Brake Pad Wear

I've seen the thread on the 91 FJ80 brake problems on this list and, as I have one, could share my experiences. I've never noticed any problem with braking force, except that it is commensurate with a pretty heavy vehicle (BMW M3 it isn't). My FJ80 seems to eat front brake pads. Every 11,000 miles in the 100,000 miles I've owned it, the front pads are dust ;). I use the Toyota replacement pads, which they say are metallic and they only ones available (from Toyota). I even had a private garage rebalance the brakes so there was a little more rear-brake bias (thinking the fronts were doing too much). Nothing seems to work. My Toyota dealer says this brake pad wear is normal. Perhaps it is.

I must say that I don't think I use the brakes in an inappropriate way, don't "ride" the brakes, don't always panic stop, etc. I've never had front brake pad wear like this in other cars I've owned, but because they all were cars, maybe the FJ80 is different.

What kind of front brake pad wear are others on this list experiencing?

> (BMW M3 it isn't). My FJ80 seems to eat front brake pads. Every 11,000
> miles in the 100,000 miles I've owned it, the front pads are dust ;). I

That sounds about normal for an auto FJ80. The post '93 aren't that much better either. I'd be lucky to get 20,000 km (12,500 miles) out of a set of genuine pads. I'd normally go through a couple of sets of pads during the winter months with all the mud.

> > (BMW M3 it isn't). My FJ80 seems to eat front brake pads. Every 11,000
> > miles in the 100,000 miles I've owned it, the front pads are dust ;). I
>
> That sounds about normal for an auto FJ80. The post '93 aren't that much
> better either. I'd be lucky to get 20,000 km (12,500 miles) out of a set of
> genuine pads.

I agree, Steve. Since in your '91, the front discs are doing most of the braking, especially against all that low-end power of the engine in a 5,000 lb. vehicle, you're gonna replace them at intervals of 10,000-15,000 miles average. The good news is, if you're even the least bit mechanically inclined, you can replace them for about $30! Shouldn't be too expensive to get the discs turned if needed, either.

I used after-market (Big "A" Autoparts) metallic pads in mine -- they practically put themselves on in about an hour. Did the big Colorado adventure last summer (translates: lot's of downhill stuff in low range against the brakes) and still have lots of pad left after about 8,000 miles. The rear drums should last you over 60,000 -- that's the other good news.

Preparing to leave for the West, my service guy (non Toyota) suggested I replace the original disc pads on front before going as they were nearly to the *squeal line*. After 76,000km, I guess I can't complain.

Note: the squeal line is a metal tab attached to the disc pad backing plate which rubs against the disc when the pads run low. It's an audible warning that it's time to change pads before you get metal to metal.