Having done more research and learning many new things, I'll try this question from a different angle...

I now realize that there are very few truly warped rotors. The pedal pulsating usually comes from other problems: bad torquing, excessive runout, uneven deposits of brake pad material, etc. Replacing the rotors will still solve most of these problems, with care. I purchased a torque wrench and dial indicator in preparation for mounting new rotors. I'll also buy new pads and make sure to get a set that's not so hard as to eat up rotors. I had also considered getting slotted rotors for better cooling and self-cleaning of the pads. After reading over and over that it's not always the best option, I'll probably just get good quality solid blanks (leaning towards Brembo or Advics).

I would like to hear what some of you are running successfully in terms of rotor and pad brands. Also, what type of pads are you finding to be the best match: Full ceramic, semi-metallic or organic (NAO)?

Thanks for giving this some thought.

 

Interesting! I just found out that Brembo does not have any rotors that fit the 2012 Sienna. How odd!

Now I'm looking at Centric Premium 120.xxx series. They run $54 front and $38 rear (priced individually).

Also still in consideration are Advics at $59 front or rear (priced individually).

I decided to keep one high quality slotted set in the mix: StopTech (parent of Centric?) has the Sport Slotted rotors at $94 front and $70 rear (priced individually).

As for pads, I'm leaning towards EBC Greenstuff 6000 series due to lower metal content and specific design for SUV's. It gives off more dust, but is a lot easier on rotors.

I value your opinion or feedback on any of the above.

 

The "warped" rotors may be uneven pad material deposited on the rotors because the pads overheated... Try better pads, high heat resistant, street / autocross type. Then you may have to endure more noise, brake dust. Research, research...

 

Thanks for the reply! I understand now after much research that it is likely my rotors are NOT warped. I still intend to replace them since I need brakes anyway, but I will try very hard to pick the correct pads to go with them. Earlier, I was leaning towards EBC Greenstuff 6000 pads made as a minor upgrade for SUV's. However, further research indicates that the Redstuff pads may be better. Those are apparently a Kevlar/Ceramic blend, so not has hard as full ceramic, but not as much dust as full organic. They were designed for heavier vehicles. I think that may be just what I'm looking for. Research, research...

I'll probably order something in the next couple of days. I'll post what I order. After that, I'll wait a month or so and write a brief review of my initial break-in.

 

Please write a follow up. Will probably change brakes over the summer and your review will be appreciated. Thanks

 

Based on my experience, it really doesn't matter what pad/rotor combination is used. The rotors will start pulsating after about 40K miles. I think the rotors are slightly undersized for the van, which causes excessive heat buildup.

 

I have never had pulsating rotors on a Sienna. We have 6 Siennas in my family (bros & sisters) out here in Arizona. No one has had that problem. I've gone through many types of brake pads. Bosch (severe duty) are good. Akebono are the best, IMHO.

 

You are probably right, but I'm hoping to break that pattern on my Sienna...

I have a 1995 Avalon (that's the first year they were released) that I am using for a baseline comparison. I drove that car for over 300,000 miles. Now my daughter owns it and it's still her daily driver. Over the 20 years of ownership, I have battled with brake "judder" on the Avalon. It's a heavy car and can be hard on brakes, especially because I live at the top of a long, steep grade that we drive multiple times a day to get our three kids to various schools and functions. I was able to experiment with various combinations of rotors and pads over the years. I finally concluded that the brake material is more important than the rotor in picking the right combo. The pads need to be pretty soft. They put out more dust, but seem to be easier on rotors. I can live with that. The combo that finally worked for the Avalon was Brembo blanks (solid, no slots) and NAO (Non-Asbestos Organic) pads. There are several brands around to choose from, but I went with EBC Greenstuff pads. They are mostly Kevlar. That combo has been able to handle the daily routine of driving up and down the long, steep grade from our house to the main highway. The Avalon has gone nearly 100,000 miles (two sets of pads) using that combination without any brake pedal pulsing.

I still have not ordered anything for the Sienna. I'm a bit anal about research. However, I'm sure that I will keep it somewhat in line with what worked on the Avalon.

 

OK - I'm back after a brief absence for a family emergency. All is well.

