Brakes are Trying to Kill Me

[TravThePro]

96 4runner 4wd big brakes

Biggest problem:
Vehicle pulls hard to one side with braking... Steering wheel goes back and forth ~1/8 turn and the vehicle goes back and forth under normal braking and letting off. The delay when I let off brake pedal to the steering wheel goes back to normal with 1-4 second delay.

Under emergency braking it locks up one wheel and goes left sometimes and right sometimes (fairly violent reaction)

Steps taken to attempt a fix:
-Full brake bleed putting more than enough in to flush the sytem out (including master cylinder and Brake proportioning valve system
-Disconnected ABS because it nearly killed me... (96s ABS is faulty for some reason, It's perfect on my 97)
-Switched brakes from stock rotor with organic pads to drilled + slotted rotors with carbon ceramic pads which amplified the problem 3x ish
-Correct brake burn in procedure
-New master Cylinder
-Flushed and bled ~4 quarts in n out
-Realigned front end
-New drums and shoes(stocks were in perfect shape but I wasn't taking chances)
-Broke a rear drum brake cylinder so went and replaced those as well
-Adjusted drums to perfection
-Rage starts building up
-Replaced soft brake lines
-Another full flush
-Another front end alignment (didn't need but just went in again anyways)
-Went on forum to ask for advice

Things that haven't been done:
-Full hard line replacement (if this is even possible)
-Calipers replaced/rebuilt
-Brake booster replacement
-Brake proportioning valve replacement

Any input is helpful, thanks!

 

[99problems]

I'm just thinking out loud here, but it does kind of sound like you're having a brake caliper issue... I'm thinking more along the lines of a sticky piston rather than a blown out seal since you didn't mention any seeping/weeping? I don't think you've got a clogged hard line from your description, otherwise you'd probably have noticed that when redoing the rears.

 

[trailbikerider]

I've been having a similar issue with mine, my truck pulls to the right while driving down the road, and will pull even worse to the right under braking. I haven't had the chance to dig into it yet but I'm thinking it's a stuck caliper or collapsed brake hose.

 

[endgame56]

LCA bushings in good shape?

I was having similar symptoms, and like you, threw a bunch of stuff at the brakes hoping to fix it.

After a while, I put it up on stands and started prying around and found that the LCA bushings on both sides were deteriorated to the point where I could move the inner sleeve around with just a couple fingers.

Obviously, I can't say for sure what your issue is, but the fact that it's not always to the left or right, and there's a slight delay in correction seems awfully similar to what I was experiencing.

 

[JayRolla]

I was having same issue. I found out it was a combination of bad lca bushings and sticking napa tundra caliper. The calipers are failing in just a few years. Really wish I went used OEM on the calipers and rebuilt them. Good luck op.

 

[Trojan4x4]

I put my money on your calipers going bad. Usually you replace them right after pads and rotors if you are having problems and not jump to master cylinder or something.

 

[TravThePro]

I put my money on your calipers going bad. Usually you replace them right after pads and rotors if you are having problems and not jump to master cylinder or something.

My master cylinder was garbage, wouldn't do anything or the pulling. I already knew but threw it in anyways just in case.

Sent from my FRD-L04 using Tapatalk

 

[Twisted Sid]

Did my bushings and all my pulling while braking went away a long with the steering wheel shaking. Mine were the stock bushings with 318k on them.

 

[Trojan4x4]

My master cylinder was garbage, wouldn't do anything or the pulling. I already knew but threw it in anyways just in case.

Sent from my FRD-L04 using Tapatalk

What happened to be is after installing PerfectStop (Wagner) reman 231mm callipers, I noticed pulling to the right. Went ahead and replaced my caliper with Raybestos one and the pulling almost went away (my driver side rear passengers shoes were soaked in oil from axle seal leaking). I would go ahead and do the calipers first, maybe even add stainless steel brake lines, those improved the brake feel a lot for me.

 

[HiLife]

I'm thinking it's most likely your caliper also. What could be happening is one side is not applying full braking force (because of sticking. Corrosion, gunk, etc) and the other side is working normally.
I can see why worn lca bushings can also make the 4r pull to one side.
Only way to find out is get under your 4r and closely inspect the suspected parts.

 

[TravThePro]

I'm just thinking out loud here, but it does kind of sound like you're having a brake caliper issue... I'm thinking more along the lines of a sticky piston rather than a blown out seal since you didn't mention any seeping/weeping? I don't think you've got a clogged hard line from your description, otherwise you'd probably have noticed that when redoing the rears.

I've been having a similar issue with mine, my truck pulls to the right while driving down the road, and will pull even worse to the right under braking. I haven't had the chance to dig into it yet but I'm thinking it's a stuck caliper or collapsed brake hose.

LCA bushings in good shape?

I was having similar symptoms, and like you, threw a bunch of stuff at the brakes hoping to fix it.

After a while, I put it up on stands and started prying around and found that the LCA bushings on both sides were deteriorated to the point where I could move the inner sleeve around with just a couple fingers.

Obviously, I can't say for sure what your issue is, but the fact that it's not always to the left or right, and there's a slight delay in correction seems awfully similar to what I was experiencing.

I was having same issue. I found out it was a combination of bad lca bushings and sticking napa tundra caliper. The calipers are failing in just a few years. Really wish I went used OEM on the calipers and rebuilt them. Good luck op.

Did my bushings and all my pulling while braking went away a long with the steering wheel shaking. Mine were the stock bushings with 318k on them.

I'm thinking it's most likely your caliper also. What could be happening is one side is not applying full braking force (because of sticking. Corrosion, gunk, etc) and the other side is working normally.
I can see why worn lca bushings can also make the 4r pull to one side.
Only way to find out is get under your 4r and closely inspect the suspected parts.

Nothing is loose but a couple of bushings look like they need replacement anyway... Does anybody know part #s for the control arm bushings OR entire sets of bushings? I'm planning to do SAS but it won't happen soon enough to avoid this unfortunately...

I'll probably be replacing both calipers as well... Unless it makes sense to rebuild them, I just don't know how to.