Brakes Squeak-steering Wheel Shakes

[Chandan]

Hi guys

I have a 94 lexus es300. Runs like a champ. Breaks squeak a lot and in the past week I have noticed that the steering also shakes when I apply brakes. Are these related?

I have seen previous posts on the Brake squeaking and I think my car is due for a Brake pad change!!! But anything on why the steering shakes so much!!!

--Chandan

[SKperformance]

your rotors are warped

get new ones when changing the pads for the squealing

[amf1932]

There is a good chance that the rotors can be resurfaced if there is sufficient metal. They have charts to tell the maximum amount of metal you can remove before they have to be replaced. Any qualified brake shop can measure this with a brake micrometer.

[SKperformance]

If it shakes enough for you to notice all the time then it is going to mean a large amount of material needs to be removed to make it true again

so rather than spend the money to have them warp again as it is now less metal evenly just get new ones, they are cheap enough now to do that instead

[amf1932]

they are cheap enough now to do that instead

How much $$$ do you consider "cheap enough"? B)

[SKperformance]

less than $100 per side

[steviej]

actually it is closer to $158 plus shipping (rotors are heavy).

Lexus parts online

that's not cheap.

If the rotors have never been replaced in 10 years, then it is time they are changed out. Alan's suggestion is extremely valid, though.

steviej

[amf1932]

And how much would it cost to cut a rotor? I'm sure it would be a fraction of the cost......so why not try it before you lay out the big bucks. I don't consider a $100 a side cheap! Of course "new" is the best way to go, but some of the guys here can't afford this replacement!

[JeffMendenhall]

While we are on the subject. How hard is it to pull the rotors? I looked at mine, looks like just remove the carter key and nut? Any help would be appreciated.

94 ES300

[amf1932]

It's not too hard to take the rotor off. Remove the caliper(2 bolts), and support it with a wire or string so the brake line is not put under undo strain. Remove the 2 little bolts that hold the rotor to the backplate and pull off the rotor.

[mburnickas]

I have to agree with steviej. When you re-surface you remove material. Maybe lets say 0.020 to 0.030" and you get smooth surface again.

BUT, now they are thinner and have a high percentage of re-warping due to it being thinner. It cost around $10 to $15 per rotor to do them. Also they could warp sooner. Could be 10K or 5K.

I will just trash the old and put on some drilled/slotted rotors.

It takes me about 45 to 60 minutes to remove and install new pads and rotors. That is also with Corona time added! I think you will need a 10 mm, 12 or 14mm. Also need to wheel socket, either 3/4 or 13/16...6-pt...Also need a clamp to push the pistions back in.

[JeffMendenhall]

It's not too hard to take the rotor off. Remove the caliper(2 bolts), and support it with a wire or string so the brake line is not put under undo strain. Remove the 2 little bolts that hold the rotor to the backplate and pull off the rotor.

I had the wheel and caliper off, but did not see two small bolts? Where are they?

Thanks...

[SKperformance]

removing brakes

open hood

open brake reservoir

loosen 5 wheel bolts

jack front end up under rad support subframe hump

place 2 jack stands under driver/passenger front doors

remove 5 wheel bolts

remove 2 bolts holding caliper assembly to rotor assembly ,located behind it at the top and bottom

use something to support the caliper from stressing the rubber brake lines

use piston compressor tool to push piston back into caliper and the fluid will raise it level in reservoir ( it is a good time to change the brake fluid now if you have a friend to pump the brakes )

remove the 2 bolt holding the assembly brackets on the hub

to remove the rotors which usually are stuck on don;t hit them with anything hard as it can damage the abs sensor easily

there are 2 bolt hole on the rotors hub/hat to thread a bolt in there, i have an extra set i use other wise you can use a bolt from the rear caliper assembly ( same thread pitch) or maybe one of the front ones might fit ( can;t remember)

this will press the rotor of the hub ,do each bolt a few full turns then back out and do the other, continue until you hear a loud bang like you broke something, it is just the 2 metals separating no worries.

now replace the rotors and reassemble.

You don not need to remove the axle bolt for the CV shaft to remove the rotors, it just looks lie the hub and rotors are one piece because of time and rust.

If replacing the pads make sure you have all 4 spring clips on the ends of the pads to seat them correctly in the caliper assembly or they WILL squeal.

Also use brake quiet if not using shims on the pads

Use good OEM parts or bembro's rotors which are just less than 100 and can get slotted almost anywhere cheap

A pro also regreases the pistons every time they do a job , a simple way is before you reinsert the piston to the caliper is to use the rod and spray WD 40 in the rubber boot between the boot and the piston to lube it.

Also use anti seize on all the caliper and assembly bolts especially the slider bolts ,if possible score them slightly to remove all debris

If you are going to change the fluid get 4 brake piston clamps and keep all the pistons fully inserted . This will press out all air from behind the piston which is where they like to sit and never get removed by 90% of mechanics ( this is what separates a technician from a mechanic) you need top do all 4 so you have to raise the whole vehicle with 2 jack stands.

I think the bleeder valve is a 10mm use a socket not a wrench to loosen the valve.You can use the wrench to open when the pedal is pressed and close it then let the person release the brake and press again. get 2 liters atleast if you haven;t changed them in a while this way you are flushing and cleaning the system. or old fluid cake. Use dot 4 fluid for its higher brake temp ,don't waste your time with dot 5 silicone it is for race only ,has no use on the street and it needs a complete dual bleed to use the system so it gets very expensive. Silicone based fluid also absorbs water not air faster and goes bad faster which dot 2-4 attracts air instead to destroy itself by lowering the boiling temp, which is the reason race cars use silicone as they change it allot and water still compresses but boils still so there is less brake fade characteristics.

Start at the closest wheel to the booster and proportioning valve ,which is the driver wheel then the rear passenger then the front pass then the rear driver side.

Here is the reasoning as most will not understand why, The brake system is like all modern day system car. It has a proportion valve to adjust for front rear brake bias since you need more brakes up front than rear. Now as a safety feature the front left and rear right is one circuit and the front right and rear left is the other.

WHY?

Incase you loose pressure from a rupture the system allows the car to be semi controllable under braking .If it was all left or right or front or rear you hit the brakes and you would swerve hard right left or over or under steer very abruptly this X give most balanced control in an emergency ( it happens on TV all the time)

I don;t think there is anything else i could add beside

92-96 have the same rotors rear are not the same as the camry which are smaller the fronts are the same as the 97 and up but not the rear

97-01 are the same for the camry/solara front and rear ( which is the older camry's smaller diameter rotor, they fit though.

While you are under there check the CV joint ( mainly the outer boot ) for crack rips or grease,rotate the rotors to move the CV turn the wheel in any direction and then turning the rotor will expand the ribs so you can see inside the groove to inspect them ,use wd40 to clean the dirt for a good visual inspection.