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99 Camry Le "Goldie"
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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
I'm sure this is an obvious issue, but for a few years now I've noticed that my car lurches slightly when coming to a stop. Basically it feels like a flat spot when I stop. I was thinking warped rotors but wasn't sure, as it is now just annoying. The only other thing I've noticed is that when the wheels are off the ground the rear rotors hit one spot and make a grinding noise at one spot. I cant remember if it does it on the front too.

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1993 Camry SE,V6-5MT
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it sounds like the rotors have an uneven spot - it could be a warp or it could be that the car sat for a while and the rotors rusted everywhere except for where the pads were sitting, that one spot remained clean and the rust never fully came off when the car was driven again, resulting in an uneven braking each time the pads encounter the change in surface

take off each wheel and inspect the rotors (both sides, as much as you can because the dust shield is in the way) for an even, shiny surface all of the way around, or if there is rust, or noticeably different color on the pad contact surface indicating the cause of the uneven braking

another possibility, less likely with OEM parts but more likely if aftermarket parts were used, is an improperly bedded rotor (when new pads meet new rotors we are supposed to treat them gently for the first 100 miles or so, until some of the pad material has transferred to the rotor face, "bedding" them)

All of the above can cause uneven braking.

Sometimes having the rotors turned (local auto parts store) will return to normal feeling, but sometimes it will come back, so often the thing to do is simply replace the rotors on that axle. Whenever replacing rotors it is wise to also replace pads (as they tend to "mate")

while you are there, also confirm the pads are equal thickness on both sides of the caliper (a sticking caliper will make one side wear quickly and the other side remain thick), if you find that either rebuild or replace both calipers on that axle to eliminate the sticking/uneven wear

Norm
 

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Discussion Starter · #3 ·
So there shouldn't be any grinding when I spin the wheel? (Spin freely with no noise)

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disc brake pads are designed to be always sliding on the rotor, a little bit, because it reduces the stroke to full braking and they don't overheat the way drums would with a slight drag, so there will be some drag you will feel (take the pads out and the hub spins free), but the drag should be even all of the way around and it shouldn't make any unusual noise, definitely not any sound like grinding

a grinding sound sounds like there's either excessive rust (due to a seized caliper slide, or having been sitting for a couple of weeks unused) or a bad wheel bearing
 

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it sounds like a possible worn out rotor. Some slight 'scraping' noise is ok when rotating the wheels when the car is up, but it shouldn't be coming to a hard stop as the noise occurs. I would check all wheels with disc brakes if the sliding pins are stuck/siezed. cleaning and relube them wouldn't be a bad idea every few years IMO.

norm356 covered it pretty well. Best to do both at the same time (pads and rotors)
 

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In Pennsylvania where I live the vehicles have annual safety inspections where the brakes have to be fully functional and in good condition. So every year I take my brakes apart, check them, replace any worn parts, clean everything, adjust things and lube what needs to be lubed. As marginal as the braking is on the four-cylinder Camry I would do it every year even if the state did not have inspections. If the rotor is pitted or old I have it turned or replace it, make sure the brake calipers are both working and the caliper bushings and pins are free and lubed, and I make sure the rear drum brakes are adjusted,which is very important to pedal feel. After all those things are checked and put in order, then the car will stop decently in "normal" daily use.
 

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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
I have a different setup than normal. I actually have gen 1 ls400 dual pistons on the front and disc brakes on the back. The rotor size is from a 95 es300

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