First introduced in 1984, the 4Runner's 1998 base model came equipped with a 2.7-liter 150-horsepower inline four-cylinder. A 3.4-liter V-6 was optional as an upgraded engine. The rotors on the 1998 4Runner are removed in the same manner, regardless of whether the truck is two- or four-wheel drive. It is recommended that you replace the brake pads when you replace the rotors, in order to promote congruity in the brake system. Replacing the rotors and pads should be performed by someone with prior mechanical experience.
Instructions
- 1
Loosen the front lug nuts with a tire iron. Raise the front of the 4Runner with a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front chassis rails if the truck is two-wheel drive, or beneath the front axle housing if the truck is four-wheel drive. Remove the lug nuts and then remove the front wheels.
2Remove the caliper bolts from the rear of the caliper with a ratchet and socket. Remove the caliper from the brake assembly, using a pry bar if necessary. Remove the old brake pads from the caliper mounting bracket. Set one of the brake pads against the piston on the inside of the caliper. Attach a C-clamp around the brake pad and the rear of the caliper. Turn the adjustment on the clamp slowly to compress the caliper piston completely into the caliper. Remove the C-clamp and old brake pad. Hang the caliper from the front coil spring with a metal clothes hanger.
3Remove the caliper mounting bracket bolts with a ratchet and socket and then remove the bracket. Remove the front rotor by hand, using a mallet or hammer to strike the rotor outward from the wheel hub if necessary. Lubricate the front hub plate with caliper grease, once the old rotor is removed.
4Install a new rotor onto the hub, and spin a lug nut against the face of the rotor to hold it in place. Spray the front and rear of the rotor with brake cleaner to remove the rust protectant oil from the rotor faces. Failure to remove all of the oil will destroy your brake pads, and cause brake failure. Install the caliper bracket and tighten the bolts from 95 to 105 foot-pounds with a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and socket.
5File or sand the rust from the runner lip, where the anti-rattle clips are installed. Lubricate the lips of the caliper bracket and install the new anti-rattle clips. Install the new front brake pads onto the caliper bracket. Lubricate the rear shim plates of the pads to help prevent brake squeal.
6Install the caliper onto the brake assembly loosely. Remove the caliper slide pins by pushing them through and out of the rubber boots on the back of the caliper. Pack the rubber boots with caliper grease using your fingers, then reinsert the pins. Install the caliper bolts, and tighten them to 29 foot-pounds with the torque wrench and socket. Remove the lug nut from the rotor face.
7Repeat Steps 2 through 6 to complete the rotor and pad replacement on the second side of the 4Runner. Install the front wheels after you have double-checked the torque on the caliper and caliper bracket bolts on both sides of the truck. Install the front lug nuts and snug them with a tire iron.
8Raise the 4Runner off the jack stands with your jack, then remove the stands from beneath the truck. Lower the truck to the ground and tighten the front lug nuts to 85 foot-pounds of torque with the torque wrench and a socket. Proceed immediately to the driver's seat of the 4Runner, and pump the brake pedal no less than 10 to 15 times. If the pedal does not stiffen up after you pump it five times, stop pumping and bleed the front brakes.
