hey guys, got my brakes done about a year ago, all was good until a few months back, when i step on the brakes, i get a lot of vibration feedback in the steering wheel, wondering what it is, rotors, loose pads? anyway, i'm still getting a lot of brake dust, hmm... any suggestions? thanks, dd

 

My 4Runner and Taco both did that. In both cases it was the rotors.

 

It's almost always rotors causing that symptom.

 

Yep, sounds like you got some chewed up rotors. I have had that on older trucks.

 

its ur rotors, and here's why... (someone correct me if i'm wrong) the rotors got overheated at one time (maybe u slammed on the brakes too much?) and now the rotors are warped and when the pads hit the rotors they skip. and as time goes on the skipping and the vibrations are going to get worse. you can probably just get your rotors resurfaced and that would fix it. someone told me that the rotors on my '90 are really thin and they most likley couldn't be resurfaced and i just needed to get new ones, but since you have a '97 you should be fine.

 

When you have your rotors turned, request that they grind from both sides. It saves a bit of material instead of having them ground completely on one side.

 

I say do a search there is alot of info here about brakes and warped rotors.
In short rotors are more than likely warped and you should just replace them and put on new pads, IMHO. I did this over a year ago and have not had a problems since. Also adjust your rear brakes to be sure there doing some of the work.

 

I'd drive it a while and see if it clears up before you spring for pads and rotors. Mine started the common vibrations over a year ago but when I checked the pads they weren't even 1/2 gone. It seemed silly to replace all that stuff at less than 50K miles and with only 1/2 pad wear so I left it. It's now much smoother than it was then so I'll wait until the pads are nearly worn out before I bother to fix it...

 

I haven't had luck with turning them, once they warp they are pretty much toast. I have had them turned but use the brakes hard at all and they'll warp even faster. I find that if they have warped at all, either just ignore it and see if it fixes itself or replace it all. Don't waste your money to turn em.

 

You can get brand new Brembo rotors for it at taylorautomotive.com for about $42 each shipping included.

You might as well replace them and not bother turning them. Turning them will cost you like $10 each, if you take them the rotors. Plus, you still have to worry about them warping again soon.