New Member having a problem.

Have a 2004 Sport V8 4Runner. Every time I pull out of a car wash and try to come to a stop, the whole front of my vehicle shudders/shakes drastically and has trouble coming to a complete stop. This has so far only happened leaving car wash's, different wash's, no wax. I know what ABS and traction control feel like and this is neither. It takes about 5 - 10 times of heavy braking to get my brakes back to normal, has any one else experienced this, any ideas what this can be? My dealer tells me nothing is wrong with the vehicle (of course they would say that) and will not take it through a wash. My wife felt this once with me coming out of a wash and wont drive my vehicle now, frighted the hell out of her.

TSB Sulfer: Dealer told me since I have updated software they wont do anything further about the smell.

What's the updated software that is precluding the dealer from doing the Sulfur TSB. I bet if you called Toyota directly and told them your story, they'd nudge the dealership in the right direction...

The same thing happens to me after a car wash or when its really humid outside after a heavy night of rain. I'm not sure if its something serious.

My theory is that water gets into the brake pads. Once the brakes are used, the water evaporates from the pads and the problem goes away.

Does this seem plausible to anyone else? Is this a serious problem?


EDIT: I also have a 2004 v8 SE.

Your pads and rotors are wet, first few times you apply the brakes it gonna feel funny but after the water is gone it's back to normal

Yup, happens on many/any vehicles. Also, different soaps/cleaners/acids used to clean wheels also make take a stop or 2 to rid the pads rotors of them.

Right, most cleaners or even water will have that effect. The problem is the whole front half of the truck shakes drastically, you can visually see the front of the truck shaking. I have driven a wide range of SUV's, cars and sports cars and have never felt this before.
Besides the truck shaking, it has trouble stopping for that period of time. I have to warn the guys at the car wash, to be carefull when they first pull the truck out.

Is there any chance you glazed your front pads? I know from experience that when glazed pads get wet, they can behave exactly the way you described.

And it doesn't take a whole hell of a lot to glaze a set of brake pads....

whats the mileage, when my 03 was new I was afraid I was gonna rearend someone but after some mileage the stopping distance improved

another question, how fast do you pull out of the car wash cause if you can see the front moving you may wanna slow it down:o

Here's a slightly off topic matter, but do any of you allow your 4R brakes to cool down a little after heavy driving/braking before heading to the car wash? I would think that if your rotors/discs were still hot and cold water was sprayed on them, wouldn't it eventually warp? I tend to allow my 4R to cool down first.