Brake problem *need help*

[98piranha]

Hello,

My abs light is on and when i press the brake pedal i get a grinding noise followed by a dead brake pedal. The truck has a hard time slowing down at this point until i let off the brakes and press it again. It happens every day but not every time i press the brake. Have any of you experienced this problem? Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[69project]

You need to pull the wheels off and inspect the brakes. A grinding noise (assuming it is coming from the front) means the pads are worn down.

Not sure why the ABS light would come on, usually that means a sensor or possibly a wire is broken on the ABS harness, at that is my experience with other brands of vehicles with ABS issues.

If you are having to pump the brakes up in order to stop then you might also have a leak(could be you have no more pad or brake shoes left too), another reason to pull the wheels off and inspect your brakes. Your front discs normally do not leak but the rear brake cylinders for the drum brakes in the rear can. I am not sure how Toyota does theirs since I just got my 4runner and have not had to dig into them yet.

Hard to diagnose from a computer screen so go pull your wheels and check them out.

 

[St Runner]

What year? 96-98 are known for poor functioning abs. You can either go through the whole abs system and check the sensors, wires and make sure your shoes and pads are working properly (they should be where you live!). Or you can pull the abs fuse like I did on my 97. If you have a later model 99-2002 I would make the effort to get it working correctly

 

[98piranha]

right on guys. it dosent feel like a spongey brake pedal. it works and happens sometimes. the noise is coming from the driver side only. it almost sounds like the tire is rubbing on the front lip (valence) thats the only sound that i can compare it to. ive searched and found another member who had the same exact issue but no one chimed in about it. by the way, its a 98.

 

[MarkamisPrime]

Your brakes are lost likely metal to metal
And the pedal goes to the floor cause your probably leaking fluid and loose all pressure
If it's coming from the drivers side only. It is not in usual for only the inside pad or outside pad to wear down first due to a sticky caliper.
I would not move it at all
More than likely you have ruined a caliper and an abs unit
Hopefully it can be saved but when an abs unit gets air it is extremely hard to get the air out of it
Unless you pressure bleed it
Look under make sure your not leaking fluid
If you are don't drive it get it towed to wherever you need to get the work done.
But first things first pull the wheels off and inspect it, if your working on it, if not get it towed to a shop that can do the work.