I have now placed an order. I thought long and hard about ordering the PowerStop slotted/drilled kit for the fact that it is cheap, has a lifetime warranty on warping and seems to have a lot of positive reviews. I finally decided against for the following reasons:

• I'm afraid of the "you get what you pay for" rule. Even with great reviews, Murphy lurks out there and usually kicks my arse when I least expect it.
• Also, I'm not sure I put any faith in "lifetime" warranty against warping. Some write that they have used it with no problem. Call me skeptical.
• I really do not want cross drilled rotors. I originally set out with the idea of solid blanks.

What I finally DID order were what are now called StopTech Sport Rotors (Made by Centric and formerly called Power Slot or Sportstop rotors). I ordered all (4) individual part numbers since I want to replace front and rear at the same time with the same products.

My original intention was to order the Centric Premium BLANKS which start with part number 120.xxxxxx. Those would probably have been perfect. However, I decided on the slotted rotors since they have the same high quality metalurgy (part number 126.xxxxx), the slots should not weaken the rotors, the slots "may" help cool the brakes (not convinced of that) and the slots may help wipe the surfaces of the pads to keep them from forming the deposits that cause what most people think is rotor warp. Only time will tell. The parts will be here in about a week. I compared prices for a set of four from several places. The best price was from Rock Auto. Total with shipping was still about $30 less than the closest competitor.

For pads, I almost ordered EBC Greenstuff 6000 because they are organic and designed for SUV's. However, they are pretty darn expensive. I'm willing to spend money for quality, but I still look for the best value. I ultimately ordered the Powerstop Evolution Z23 brakes. I don't know much about them, but I'm gonna give them a shot. The material seems suitably soft for a heavy vehicle, the price is nice (but not too cheap) and they come with hardware and grease. The best price on those was from Summit Racing by a fair margin.

After I get these parts and install them, I will write about the installation and the break-in. After that, I'll wait a couple of months and write a progress report. I know you've heard these promises before from other posters, but I enjoy writing and I look forward to following up.

Cheers!
Michael

 

Sounds about where I am on our 2011 AWD XLE Sienna. I checked the pads while swapping the summer tires/wheels back on,and after about 15k miles the EBC Green Stuff pads look like they'll go for at least another 15k, and the slotted rotors don't show as much of their slots, they look like they'll probably go at least as long as the pads. I'll pull out the Vernier (Very-near) calipers the next time I'm in there and see what the rotor wear is vs. new.

Really, the brakes are just a little too small for something with this much weight and power. But I think the slotted rotor/Green Stuff combo gives a little better performance with a little better lifespan than stock.

 

Good to hear. Thanks for the feedback. It sure makes for expensive brake maintenance, though! These parts aren't cheap!

My rotors arrived the day after I ordered them! Wow! Rock Auto is based in Phoenix which is roughly 6-hours from San Diego, so I guess the rotors made it onto the first truck outta there that evening. Actually, come to think of it, they were probably drop-shipped to me from a warehouse in Los Angeles which is only a couple hours away.

The brake pads are due some time next week. I'll probably do task next weekend.

 

did you ask the dealer to see if tsb 0045-14 (toyota technical service bulletin) applies to your sienna? it did for me. i just had some new rotors and pads installed on 5-1-2015 at the dealership. as long as your sienna is under the basic warranty 36/36k, then you should be all good. check the brake shudder thread for more info...

 

We drive a lot. The van has 42,000 on it. The dealer said no go.

Last year, my wife was bonked on the head by the rear lift gate when the struts suddenly gave out. I thought maybe they'd stand behind that one. No luck. It's pretty frustrating. Toyota and Lexus is all I've owned for the last 20 years. I can tell you from experience the company ain't what it used to be. That's disheartening.

 

The new brakes are now installed and I have put them through the recommended bedding-in process. The installation was easy enough as all the bits were same as stock. I took my time with cleaning and lubricating parts, as necessary, before reassembly. The entire process took me about 4 hours including refreshment breaks.

I am no brake specialist, but I liked what I saw with the slotted Centric Premium rotors and the PowerStop Z23 brake pads. The brake pads are the main unknown to me since I've not used that brand or compound before. PowerStop included packets of high temp silicone grease and a kit of stainless steel hardware with each set of pads. I used the grease during reassembly and it was good quality. I did not use the provided stainless steel parts for two reasons:

1. In comparison to the stock springs, clips and slides, the ones provided by PowerStop were of a lesser quality - very thin and easy to bend by hand.
2. The OEM parts on the Sienna were still in excellent condition, so I left them in place.

I followed the bedding-in procedure recommended by PowerStop for their Z23 pads. It is a slight variation from the recommendations from other brake pad companies, but seemed to work well. PowerStop said that I should slow (5) times rapidly from 40mph to 10mph without letting the rotors cool, then do (5) more times from 35mph to 5mph without letting the rotors cool. Smoke was pouring off the brakes by the time I was done! After that, drive for several miles without using the brakes to allow them to fully cool. When complete, the brakes are supposed to be ready for normal use.

Later that afternoon, my wife took the van out to the store. On returning home, she said that the brakes felt really strong and smooth. I know that's subjective, but happy wife, happy me. At this point, only time will tell how this combination of parts will hold up. I will post back in roughly two months with an update. I'm sure my wife will have abused the brakes pretty hard by then since she is not good about downshifting on the long, steep grade that she drives every day.

For those who want to know, here are the part numbers and prices for the pads and rotors that I installed on my 2012 Sienna XLE:

StopTech Sport Slotted Rotors (Formerly Known As: PowerSlot or PowerStop by Centric)
(Purchased from Rock Auto):

Left Front.. 126.44158SL $84.79
Right Front 126.44158SR $84.79
Left Rear... 126.44166SL $63.89
Right Rear. 126.44166SR $63.89
Shipping, Ground........... $20.04
GRAND TOTAL COST. $317.40


PowerStop Z23 Evolution Sport Brake Pads (Carbon Fiber / Ceramic Compound)
(Purchased from Summit Racing):
Front.. Z23-1324.......... $54.97
Rear... Z23-1391.......... $49.97
Free Ground Shipping...... $0.0
GRAND TOTAL COST $104.94


TOTAL COST OF BRAKE JOB: $421.80

 

I have been using oem, EBC and Baer... All 3 warp when you go long down hill I did re-surface my Baer 2 months ago by Toyota, they said it slightly warp. And if it warp again I will try Stoptech this time. I am tired with this brake rotors. It just too small for a big Sienna. I have my Scion FR-S with stock brake rotors in three years, multi track day with it and no problem!

 

StopTech Sport Slotted Rotors (Formerly Known As: PowerSlot or PowerStop by Centric)
(Purchased from Rock Auto):

Left Front.. 126.44158SL $84.79
Right Front 126.44158SR $84.79
Left Rear... 126.44166SL $63.89
Right Rear. 126.44166SR $63.89
Shipping, Ground........... $20.04
GRAND TOTAL COST. $317.40


PowerStop Z23 Evolution Sport Brake Pads (Carbon Fiber / Ceramic Compound)
(Purchased from Summit Racing):
Front.. Z23-1324.......... $54.97
Rear... Z23-1391.......... $49.97
Free Ground Shipping...... $0.0
GRAND TOTAL COST $104.94


TOTAL COST OF BRAKE JOB: $421.80

I just ordered the same combo from Rock Auto (I have ordered from them in the past) for a total of $458.65 including shipping. Will give an update once they are installed.

 

Hey, where's the promised 2 month update?!

Just found this thread as our 2011 Sienna Limited AWD with about 85K miles has what feels like warped rotors as well. And yes, we have to go down a good hill or two every time we go anywhere as well.

Just wondering if anyone came up with parts that were an improvement over stock?

Thanks!
Levi

 

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My guess after all these years working on cars is having the lug nuts properly torque everytime the wheels is put back on. I think its the uneveness of the torque that leads to the warped rotors.

 

I had my all 4 corners (disks and brakes) replaced due to shudder when stopping. I knew it is not wrapped - that would have been very severe, but I was even more surprised when I saw my disks - they had heat cracks! I only read about those before and have seen pictures. These were OEM disks with about 55K. Pretty disturbing....
Replaced disks and pads with Bosch - much better braking, but then my reference point has not been right on the van for quite some time.
Have been driving on new set-up for a month now - no problems, like it very much. Did not do any special braking-in, just easy cruising for 50 miles or so.

