Bob and Nancy wrote:
>
> Yo,
>
> Although not strictly a Triumph question, I thought maybe you
> mechanical wizards could help (remember, the TR3 was the first real
> production car with front discs brakes).
> My wife has a 1991 Toyota Camry that eats front disc rotors. The
> first set was replaced at 25,000 miles and the second at 60,000 miles.
> Both sets had warped and were turned 3 or 4 times before they got too thin
> to turn again. The guy at the Midas shop replaced the last set for free
> but refused to warranty the new set because he felt that the fault was in
> the car, and not in his rotors.
>
> So what could be causing this?
>
> 1. Driver riding the brakes or braking heavily. This is not the case. My
> wife just drives like every other normal driver. Besides, we bought the
> car used and the previous owner also went through a set of rotors in less
> than 2 years.
>
> 2. Lug nots unevenly torqued. Not likely. Midas retorqued the lugs
> everytime they turned the rotors and the problem kept coming back.
>
> 3. Brakes dragging due to a bad line. Probably not. Both sides warp
> equally and the car doesn't pull to one side upon braking.
>
> 4. Brakes dragging due to bad master cylinder. Don't think so (although
> maybe). Brake pads do not show excessive wear. Car rolls well and it
> doesn't feel as though the brakes are dragging.
>
> 5. Defective rotors. Well, if so, why is the car on it's third set of
> rotors (the first one being the manufacturer's)?
>
> 6. Excessive heat buildup. Yeah, probably, but what is the source? If
> it's not excessive or hard braking, or dragging due to bad hydraulics then
> what would cause the rotors to heat up? Do Camrys have poor ventilation on
> their brake rotors? If so, shouldn't all Camrys have the same problem?
>
> So, as you can see, I don't have any answers. We have a new set of rotors
> in the car now and I figure we have 4 or 5 months before they'll have to be
> turned. And I don't think the local Midas guy is going to be too friendly
> to me anymore (we had a difference of opinion as to what his 12 month
> warranty really meant).
>
> Wadda ya think?
>
> Bob Wise
>
> Appleton, WI
My wife drives an 86 Caddy DeVille. Every time I have the rotors cut,
not one week goes by before they're out of true again. I can't figure
out how she does it.
George Richardson
'57 TR3, TS15559L
(getting ready to paint)
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