2012 4Runner Spongy Brakes
- Thread starter mikeinmass
- Start date
Touche' Engineer +1.
I will take the 4Runner brakes ALL DAY over my million dollar FJ brakes.
TRD ($2500) for brakes that cost $1500 every 20k miles and make my front wheels look like the blacked out TRD wheels.
ALL that I could tolerate IF they didn't shake my truck to death.
I credit them with extending my following distances on the highway because I know I can't use them at highway speed without risking tooth loss.
Warped rotors (3 sets) and counting.
So, IF my TR4 brakes make a little noise or appear slightly "spongey" I will look to the sky and say thank you every time.
I will take the 4Runner brakes ALL DAY over my million dollar FJ brakes.
TRD ($2500) for brakes that cost $1500 every 20k miles and make my front wheels look like the blacked out TRD wheels.
ALL that I could tolerate IF they didn't shake my truck to death.
I credit them with extending my following distances on the highway because I know I can't use them at highway speed without risking tooth loss.
Warped rotors (3 sets) and counting.
So, IF my TR4 brakes make a little noise or appear slightly "spongey" I will look to the sky and say thank you every time.
Ouch, I must've touched a sore spot . . . sorry, keep telling yourself they're fine, you probably believe it by now. Maybe that's why you think an internet search is gonna make me think these are good. I could care less about any noise they might make if they worked properly.
They may be better than an FJ, never drove one. Go drive a Tundra and you'll see honestly good brakes! Actually, great brakes!
I am an engineer myself, and if I'd designed something like this I'd kick my own butt, after I pitched the design and started over. I honestly can't believe Toyota ever let this through.
They may be better than an FJ, never drove one. Go drive a Tundra and you'll see honestly good brakes! Actually, great brakes!
I am an engineer myself, and if I'd designed something like this I'd kick my own butt, after I pitched the design and started over. I honestly can't believe Toyota ever let this through.
Can't speak for anyone else, no nerves touched on my part. I never said they were better or worse, I simply said I personally would take them all day over a set of the "High Performance" brakes on my Fj. You did state that your gripe was with the brakes AND "IF" you had had a chance to test drive the rig there was "No way you would have bought it" So, one can surmise that with ALL the 4runner does well - the brakes would be enough reason to totally disregard the vehicle.
IMO that is kind of out there but it's your rig (your wife's) and your money.
I hope you find the "Perfect" replacement that has NO deficiencies.
I have owned many many cars/trucks/suvs and have Never met that rig.
But my sincere wishes of good luck with the search.
IMO that is kind of out there but it's your rig (your wife's) and your money.
I hope you find the "Perfect" replacement that has NO deficiencies.
I have owned many many cars/trucks/suvs and have Never met that rig.
But my sincere wishes of good luck with the search.
harper7
Senior Member
The brake system has been the same on 4runners since 2005 and when they were changed......read #8 Toyota 4Runner History 2005
The 5th Gen 4runners(2010 and up) have the exact same braking system as back then as well as Tacomas,FJ's and Prados to name a few.
I had a 2006 4Runner Sport that I bought new before my current one and my first test ride in one back then was "WTF is with the brakes" and I assumed they needed bled. I was coming off a 2001 Yukon Denali and was a completely different braking feel.I test drove 2 more 4Runners ,same thing, and was told that's the way they are.
Bought it anyway and got used to it in a couple of weeks like everybody that I know who owns a 4Runner and now 7 yrs later/150k+ miles later on two 4Runners have to say it's one of the best braking systems out. You know how I would come to that conclusion? Because they have performed exactly as they were designed ,stopping me each and every time in regular and emergency braking.Saved my butt many times as they brake hard straight and true when they were called upon! Never had even one problem with mine either.
You think because they feel different then what you are used to that they are bad?? If your an engineer then maybe you've heard of the concept "designed to work and built to last".Chances are these brakes will still be stopping somebody 25+ years down the road still.
Maybe there really is something wrong with your wife's 4Runner brakes so go test drive another one to see if they are the same.......or maybe it's just YOU and your failure to be able to adapt to something that feels different but still works
OK, not gonna argue, etc. with you guys anymore. My brakes must be worse than yours b/c they SUCK. Will they stop the vehicle, yes - no doubt. Problem is the pedal has to travel 3-4" before I get ANY braking, then it's very sudden and harsh - there is no easy braking in this thing. If I drove it 100% of the time, I guess I could get used to it. But I don't drive it often, but have to sometimes, and I hate it!
I've never found a perfect vehicle either, but the top two priorities in my bood are brakes and steering.
I've never found a perfect vehicle either, but the top two priorities in my bood are brakes and steering.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Different is just that - different, not better or worse.
A/B comparisons is the world of immediacy we all live in. It isn't real life however.
Get used to a system and it becomes familiar and therefor - OK.
When I got my Fj I almost went through the windsheild a few times they grabbed so hard. I thought, "Wow" these are great. Didn't turn out that way in the long run.
A/B comparisons is the world of immediacy we all live in. It isn't real life however.
