2020 Platinum Crew Max Brakes- Opinions?

Bought a 2020 Platinum in August of 2020. 11,500 miles.

2 oil changes later at about 21k, my local Toyota dealer told me I needed brakes. I was puzzled, but I have no clue how the owner before me drove the truck. It sounded a little pre mature for a brake job, but I figured I’d charge it to the game of buying a used truck. All new pads and resurfaced rotors. 600 bucks. Okay.

I noticed while braking over the last week or 2 that the truck would jump a bit, wheel would shake, pedal pulse, the whole 9. I figured 6 weeks and about 3k miles into a break job, I was puzzled yet again. It felt as if the rotors were warped.

I took it back to my local dealer who did the initial brake job, and they told me that the rotors are indeed warped and need to be replace. So a brake job lasted me 6 weeks?

I’m not hard on my truck at all, and mainly do a lot of highway driving. I was skeptical at first needing brakes so early on. Now I hear this and I’m just even more skeptical.

my question is, has anyone had issues with short brake life on this year/gen? Did the dealer machine too much off the rotor and make it too thin, causing it to Warp? Did they mess something up during the brake job that would cause this?

the dealer ordered new rotors and said he would eat the labor cost and discount the parts (still have yet to determine what will be the final charge to me). Should have the parts sometime this week. Just sucks spending 600 on a brake job, then a month later having to cough up more money for the same issue. I’m wondering if it’s a dealer error or a part error?

Any input on this one or brakes in general on this year/gen is appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

Possible they removed too much surface area. New thickness is 32mm {1.26in} , minimum is 29mm {1.14in}. I had mine resurfaced and they lasted another 20,000 miles, before getting the shimmy shake again, but I tow.. Resurface or replace, varying opinions..

 

Yeah I agree. That’s kind of what I’m thinking is they cut too much off and don’t want to come clean about it.

I tow a 5k pound boat with it, but ramp is only a few miles from the house. I find it hard after 3k miles on a resurface they are completely shot.

said they will call today. I’ll see how much they knock the bill down for me. Either way at this point just gonna replace them

 

Short answer, they botched the brake job somehow. Either they screwed up turning the rotors or didn't clean the hub faces when putting the rotors back on. I would try pushing back on the dealer if you haven't gotten it fixed yet. If they give you the run around about driving habits or some BS, tell them to the measure the pad thickness and compare to a new set. I can't see how they would say this issue is anything other than shoddy workmanship. If the rotors were going warp after being turned due being too close to minimum thickness, they needed to recommend new rotors, not turning them.

Nothing you described about your driving habits would really cause your issues.

 

We would always measure rotors when we resurfaced them just to be sure we weren't under spec..

 

21k miles is ridiculous. Any new car I’ve bought in the last 20 years, the brakes have lasted 80k miles or more. The only time I had brakes wear out that fast was when I used Autozona pads in highschool. My 2019 is at 54k miles, I tow a large camper occasionally and the pads are still thick and performing well.

 

Wow. I didn't think dealers were turning rotors any more.

 

I would agree with pman. It’s for sure an error on their end doing the resurface work on the rotors. Luckily for me, the new rotors have yet to arrive. Said they would call me today as they are expecting them.

I already gave them pushback on their original offer of free labor and discounted parts. But after doing my own reading and posting here, I’m deff pushing for a free repair. It’s only right. Especially after all the business I’ve given them in the past on my 2006 tundra XSP.

to Knabores point, I was skeptical from the beginning at needing it done at 21k. I acquired the truck at 11,500 miles. Who knows who had it before me and how they drove it, that’s why I just ate it at the beginning and did the brake job. It’s a new to me truck, I take care of my trucks because I want them to last and be dependable for my work and my boat towing, etc. my 2006 tundra had close to 200k when I got rid of it, and still ran perfect. Only reason I got rid of it in the first place was because it was 2WD. I plan on upgrading my boat and doing other things so I wanted 4WD

 

Tundra 234, I was also surprised. You figure with these new trucks, every pound counts when they trying to fight fuel efficiency. So I doubt rotors post late 2010s come with meat on them like they did back in the days

 

I got about 25k miles out of my factory rotors before pretty bad pulsing happened. I have no idea how some people are getting 75k+ miles out of their oem rotors.

I went with Frozen Rotors cryogenically treated rotors and Hawk green pads and am very happy. A little spendy (about $200/rotor) but these should last.

 

Even the first Gens came with “thin” rotors from the factory. Definitely not enough meat to turn them. I’ve always replaced pads and rotors together for that fresh, smooth braking experience.

 

My rotors warped at ~20k miles. I'm still riding them at 42k currently. Pads are still ok. Getting new tires before this winter so I'll do them then.

I would be slightly shocked if your pads were actually bad. Did the dealer show you them? Your rotors though, I wouldn't be shocked. But I'm guessing the resurfacing was just a bandaid and they still ended up warping on their own. Either way, you were probably due for new rotors. Unfortunately.

 

New rotors needed on my 2019 crewmax after 30k. Went with stoptech cryo treated rotors and couldnt be happier. Truck gets driven up and down a mountain pass everyday.

 

50k on my original pads and rotors, about 50% left on the pads

 

I think warping rotors depends on driving condition or perhaps I got a bad batch as well. I got the powerstop brake pads and rotors, the slotted and drilled version.

mines warped around 5,000 miles.
It could had been because I was towing 4-5 tons frequently and with lots of hills and occasionally sudden hard braking might have caused the rotors to warp.

 

When I traded in my '15 Tundra 2 years ago it had 150K on it and still had the original brakes and rotors, driving was probably 90% urban interstate 10% city streets. With that I may never need brake work on my '20 except for a fluid flush.

 

Same with me 25k and had to replace. Rears are fine.

 

I have hawk pads and centric rotors if you're looking for options. I think the braking is improved over stock.