How easy should it be to install new front rotors? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Seattle206 · 03-24-2005, 02:31 PM

Ok, I have a 1998 Camry V6 LE. My dad purchased it brand new when they first hit the dealers. The car has almost 57k miles on it, there has been no problems over these past 7 years.

Now, for the past 5 months or so, the two front brakes started to squeak everytime I slowly press on the brakes. At first the noise wasnt so bad, so I left them alone. After a couple months the squeaks started to get louder, I mean they hurt my ears even when Im in the car, imagine how loud it was for pedestrians. So, I take the car down to a local auto shop, they replaced the old pads. The problem was solved for a couple days, until they started to squeak again. I take the car down to the same auto shop, they inspected the brakes again. This time they resurfaced the rotors, ok, problem was solved for about 1 week. The brakes started to act up again. I was too lazy to call and complain to the auto shop, so I just left the brakes alone. I have been driving around for about 4 months with extremely loud brakes. Recently, I noticed that the red brake lights comes on even though my e-brake is down. Whats up with that? I have never seen it do that until now. I was told to check the brake fluid, which I did, and nothing was wrong with it.

Yesterday, my friend has had enough with my loud brakes. So he got me some brand new Brembo OE front brake rotors. He thought that it would be a good idea to replace my stock rotors. He claims that he knows how to install them, but I came here to see if there are any special precautions when installing new rotors.

Thankx for reading.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 03-24-2005, 02:45 PM

nope, it's as easy as pie.
make a search, there are threads from the past that have almost step by step instructions.

it was rather nice of your friend to buy you those brake roteres, but how does that help if you already got your stock ones resurfaced? do you know if the squeak is coming from the front or the back?

and the most probable cause if you already have new pads and resurfaced rotors is that you shim(s) - I don't know if the gen 4s have one shim or two like the gen3s- are either rusty or falling apart

you should also think about putting plenty of anti-squeal brake lubricant on your brakes too....it makes a big difference

have fun

Seattle206 · 03-24-2005, 03:00 PM

Hey,

where can I get some of that anit-squeal lub? Schucks with have it for sure probley.

Thankx, I appreciate the your help.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 03-24-2005, 03:09 PM

^ yup, basically any automotive store

they usually come in little sealed packs

***zoni*** · 03-24-2005, 04:42 PM

make sure you change the pads at the same time... you dont want to ruin new rotors with beat up pads. if the old pads are worn according to the old rotor's wear pattern, it will mess up the new ones.

***Edmond*** · 03-24-2005, 04:48 PM

Yeah, use plenty of the anti squeal stuff, use it liberally because it works well. It also wouldn't hurt to get some of the brake cleaner in the can and clean off the brake assembly.

And use some anti-seize on any nut and bolt when you put it back on. Bleed the brakes, brake fluid is so cheap that it wouldn't hurt to do it.

All that stuff is available at your auto parts store. Even some Wal Marts and K Marts carry that stuff if you're not close to an auto store.

skewe · 03-24-2005, 05:21 PM

how much was the brembo brakes? I have been looking at the cross drilled on ebay for a gen 4.5. It runs about 110$ cos it's a 15 inch rim, as opposed to $99 for a 14inch on gen4

Seattle206 · 03-24-2005, 08:15 PM

My friend got them for $106 total from www.importrp.com, since the company is in WA, I got them in one day.

Stealth · 03-24-2005, 08:47 PM

Ceramic pads will squeal less than semi-metallics, so get those if you're buying new pads.

2olforthis · 03-25-2005, 06:11 PM

Just did the very job you're talking about. Put on Brembo cross-drilled and slotted rotors from ebay and axxis ultimate pads. Never did it before but with a little research it was no problem. Used anti-squeal on the integral shims of the axxis pads and didn't squeal with test. When depressing the caliper piston using the inboard pad and c-clamp, make sure to loosen the bleed nipple so that the fluid being pushed back will exit there rather than be pushed backward in the system (this is valid for ABS). A mechanic flinched when I told him I hadn't done this and told me that doing this could damage the system. Without ABS, I guess it doesn't matter.