Get used to a system and it becomes familiar and therefor - OK.
When I got my Fj I almost went through the windsheild a few times they grabbed so hard. I thought, "Wow" these are great. Didn't turn out that way in the long run.
harper7
Senior Member
Maybe they were babied since new and the pads haven't been bedded in yet. Basically use them real hard and let them cool in several cycles to transfer brake pad material to the brake rotor. Mine are very sticky and very predictable and I bedded them in the first week I had it.Pads are at about half life now with 50k miles.
Here's some info on improving brake feel by bedding your pads......
Brake Pad Bed-In
Instructions for bedding in your brakes
Brake Tech - Brake Pad and Rotor Bed-In Procedures
Hope that helps!
Batang.Gapo
New member
Nothing to worry, perfectly normal...
I am thinking you might want to go to another dealer. I agree, 3-4 inches before any braking action, then harsh grab is NOT normal IMHO. I have about a 2 inch travel, before I feel light braking, 3 inches for a moderate stop, 4 inches and I am stopping NOW. If your system is bypassing the light and moderate braking feel, something is wrong. Harper's idea may work, hope it does, but if not, I think there is a problem.
My 2011 does it too. It was fine until about 9K miles, then the brake pedal travels further down and makes a squish/squirt 'sound'. Drove me nuts. I have 3 cars and when I go back to the 4runner, the deep pedal travel makes my heart jump sometimes on a mild emergency braking as I thought I didn't have any brakes. I think the "squishy" that people refer to is a sound, not a feeling. And again the pedal travel is deeper / more than most cars. We had the 2 previous 4runner generations and the brakes on those seem more in line with other cars. Anyways, I just want to mention that I have this issue too.
I'm kinda used to reminding myself that my 4 runner has deeper / more brake pedal travel so I don't get off guard on some mild emergency braking. Also, my co-worker heard that squirt/squish sound every time I braked, so i know it's not just me, plus some of you guys too hear it too.
I noticed too that when some auto-brake activation happens (clicking, pulsation, etc.), the issue tends to go away for few miles, then it comes back.
I hope somebody find a way to remedy this.
I'm kinda used to reminding myself that my 4 runner has deeper / more brake pedal travel so I don't get off guard on some mild emergency braking. Also, my co-worker heard that squirt/squish sound every time I braked, so i know it's not just me, plus some of you guys too hear it too.
I noticed too that when some auto-brake activation happens (clicking, pulsation, etc.), the issue tends to go away for few miles, then it comes back.
I hope somebody find a way to remedy this.
Lester Lugnut
New member
I am no fan of the 5th Gen 4Runner "soft pedal", but will skip the science.
Here's what I know.
My better half drives a 2014 SR5 4Runner round trip everyday - about 66 miles. Loads of stop-n-go. Not a peep from her.
And...no collision(s)
I reckon that's just how it is.
My 2015 Tacoma PreRunner V6 has a much more solid pedal. So be it.
Here's what I know.
My better half drives a 2014 SR5 4Runner round trip everyday - about 66 miles. Loads of stop-n-go. Not a peep from her.
And...no collision(s)
I reckon that's just how it is.
My 2015 Tacoma PreRunner V6 has a much more solid pedal. So be it.
I bought my 2011 4 Runner Limited new and it took me a few years (I'm a slow learner apparently) to learn how to use the spongy brakes properly without having the nannies kick in and put everyone and everything through the windshield. However, I just had the pads changed as part of normal maintenance and voila, the brakes are now "normal"!! I can now stop smoothly just using heel and toe with very little pedal travel. Now I have to ask the garage guys if they did anything else besides just change the pads. Anyway,after nearly 5 years I suddenly have brakes that work like I always thought they should work-it's like having a new vehicle again! So maybe there's hope for all out there with spongy brake concerns.
Lone Star 4Runner
New member
The 4Runner brake feel is the worst I have ever encountered on a modern vehicle. Push the pedal half way down and nothing, nothing and then bam they engage and the nose dives like crazy. It's ridiculous and you really have to work at it to be able to brake smoothly without giving people whiplash. The brakes have excellent stopping power, but the feel and engagement is absolutely awful.
As is the amount of nose dive, factory front springs are way too soft in my opinion.
As is the amount of nose dive, factory front springs are way too soft in my opinion.
End of Spongy Brakes?
So, just thought I'd check and see if you still have what you would consider "normal" brakes (i.e. no more excessive pedal travel)? Did you ever find out if the garage did anything besides changing the pads? Were they OEM pads, or anything special?
So, just thought I'd check and see if you still have what you would consider "normal" brakes (i.e. no more excessive pedal travel)? Did you ever find out if the garage did anything besides changing the pads? Were they OEM pads, or anything special?
If Norman thinks his brakes aren't normal but Norm thinks his brakes break everytime he brakes then Norm tells Norman that his brakes are not normal but Norman tries to convince Norm that his brakes don't break everytime he brakes. Norm and Norman continue to bicker about normal and not normal brakes that Norm thinks breaks each time he brakes but Norman is confident his brakes won't break on him.
