couldn't be happier. I probably never would have bothered fixing it myself if not for finding this place.

 

Nice to have you. Congrats on the brake job!

 

hey dave!

been there, done that, lots o fun! welcome to our humble home, where every toyota is modded to the teeth!! not really but we do have fun working on them.

where in canada are you?

lee

 

I've been told that Toyota rotors can only be machined once before having to be replaced. Good job on the brakes, I may be doing mine by the end of the year.

 

can anybody point me towards a good write-up for replacing the hubs? whats this about a 2 1/8" socket? and the bearings actually in the rotor? (sorry, this is only my 2nd car and am still learning a lot)

 

I tried doing mine, I took everything apart, then found out I needed a 54mm socket for the hubs.

Helps to read things in advance, just in case

 

I wimped out and paid a shop $150 to put my new Brembos, CF Pads and remanufactured calipers on. If I had more time to do the work I would've, but oh well, its done now.

 

Well you don't have to have the socket. It can be done with a screw driver or chisel and hammer. I figured i'd do it right and it also gives me an excuse to buy more tools. If you do a search you'll come up with a linke at 4x4wire.com with a great how to.

I am still pissed that I couldn't even turn my rotors once but oh well

 

how do you know the previous rotors werent used several pad changes?

on my truck, i know the jerk that owned it before was ghetto, well, after 2 years (and still had good pads) i replaced the rotors with brembos... the brembos were a good 1/4" thincker than the ones i took off

 

My g/f's dad had taken it to a mechanic and watched him put on new rotors out of the box. It's not a big deal though i only spent like 45cdn per rotor anyhow. I just wanted to get the brakes up to par so when i sell it i can say the brakes have been done all around.

In the spring we are going to look into a 2003 4 runner hopefully.

 

not to sound like a jerk, but its your g/f ... DO NOT BUY A VEHICLE WITH HER as a g/f.... if something goes wrong, you will be screwed... get married first, then its a joint venture... or make her buy the new car....

 

hey guys,
i am about to tackle a rotor/caliper job myself on my 1993 pickup. Were did you guys get you replacement calipers. Last time i did my pads the calipers had 2 seized pistons. I had intentions on getting rid of the truck but i just can't do it. Are there any threads that have a good wirte up on how to remove the hubs(i have auto locking) and how to re-pack the bearings(my biggest worry...i have done everything else on a car but this). i am looking at a set of drilled rotors($80 U.S.). good deal...? Thanks for any info you can give me. personally i think cross-drilled rotors would look awsome behind these....

 

Try this site.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/front_end/

 

cool thanks guys

 

try this link:

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-buchanan/93fsm/

lee

 

Well thanks for the concern jimabena74 but I'm way ahead of ya. It'll be registered in my name and I'll be paying for it. Nothing beats having two cars.