Questions and Answers

Toyota Brake Pulsation Q. I found your web site pretty useful even for someone like me unlikely to DIY. It's easy to understand and provides knowledge from basic to advanced. Thanks for your efforts!!!

Here is my question. My car is 1994 Toyota Corolla, automatic transmission, ABS, and about 86,000 miles. I felt some kind of pulsation when I press the brake. It didn't happen all the time, but I cannot conclude when it happens. Also, when I cornering in the parking lot, sometimes I hear strange sounds from front wheels or chassis. It sounds like twisting or tightening metal cables.

I am new in town and I am still looking for a good mechanics. Anyway, I had a Muffler & Brake checked it up. They suggested to machine front rotors ($60.00), replace wheel bearing and hub of the driver side front wheel (bearing $84.00, hub $131.00, labor $175.00), and alignment ($40.00). The left front wheel has little play but not too much. The right front wheel is solid.

I called the local Toyota dealer. They want to charge $140.00 for machine front rotors and about $400.00 for wheel bearing and hub. Another Toyota dealer in the next town will charge $180.00 for machine rotors and replacing bearing, but he didn't want to say how much for the hub because he insists to see it first.

So, which one should I go? How do you think about the diagnoses and estimated cost? Is it necessary to replace the hub? Or, under what condition, should the hub be replaced? Any other concerns?

Thanks a lot!

A. Your brakes will pulsate more as they warm up from driving in traffic, that's probably why you don't experience it more. You should never just cut the rotors only, the pads should also be replaced at the same time. The pads are worn unevenly by the warped rotor, you cannot use them on a rotor where the surface was just made perfectly parallel by cutting. Depending on how severe the pulsation is the rotors may be beyond cutting and need replacement. An experienced tech will measure the rotor thickness with a micrometer first, this helps him determine if the rotors have enough 'meat' to be cut.

Any play at all in the wheel bearing can not be tolerated. I have never liked doing the bearing only on Toyotas, the hub should also be replaced along with it. After taking the hub and bearing apart, you invariably find that the bad bearing has damaged the hub. Have them both done.

I have never been a fan of chain stores or quick lube type places, the best place for all of the above is your dealer. You will get the same genuine parts that got your Toyota this far, not cheap aftermarket brake pads, rotors or bearings. Besides, the dealer that quoted you $400.00 for the hub/bearing was not that far off from the muffler shop price. Good Luck.

Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA