Brake photos from 2008 w/ 230k miles

My 2008 still has the factory brakes. I got it used in 2010 with 25k miles on it. I've put on quite a few since then. Up until Covid I was driving majority highway miles. Lately it's been more city driving. It's lived it whole lift in the Pacific Northwest.

Lately I've been hearing a squeal that I thought was one of the brake pad wear indicators, but now that I've had a closer look, I'm not sure it is. I've only heard the squeal a couple of times and it's gone away quickly each time.

I keep going back and forth between replacing front pads and rotors with Toyota OEM parts, just doing the pads, and not doing anything. It's a 13 year old car, for crying out loud. I plan to keep driving it for a long time, so why not invest a bit in new parts.

Anyway, I've attached pictures for those interested. I don't know why I didn't get a total thickness on the right side; brain fart I guess.

Sorry for the completely useless and otherwise lacking photos. Of course I zeroed out the calipers considering the nut thickness when I used it as a spacer.

 

Not none, but we only see a week or two of snow / ice. Nothing like the east coast.

 

I realized I spelled brake wrong in the title but I don't seem to be able to edit the post now. Oh well, spelling is not my strong suit.

I decided to keep the rotors as-is and replace the pads. The passenger side showed more wear. Both inner pads showed uneven wear. When I took everything apart I was surprised how easily everything came loose. The caliper pins broke free without neededing a second wrench on the inside nut. The calipers didn't appear to be frozen or caught up in the travel, but I suppose the proof is in the different wear measurements.

On to the photos. This post is the front right (passenger side). The next post will be front left (driver side).

FR old pads outer


FR old pads inner


FR old pads both


FR outer old and new. Pretty even wear.


FR outer thickness - 3.64mm of material remains


FR inner old and new


FR inner old uneven wear. Thin and uneven.


FR inner thickness, thick end - 2.01mm of material remains


FR inner thickness, thin end - 1.20mm of material remains. Yikes, I guess it was time to replace the pads!


FR inner, close up


FR inner, another close up


FR new pads both


FR new pads outer


FR new pads inner

 

Front left (driver side) photos. Not as much wear on this side, but the inner also shows uneven wear. Sorry the order is a little different.

FL old pads both


FL old pads outer


FL old pads inner


FL inner old and new


FL inner old uneven wear



FL inner thickness thin end - 2.40mm of material remains



FL inner thickness thick end - 2.92mm of material remains


FL outer old and new


FL outer thickness thick end- 4.46mm of material remains


FL outer thickness thin end- 4.37mm of material remains.


FL inner old uneven wear


FL outer old even wear

 

I went around a few times trying to figure out how to deal with the brake fluid when pushing the pistons back in. I wanted to do a full brake fluid flush (and I still plan to), but I ended up opening the bleeder valves and letting the fluid escape the system. I used about 6 fl oz (half a bottle) of DOT3 to get the reservoir back to the full line.

The waste fluid definitely has a brownish color. I guess 13 years of service will do that.

When it was all done I noticed the brake pedal felt much firmer, but that has changed and it's back to the normal spongy it used to be. I haven't noticed the barking noises since completing the pad change. I've still got three and a half bottles of DOT3 fluid and plan to get around to the full flush after the heat wave dies down.

 

Wow, that is dirty brake fluid.