2011 T4R Trail Brake Issue

[Maui73]

I have 2011 Limited too and the brake pedal feels deep before it engages. When I do normal braking, I hear a 'shoosh' sound thing first, then pedal travels like half way before floor, then I feel good braking. Not smooshy or spongy though.

If I do one or two pumps, then brake pedal is a lot higher when brake engages.

At stop lights, my T4R tends to move forward too so I try to remember to press hard like every 15 seconds. It seems the brake pedal fights to lift up and then T4R moves forward slowly.

I really hope Toyota fixes this because in emergency braking, I hear the 'shoosh' sound before it engages and there's a scary braking delay in it.

UPDATE (07-28-2011):

My brake pedal travel before it engages seems to change from time to time. The time span between these changes are not immediate [EDIT: i.e. it will be about a day or a week or even longer for each change]. There will be times where it's perfect; not deep at all before I feel it engage (I press the pedal no more than 1 inch down and it engages already), but there are times where it feels like the pedal will travel further down before it engages (as much as about 3 inches before it engages).

By the way, my tests are when my T4R is moving and I'm stopping at i.e. stop lights; one dealer automatically assume that I am testing when the car is at stop or not moving and they talk about other stuff.

When the brake pedal travel/depth is little and perfect (for me), the brakes feels strong and sensitive; I really like it. When the brake pedal travels down deep, I find myself pressing harder (about 33% more effort from my foot and legs), so less braking power. When I'm stopped at stop lights and my pedal is currently in 'deep travel' state, it tends to fight back and so my T4R will move forward after some time, and so I have to remember to keep pressing harder than usual so truck won't move forward.

Lastly, one occurrence where when my brakes were in perfect state (no deep travel), I accidentally activated the VSC [EDIT: or A-TRAC or HAC; I'm not sure] (I was in Reverse and backing up, then before my T4R came to a full stop [movement was very slow though], I put it in Drive mode, then there was a very little moment where the Drive mode engaged and my T4R was still moving backward [movement was very slow], and that little movement engaged the VCS, and I heard the some auto breaking clicks that happened for about 1 second only [EDIT: and I heard some beeps too]). After that one second of VCS activating, my brake pedal travel is deep again [EDIT: and it remained deep for several days].

I tested on this again. This time on an inclined road at some grocery parking lot. I waited for my brake travel to become in perfect little-travel state again, then I went up the inclined road, I stopped vehicle, and immediately released brakes, T4R moved backward, VCS engaged again and it auto-braked and I heard clicks [EDIT: and beeps again], then after that, my brake pedal travel was deep again [EDIT: and it remained deep for several days].

Well, I hope the above update info helps. I really hope Toyota investigates on this and fix the problem.

 

[westwind77]

UPDATE (07-28-2011):
, I accidentally activated the VSC (I was in Reverse and backing up, then before my T4R came to a full stop [movement was very slow though], I put it in Drive mode, then there was a very little moment where the Drive mode engaged and my T4R was still moving backward [movement was very slow though], and that little movement engaged the VCS, and I heard the some auto breaking clicks that happened for about 1 second only). After that one second of VCS activating, my brake pedal travel is deep again.

I stopped vehicle, and immediately released brakes, T4R moved backward, VCS engaged again and it auto-braked and I heard clicks again, then after that, my brake pedal travel was deep again.

Just a correction for you, if you care, but you were NOT activating VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) - You were activating either/or TRAC / HAC systems. HAC (Hill Accent Control) will automatically apply the brakes to stop the 4R from rolling backwards when you let off the gas on hill. You can fool the system when you roll back and shift quick. And/Or the TRAC system could have thought 'slippage' was occurring and limited throttle, but I do not believe the TRAC system engages the brakes, just A-TRAC. So if I had to gamble I would say HAC kicked it and had applied the brakes, so when you press it was already done and 'hard'. FYI - when VSC kicks in you get 'beeps' from the 4R. My wife says it is scolding me when I try to have fun in the snow

 

[pimpsta]

Brake Upgrades?

I highly doubt Toyota will do anything other than poke around and inspect the system. So my question is, are there any upgrades other than pads? I'm talking maybe throw on a set of Brembos or Stoptech or even a big brake kit. I understand it's a big & heavy rig and you cannot beat the law of physics. But science can overcome that no?

 

[anthony4ltd]

Brake issues

im having ALL the same problem with my 2011 T4R LTD.. anyone have any new updates, so i will have more questions to ask the dealer? im planning on bringing it in tomorrow 8/1 .. :thanks:

 

[Lensman]

2011 sr5

2011 SR5 -Another one here, very soft pedal, travels about 3-4 inches before engaging. I took mine to Bock Toyota in Norwood Ma, explained the situation to the service rep. As he moved the truck forward to pull it into the bay he hit the brakes and was shocked at the pedal travel.
When I went back to pick it up, service rep told me that they went through the system and checked everything, they also opened the system to check for air, and “they should be better”.
I took the truck one mile up the road and returned; brakes were as bad as when I left it in. I asked to see the tech, he explained what he had done and said that he had also taken a new one for a comparison test drive, and concluded this was the normal condition = Soft pedal . I offer them to try my F150 but they did not take me up on it.
Compared to any other car, truck I have ever owned these are by far the worst brakes I have experienced. Now to clarify, when they engage they will stop you, but it’s very concerning that the pedal goes down so far.

Has anyone contacted Toyota directly..?

 

[SoulSurfer3]

Any Resolution

I just read all the posts here and I am having the same issues. My T4R has 5k miles and just turned a year old; scared the crap out of me and my wife a few times with the soft braking; I have had a few people drive the truck and they are shocked how soft the brakes are.

I'm going in for my 5k service this weekend and was wondering if anyone has been able to resolve the issue or if this is just something we will all have to learn to live with. Thanks guys.

 

[forerunner123]

Most of what everyone is talking about is the "drive by wire" feature. The brakes, brake based on how hard and fast you push your pedal. If you push the pedal slowly, it will travel further and the vehicle will take longer to slow because the vehicle doesn't sense the urgency to stop. If you push it hard and quickly, the vehicle will detect that you need to stop quickly -- in turn the vehicle will respond quickly.

 

[keeganxt]

Not true.

While the accelerator pedal is drive by wire and even learns your driving i.e. pedal pushing habits... The brake pedal is connected to the brake cylinder and is mostly mechanical. Am I wrong here?