Brakes and rotors replaced, vibration over 50miles/h or 80km/h

[tookien]

I replaced front and rear brakes and rotors for a Rav4 2020 2.5L.

There was no issue with vibrations previously.

I confirmed the size was correct. 305mm diameter rotors on the front and 281mm on the rear.

I double checked the installation, took calipers off and inspected the rotors, inspected everything, double checked the torque.
Installed the wheels and torqued them down to spec.

It brakes really well, no vibrations when braking.

It just feels like vibrations coming from the wheels above 50 miles/h or 80km/h, and I have no idea what is causing it now.


I suspect it could be a warped rotor.

Any suggestions?


Thanks

 

[dubber09]

If rotors are machined and balanced properly then it's not them. It happens new parts come defective too. Did you by any chance knock a weight off a wheel when taking them off and putting them back on?
What make/model rotors and pads did you use, where did you buy them?

 

[oil pan 4]

Maybe wheel bearings. But 4 years seems a little soon for a Toyota to have bad wheel bearings.

 

[JavierH19]

I doubt the rotors you took off are close to worn down, most aren't. Put them back on and see if it goes away. If so the new rotors are bad so get a refund and buy something else later.

 

[tookien]

I doubt the rotors you took off are close to worn down, most aren't. Put them back on and see if it goes away. If so the new rotors are bad so get a refund and buy something else later.

The vehicle has 180,000 km on it. They were worn down badly. Brake pad almost to the metal.


As far as I know neither brakes or rotors were ever replaced since purchased.

 

[tookien]

I doubt the rotors you took off are close to worn down, most aren't. Put them back on and see if it goes away. If so the new rotors are bad so get a refund and buy something else later.

Unfortunately I don't have them anymore and again they were worn down badly. I scrapped them on the front lawn, someone picked them up for scrap metal probably.

I really didn't expect something to be wrong with, these were quality coated rotors, not OEM though.

 

[demarpaint]

Did you check the run-out of the new rotor after installing it with a dial indicator? If you didn't I would, it doesn't take much run-out to cause issues. The fix might be as simple as rotating it one or two lug holes on the rotor.

 

[tookien]

If rotors are machined and balanced properly then it's not them. It happens new parts come defective too. Did you by any chance knock a weight off a wheel when taking them off and putting them back on?
What make/model rotors and pads did you use, where did you buy them?

I don't think I did knock off a weight, they are all there.

They are the bremsen rotors front and rears, bought them online.

Doing it for a family member. Not my car, but she never changed the rotors or pads since she bought it.

 

[tookien]

Maybe wheel bearings. But 4 years seems a little soon for a Toyota to have bad wheel bearings.

Definitely not wheel bearings.

 

[JavierH19]

The vehicle has 180,000 km on it. They were worn down badly. Brake pad almost to the metal.


As far as I know neither brakes or rotors were ever replaced since purchased.

112k miles on a 2020 that's quite a bit. In that case I'd expect them to be worn. Nonetheless i still suspect the rotors are the problem. Buy something else, maybe oem at the dealer parts counter if they aren't crazy or something else that's reputable and return those.

 

[Dave Hess]

Any rust in back of rotors that you took off ?

If there was rust did you remove it ?

 

[benjamming]

Did you rotate tires at the same time?

 

[TCL]

Did you thouroughly clean the surface area where rotors mount on hub?
Did you clean the surface of the wheel where it contacts the rotor?

 

[oil pan 4]

Definitely not wheel bearings.

That how it started with my truck.
I wasn't sure if it was brake rotors or bearings and I figured I would just run them till they started making noises.
Less than 10,000 miles later they were singing.
I would not expect bearings to wear out at 112,000 miles on a car. On a truck, yes.
Just keep running them, you'll figure it out eventually. They'll start vibrating more and making noises that change with steering wheel input, it's bearings. If it vibrates more with out any droning noises it's probably the rotors deforming more.
Also I have seen people get bad brake rotors from the factory, cheap replacements, not OEM ones.
I have also seen tires that developed weird wear patterns because of worn out shocks or struts making weird vibrations.

 

[The Critic]

Were the replacement rotors mill-balanced?

 

[Trav]

Did you thouroughly clean the surface area where rotors mount on hub?
Did you clean the surface of the wheel where it contacts the rotor?

This^^

 

[loneryder]

I replaced front and rear brakes and rotors for a Rav4 2020 2.5L.

There was no issue with vibrations previously.

I confirmed the size was correct. 305mm diameter rotors on the front and 281mm on the rear.

I double checked the installation, took calipers off and inspected the rotors, inspected everything, double checked the torque.
Installed the wheels and torqued them down to spec.

It brakes really well, no vibrations when braking.

It just feels like vibrations coming from the wheels above 50 miles/h or 80km/h, and I have no idea what is causing it now.


I suspect it could be a warped rotor.

Any suggestions?


Thanks

Flat spot or slipped belt on a tire??

 

[Titan]

I hate to say I've seen it, but, I've seen the rotor not being fully seated against the hub, and that was exactly how it acted. The Rotor screw was even used...yet, the rotor was not fully seated and it wobbled.

 

[tookien]

Hey, I confirmed, it's the rear rotors.

They are warped.

One of them is so so.

But the other (rear left) is wobbles around on a flat surface. It seems to wobble on the hub as well.

This is why when I brake, it doesn't vibrate because most of the braking is at the front and those front rotors I confirmed are fine.

It vibrates only when I go above 80km/h, what's when I feel vibrations from the rear.

Yes I cleaned all the rust up on the hub surface and everything is nice and flat.
The installation is fine.

I need a refund or exchange, this kind of thing is a real pain in the arse.

 

[tookien]

I hate to say I've seen it, but, I've seen the rotor not being fully seated against the hub, and that was exactly how it acted. The Rotor screw was even used...yet, the rotor was not fully seated and it wobbled.

I know, I checked all that already before. This is the 3rd time I installed everything back properly, because I was paranoid as hell.

It's the new rear rotors, they are warped.