why does my Toyota RAV4 have excessive brake dust on the wheels?

Solution

1. Preparation

• Gather necessary tools and parts.
• Ensure the vehicle is parked on a level surface and the parking brake is engaged.
• Disconnect the battery if necessary for safety.

2. Remove Wheel

• Loosen lug nuts using a lug wrench.
• Lift the vehicle using a jack and secure it with jack stands.
• Remove the lug nuts completely and take off the wheel.

3. Inspect and Replace Brake Pads

• Inspect the brake pads for thickness; replace if below manufacturer specifications (usually 3mm).
• If replacement is needed, remove the caliper bolts using a socket set, and slide the caliper off the rotor.
• Remove the old brake pads and clean the caliper bracket with brake cleaner.
• Install new brake pads, ensuring they are properly seated in the caliper bracket.

4. Inspect and Replace Rotors (if necessary)

• Check the rotors for wear; if they are scored or warped, they should be replaced.
• Remove the rotor by removing the retaining screws or bolts.
• Install the new rotor and torque to manufacturer specifications.

5. Reassemble and Test

• Reinstall the caliper over the new brake pads and tighten the caliper bolts to the specified torque.
• Place the wheel back on, hand-tighten the lug nuts, lower the vehicle, and then fully tighten the lug nuts in a criss-cross pattern to the specified torque.