Brake issues

[brandonchase2000]

Fellow 4runner enthusiasts. I have a 97 4runner limited.

I took it to Meinke brakes, they bled out the air. I am not able to do this myself.

Already when your pressed on the brakes you had to do it twice. The first time it would go all the way to the floorboard, and then the second time it would "catch' and brake decently.

Last night as I approached the light to stop,horror happened. I pressed on the pad and nothing happened. I had to pull the emergency brake and I ended up in the middle of the intersection dodging traffic..some very scary stuff.

So it barely brakes after the pedal is all the way to the bottum of the floor board, and I really cannot drive over 20 MPH of fear of going to fast to not be able to stop. Being that its a Sunday, I am wondering what my first stper should be.

1) I have read on THIS Fantastic message board to keep away from Toyota dealerships

2) I have also read about Master Cylinders taking a dump - I hope this is not the problem

3) The guy at Meinke also mentioned that my ABS system probably needed replacing because my pads and everything were fine..and that this was about
$ 1200.00 buck - but then he also said " You could drive it that way forever too and you you would be fine " obviously not genious...

TO RECAP :

When I brake nothing happens. The pedal goes all the way to the floorboard and then eventually brakes, barely. Yet the pads are fine.

1) Any short term solutions ?
2) Long term replacements and cost ?

I live in Houston if anyone happens to know of a place...
THANK YOU FELLOW 4 RUNNER COMMUNITY !

 

[Massina]

I had something like this happen to me a few years ago. I also had good pad left on the front, on the shoes, and had bled the brakes. I have two questions for you: 1. Have you worked on the the rear brakes recently, and 2. does the emergency brake work correctly? There is a saw-toothed adjustment nut inside the rear drum housing that, if incorrectly adjusted, may present this way, and affect the emergency brake action as well. Worth checking.

 

[ogden8]

So Meineke did this?

Perhaps the brakes weren't bled correctly. Is your brake light lit on the dash? Low fluid maybe?

 

[SJC4Runner]

"3) The guy at Meinke also mentioned that my ABS system probably needed replacing because my pads and everything were fine..and that this was about
$ 1200.00 buck - but then he also said " You could drive it that way forever too and you you would be fine " obviously not genious..."

I would stay the hell away from that guy. I'd take it to Toyota first. From my experience most places will over charge for brake work, I prefer to do it myself. Unfortunately for you, that's not an option. Not knowing a reliable mechanic yourself, I would go to a Toyota or a AAA recommended shop first personally.

If brake pedal was a problem before you went in, and the guy at Meinke let you drive out of it in that condition I would never return there again. Ever.

I would not suspect the ABS system first in your example, unless the ABS light was actually on. Is the ABS light on? I would look at brake fluid and air in the lines. It is possible, that they didn't bleed the brakes correctly, or they left a line loose when they did bleed them. I have heard that air can get caught in the ABS system, which could be part of the problem.

According to the service manual.
Low pedal or spongy pedal
4. Brake system (Fluid leaks)
5. Brake system (Air in)
6. Piston seals (Worn or damaged)
7. Rear brake shoe clearance (Out of adjustment)
8. Hydraulic brake booster (Fauly)

BTW the smart money would have the car towed and not attempt to drive it with only the emergency brake.

 

[jonwilly2]

I use to work for Domino's Pizza as a delivery driver in a downtown area. I had new parts all around with performance pads and disks. It stopped vary fast and vary even. Eventually I started getting play in the master cylinder and I would have to pump them to get them to work. It happened once before after it got passed down to me so my dad got a reman master cylinder put on to save money. One night delivering a order it went out completely it felt like it was just air behind the petal and e braked it past a stop sign.

Both times it did that and both times it was the master cylinder. Thats just me. After the second time I just got me a brand new one from the parts store and put it in my self.