LC200 Brake squealing issue - HELP!

[southernLC200]

This is my first post - so please have patience with me. I’m not very mechanically inclined either.

I own a 2001 LC100 and 2018 LC200. To be honest, I’ve had fewer issues with the 2001.

That being said, I’m in desperate need of advice. The 2018 started having a loud squealing noise on the right side over a month ago. Of note, the squealing is when I’m cruising and NOT using the brakes. When I touch the brakes, the noise stops. This noise in intermittent - while traveling over 30 MPH.

Took it to the Toyota dealer, they told me I need to have the brakes cleaned. So, they cleaned them. They verified no rocks in brakes.

That didn’t fix the issue. So, they recommended new rear brake pads. The front pads were “newer” and didn’t need replaced. So, about $300 later, new rear brake pads were installed and rotors were turned. (Not replaced)

That, too, didn’t fix this issue.

Took it to Toyota a third time - they couldn’t get it to replicate the issue.

Today, out of frustration, I took it to a brake speciality shop. (4th trip to a shop) They couldn’t get it to replicate. So they cleaned the brakes and sent me on my way.

The noise started as soon as I left their parking lot. So, I turned around for visit number 5. The very professional staff got in the car with me and observed it first hand. (They seemed surprised, too)

They recommend I replace the rear pads and rotors. (Even though I just got new rear pads - and had rotors turned) Their theory is the rotors weren’t “turned” properly. This will be around $400 for a second set of new rear pads and a first set of new rear rotors.

I’m not convinced it’s the rear - I think it might be the front. Before I approve the repair, I want to take them on a drive once more to validate noise is coming from the front or the rear.

Before I go to trip 6 and spend $400-$1000 on all new brake pads and rotors, I wanted to get your thoughts. Process of elimination on such an expensive vehicle is quite frustrating.

I bought the vehicle with 60k miles, it now has 98k miles.

Thoughts?! Thanks in advance!

 

[southernLC200]

 

[southernLC200]

The squealing stops when I touch the brakes - and then a few moments after I let go of the brakes the squealing resumes.

 

[doru]

You can try....
Ride with someone that is setting in the rear and try to replicate. If it's the rear they can tell. Or have someone drive and you jump araund inside the car listening. Yeah who cares about belts at 30mph.

Jack the truck on all 4 corners and with wheels of the ground try to replicate. Have someone stand outside, or you stay outside, and listen.

Once you isolate the corner we can dig deeper.

 

[doru]

You may have a caliper that has a piston problem and the piston does not retract properly when you lift the pedal.
Or it might be the fronts not the rear that was already dealt with.
As I said first be 100 sure what corner is it coming from.

 

[jivewalker]

it sounds like a bearing on a pully, water pump, or something spinning faster than your wheel, could it be from under the hood? Brake booster? Idler?

 

[southernLC200]

You may have a caliper that has a piston problem and the piston does not retract properly when you lift the pedal.
Or it might be the fronts not the rear that was already dealt with.
As I said first be 100 sure what corner is it coming from.

Thanks for the reply! I got in the truck with a tech today — he sat in front and middle row to verify which wheel was causing the noise. After a few minutes, the squealing began. Turns out it was the front right (passenger front) wheel!

He disassembled the entire wheel. Tire, brakes, rotor etc.

He Noted there was lots of dust - but no rocks / Large debris. So, he thoroughly cleaned all parts and greased certain components. (I think the pins?) His theory is that one of the pins (again sorry - may be incorrect terminology) was not retracting enough while driving, causing a part of the brake pad to touch the rotor. When brakes were applied, the noise stopped because the entire pad was touching the rotor, not just a small part of the pad.

After driving 100+ miles, there is no noise so far. So it seems that fixed the problem! I will be sure to reply back on this thread if the noise comes back. (Fingers crossed!)

Thanks again for the suggestion and time!

 

[bloc]

Glad you got it sorted.

In the future a set of "chassis ears" are absolute magic for narrowing down squeaks and other drivetrain issues, and not very expensive if you get the basic set. Just for info for anyone stumbling upon this.

 

[Angelo1]

Glad you got it sorted.

In the future a set of "chassis ears" are absolute magic for narrowing down squeaks and other drivetrain issues, and not very expensive if you get the basic set. Just for info for anyone stumbling upon this.

I love this! I never even heard of this. Went deep dive on researching it and absolutely going to buy a steelman kit the next time I have squeak. It drives my wife’s nuts when I have her chase down a noise when we are driving. I just told her about it and I bet it will be a nice little stalking stuffer next Christmas