I have a pretty decent mechanic and I took my 2019 Highlander with 35,000 miles to him for new pads due to a slight vibration. I expected him to tell me I needed the brake rotors turned. Instead, he said I had about 20,000 miles left on the pads and the vibration was minimal. He recommended I wait 10-15,000 miles and get the pads and rotors replaced then. He said he couldn't turn the rotors, not because they were too thin, but because Toyota used such crappy rotors now, they would quickly warp again - especially if thinner. Any truth to this and what brand rotors do you recommend to replace them with when I do.
All the manufacturers are making their cars as cheaply as possible. Hardly anyone turns rotors any more, it's cheaper and easier to just replace them. Rotors from any of the leading brands of brake parts would be fine.
They all use low quality ones now.
new pads due to a slight vibration.
vibration where? (steering wheel, seat, ...) and when? during braking?
new pads due to a slight vibration.
pads don't usually cause vibration. Just squeak.
I expected him to tell me I needed the brake rotors turned.
at only 35k? Maybe if you were driving mountains or heavy loads.
crappy rotors now, they would quickly warp again - especially if thinner.
I can't speak to the quality of the OEM rotors, but yes the more they are turned, the easier they'll warp. And yes there is a lot of hopeless garbage out there. Rotors used to be made domestically. Now every single one of them comes from overseas.
First make sure the vibration isn't caused by bad or imbalanced tires.
