2003 4runner Brake Problem

[uz214]

Hope everyone is doing ok- wanted to introduce myself

i picked up a 2003 4runner about 3 months ago with about 80k on it for $13800, while driving to mall this just stood out and i bought it because it was in such a good shape. i always wanted a 4runner especially this body style ever since i was in college and it was about the time it came out.

I have had always had toyotas sister -lexus cars but since family is growing wanted a daily driver so not to put many miles on the lx470.

This car was bought from a dealership and the owner who owned it was still there. so i got little history of it. Always beem maintained by him/ brakes/fluids/battery/new tires and pretty much done on time and it showed. i am somewhat handy myself so i added a nice navigation/back up camera.
This is a v6 and there is nothing worng with the car..but one thing drive me nuts..:cry2: to a point i am thinking of getting rid of it.

So i am trying this as a last resort..The brakes..they seem like i have to press little harder than normal to brake. It does brakes good and has no vibration/pads/rotors seems ok just the brakes pedal feel hard. I have to kinda hold it with little bit with more force than i am used to on stop lights, if i dont .....it goes forward ..my right righ foot have been hurting and its just getting worse. I want to fix the problem not sure where to start? dont want to spend$$$$ if this does not fix the problem i would trade in and get a GX470 or something else..

i am thinking..re-bleeding brakes?- brake booster? replacing rotors/pads all round? with brembo rotors and ebc pads..master cylinder ..as you can see this is a lot of guess work i was hoping someone over here would point me to the right direction

Normally on my other cars if i press on barkes seems like (brake assist) would help out and does not require more force. .

Thanks guys

 

[toybox]

You said "re-bleeding" the brakes. Have you already bled the brakes yourself?

I ha a similar issue after the dealer put new calipers on my truck. I brought it back and they said they bled them again but it still wasn't right in my opinion. Brought it back again and they flushed/drained the fluid and put all new in and it is all better now.

 

[NJshadow93]

Mine seems to do that too but I just got used to it after a while. Then again, it never really bothered me in the first place. I always thought it was normal for this truck.

 

[uz214]

No not yet, i was about to order new rotors pads all around and then re-bleed brakes.
Also found out that there are different rotors/calipers sizes for sr5/limited/sport.

Not sure if my calipers are seized, i have no no rust under at all.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/120645-oem-brakes-terriable-4.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/118161-how-upgrading-sport-brakes-319-338mm-2.html

You said "re-bleeding" the brakes. Have you a
already bled the brakes yourself?

I ha a similar issue after the dealer put new calipers on my truck. I brought it back and they said they bled them again but it still wasn't right in my opinion. Brought it back again and they flushed/drained the fluid and put all new in and it is all better now.

 

[toybox]

New rotors and pads "may" improve things but it isn't the cause of anything. I would check to see if a caliper is seized (appantly a common problem) and then blled the brakes or replace the fluid entirely. That is not that expensive and if it doesn't work then you can consider another vehicle.

 

[<<<<]

After 8year ownership my brakes got me worried:
1) Hard to stop which felt like glazed pads,
2) pulsing during creep or slow stop,
3) stopping distance increased by bunch.

Not sure what caused it so I took no chances:
Stock Front rotors-Gone in favor EBC 3GD titanium coated slotted and dimpled,
Stock Pads - Gone in favor of Hawk Performance Carbon Metallic pads and finally
Seized front callipers replaced.

Best Mod I've ever spent money on.

 

[uz214]

I just had the re-bleed brakes done, the difference is little, my trusty mechanic said there was little air on the left side, but to me brakes seems pretty much the same. I have a Lx470 far heavier suv and the brakes on that thing are amazing.
So i am thinking of getting everything replaced calipers/rotors pads etc
will keep you guys updated

New rotors and pads "may" improve things but it isn't the cause of anything. I would check to see if a caliper is seized (appantly a common problem) and then blled the brakes or replace the fluid entirely. That is not that expensive and if it doesn't work then you can consider another vehicle.

 

[uz214]

Got new pads/rotors/calipers ..i got the 4runner sport ones/338mm rotors/calipers ...all new..

Now the brakes are really good- but really spongy/lose..i have to pump it twice to make the brake really fast..
i took the wheels out bleed-ed the brakes again...No air
It seems like there is some gap between pads and piston calipers..very minor but its there...so every time i brake i feel that lose/sponge feeling..
its like have to brake all the way down to make it work...

Mechanic said this should go away after couple of weeks driving since the piston will adjust etc..i am not buying it? thoughts??

I just had the re-bleed brakes done, the difference is little, my trusty mechanic said there was little air on the left side, but to me brakes seems pretty much the same. I have a Lx470 far heavier suv and the brakes on that thing are amazing.
So i am thinking of getting everything replaced calipers/rotors pads etc
will keep you guys updated

 

[BlackWorksInc]

You shouldn't have to pump the brakes at all to make them stop, period.

When you bled the brake system, did you use a compatible scantool to actuate the ABS System? The 4th Gen 4Runner like a couple other vehicles with a hydraboost unit (like your LX470) need to have the unit actuated when you bleed the system and they use a slightly different procedure.