 

I have used Napa Adaptive Pads and Napa rotors on my Sienna. I am very impressed with these. By far the best pads I've used on a vehicle. They are readily available. Front and rear pads together were $140 total, Rotors were $20 piece.
My wife is the primary driver of our van and she is the slam and jam type of driver. Slam the accelerator and the and jam the brakes to stop. Any pad that can stand up to her daily abuse has my respect. These pads have been on our van for awhile. I had been going through bake pads quickly on this van as you can imagine but these aren't showing any wear yet. Stopping power is very good.

 

Hey, where's the promised 2 month update?!

Just found this thread as our 2011 Sienna Limited AWD with about 85K miles has what feels like warped rotors as well. And yes, we have to go down a good hill or two every time we go anywhere as well.

Just wondering if anyone came up with parts that were an improvement over stock?

Thanks!
Levi

Sorry about that! Let's call this a 6-month report (rounded up since there are about three weeks to go). In that time, my wife has driven the 2012 XLE 18,000 miles. They were hard miles - ALL LOCAL. Not a single road trip during that time. Local, to us, usually means going up and down a long, very steep grade about three times a day with plenty of surface-street stop and go after that. Our van always has at least 4 people in it - often more. I just drove the van this morning since my wife is sick and I offered to take the kids to school. I am very happy to report that the brakes now feel better than they did in the first month of installation. They have the perfect amount of pedal feel and stopping power. Going down on long, steep grade was not intimidating at all. Not a hint of shudder. The brakes are totally quiet. There is a fair amount of brake dust on the wheels, but no more than with the stock pads.

Since 40,000 miles seems to be the magic number for most people, I will try very hard not to forget to post back here again. If mine start shuddering before that, I will try to come back and report that, too. Till then, I look forward to a continuation of the pleasant driving (and stopping) experience I had this morning.

 

Thanks for starting this thread MailmanX,

thought I would chime in here as well, I have a 2010 LE FWD with the commonly described braking shudder, that is progressively getting worse. The pads and rotors have about 20k mi on them. IMO, terrible that they are toast after only 20K mi. I am not sure what brand or make of either, as the dealer I bought the van from replaced rotors and pads. I am betting it they used the cheapest parts avail.

I have searched high and low trying to find the best bang for my buck even if it costs a little more. I'd rather not penny pinch on brakes and rotors, especially with this sienna that has undersized brakes with a tendancy for problems.

Anyhow, just ordered EBC ultimax slotted rotors Part #: USR7223 from autoanything.com for $157 shipped for the pair, and
Akebono ACT906A ProACT Ultra-Premium Ceramic Brake Pad Set, FROM AMAZON WAREHOUSE DEAL FOR $33 (PACKAGING MAY BE DAMAGED) I AM HOPING THIS ROTOR AND PAD SET WILL PROVIDE INCREASED BRAKING PERFORMANCE, AND MUCH BETTER LONGEVITY. (both the pads and the rotors have tons of great reviews )

I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE REAR PADS WITH
Akebono ACT995 ProACT Ultra-Premium Ceramic Rear Brake PADS, but have't yet decided which rotors to put on the rear, as EBC apparently does not make those.

I should have the parts and be able to complete the work in a couple of weeks. I'll come back and post the results, and my opinion on if the premium price for the EBC ultimax slotted rotors were worth it for this application.

As a side note, also just replaced my tires with general altimax r43 235/60/17. I have bought michelin for decades, but decided to give these highly rated, $50 less per tire a try. I've had them on for about 2 months now and am very happy with them.

 

I bought some EBC Ultimax slotted rotors and Akebono ultra premium ceramic pads last week for the front of my 2010 sienna LE. My van came down with the dreaded brake shudder / vibration about 15k mi after the front pads and rotors were replaced--and we live in a mostly flat area.

I expect from the reviews of the EBC ultimax slotted rotors, that I will have improved stopping distance and do away with short rotor and pad life. I found the rotors online for $153 shipped. I should have them installed in a couple of weeks, and I'll post the results then, with updates later down the road.

 

It's really a shame that Toyota designed this heavy vehicle with rotors that are too small. Maybe Toyota could talk to VW about developing some software that fools the brakes into not shuddering!

 

I ended up getting the Powerstop Z23 kits with drilled/slotted rotors and pads. Around $185 for the front and $170 for the rear both from JCWhitney with whatever discount they had at the time.

The fronts are on now and seem to be good. Haven't replaced the rears yet.