All of a sudden, within a single trip, I feel like my front brake pads are done.

This did not happen gradually. Literally one minute I could stop on a dime and the next they are grinding.

I have 22k miles.

Is this normal? With my past cars I could feel the pads start to wear but it was gradual; I usually had a few thousand miles left once I started to feel the wear.

I am thinking of going to shop for new pads in the morning as I am not 100% comfortable driving like this.

Any chance this should be covered by the warranty?

If I need new brakes, I am told the Sport has "larger" brakes than the SR5. Should I try to get the larger brakes put on?

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

If it is grinding you need to change them asap or you will ruin your rotors.

With that being said I don't think I have ever "felt" my pads wearing, I check them everytime I change my oil and rotate my tires.

The warranty question will depend. If they are stock from toyota, I doubt they are covered under warranty. This is a typical wear and tear kind of issues, the harder you work the breaks the faster it is going to wear out.

However, if they are aftermarket breaks you may have an option as some pads have a lifetime warranty but since you are asking the question I doubt they have a lifetime warranty.

As far a the larger pads are concerned, yes you will want to make sure they get the larger pads. This shouldn't be a problem for you, as soon as you tell them it is a sport the computer should tell them which size you will need. I on the other hand have an SR5 with the 17" wheels and the larger breaks and this is almost always a source for confusion with the sales person at my local autoparts store.... but sir the computer says...

 

thanks....so if you have the 17" rims on an SR5 you get the same brakes as the Sport?

 

I did... but I don't know if that's the norm though.

 

What do I ask for? Just say the same size as the Sport model? Get them in Raybestos??

 

I think my local parts store calls them heavy duty (if I remember correctly).

You will only be able to get the size that fits your calipers. So, if you are taking it in to a shop they will know right away because the pads will either fit or they wont.

 

So if you want bigger brakes you have to completey replace everything?

 

Well, the pads are just one piece of your brake system that fit inside your calipers. Your calipers have a piston (larger calipers have more than one piston) that pushes the pads against the rotor to make the vehicle stop. Those calipers will accept pads of a certain size. You can not fit larger pads in a caliper not designed for that size.

So, if you want larger brakes you will need larger calipers not just larger pads.

 

got my new pads today; rotors were fine. Under $250 for the set - not too bad. i hope i get 44k miles on this set.

but i still don't know if I have the standard (SR5) sized pads or the larger (Sport, Limited) sized pads???

 

I got 50,000 miles on my 2003 4Runner before I had to get the brakes done. YMMV.

 

Yeah MMDV (My Mileage Did Vary)

 

I believe, unless someone upgraded the brakes, the SR5 came with the 'standard' size front rotors. The 17" wheels were an option on the '03, and usually added as a port upgrade, so the standard 16" wheels had to fit the vehicle from the factory. As I recall, the Sport, and Limited came with the 17" wheels as standard, and therefore could have the oversize rotor/brake package that wouldn't work with the 16" wheels.

 

So you think if the SR5 had the 17" wheel upgrade it didn't include the brake upgrade? (this was for an 05)

 

It is one thing to slap a set of larger wheels on a vehicle as an upgrade. That can be done anywhere, usually at the port of entry, or at the dealership. Upgrading the brakes to the Sport or Limited version would have to be done at the plant, and pre-ordered that way, if that option was even available.

 

if you want the big brake package, you'll NEED:

17" wheels
rotors
calipers

the pads are the same between small and big brakes...

the sport/LTD. brakes do NOT fit under a 16" wheel... the big brake rotors are larger in diameter, which requires teh caliper to be further spaced from the hub. the caliper makes up the difference... the pistons between the small brake calipers and the big brake calipers are the same... the rotor thickness is teh same, the caliper overhaul kit is the same... just the casting of teh caliper body is different to accomodate a larger rotor...

 

Anybody got links/threads to demonstrate replacing front rotors on a 97 4Runner?

 

The pads are the same for all models. 2003 (and maybe 04) the Limited and SR5 have the same rotor, then it switches to Limited and Sport have the same rotor.
You have to be careful of this when you put new rotors on a 2003 Limited that came with 17" rims/tires. When in doubt, go measure the rotor before you order.

I replaced my rotors with Centeric and they are was better quality than OEM, a lot cheaper too.