Brakes or Transmission Causing Problem???

[Parker1938]

Six months ago I purchase a 2002 SR5 2wd 4Runner with 148,000 miles on it. Recently I've experienced a problem that seems similar to others but not quit exactly the same making me think it is something else.

Intermittingly after the truck has sat for a an hour or overnight, this hasn't happened at a red light or a stop sign, the truck doesn't want to move when I press on the accelerator while in drive and after a moment it gives with a clunk and a small jolt and then drives like normal. I can't tell if it is a transmission problem or a brake problem. Also, at times the brakes will grab really hard when coming to a stop and not let me come to a nice smooth stop. It's as if it is grabbing at the very last second. Could these two be related or are they different problems? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Gerdo]

Could be the rear axle seals have been leaking into the brakes. The gear oil will cause the brake shoes to get real sticky. Enough oil and they could keep the vehicle from moving.

Pull the rear wheels and check.

Also, when the "it doesn't move" happens, do the RPMs rev high, freely, or stay low like it's trying to pull something heavy?

If the pulling heavy scenario, It's probably the brakes holding it.

 

[LittleCaesar]

You may need new front rotors and pads. How new are they?

As Gerdo stated, it sounds like your problem lies in the rear. In addition to the possibility of leaking axle seals, the bellcranks may be so rusty that they have seized (thanks to salt water0.

 

[GreenbowCounty]

Had this too

:flypig:Figured it was break sticking in the rear so had them looked at; after getting them cleaned it seemed to have gone away for a while but now appears to be back and I'm now thinking it has something to do with my fronts. Replaced rotors and pads less than a year ago and don't do much hard breaking so it's a bit of a mystery why I'm getting jitters when stopping.

 

[Run 4 Fun]

I had the same issue. Changed the rear gear oil to redline synthetic gear oil and it leaked through one of the seals. Not much leaked through but it was enough to get it on the brake shoes and and did the exact same thing. I thought I was having transmission issues because I could reverse fine, but it was when I would go forward. Cleaned the shoes with brake cleaner and went back to conventional and fixed the issue. The problem with getting gear oil on the brake shoes is it soaks in and instead on turning to dust, it turns into little balls and gets caked in there. Even though it doesnt leak anymore, I've had to clear the little balls again. Most likely I'm going to get new shoes. The 4runner is a second vehicle and mostly used for light offroad camping trips so I don't drive it often and can wait for new shoes.

 

[Run 4 Fun]

:flypig:Figured it was break sticking in the rear so had them looked at; after getting them cleaned it seemed to have gone away for a while but now appears to be back and I'm now thinking it has something to do with my fronts. Replaced rotors and pads less than a year ago and don't do much hard breaking so it's a bit of a mystery why I'm getting jitters when stopping.

You might have a bad seal in the rear or when the oil leaked through it got onto the shoes and now your shoes don't wear the same. You might want to inspect them again and see if the brake dust is balling up and causing the problem. This is what I'm dealing with right now.

 

[GreenbowCounty]

You might have a bad seal in the rear or when the oil leaked through it got onto the shoes and now your shoes don't wear the same. You might want to inspect them again and see if the brake dust is balling up and causing the problem. This is what I'm dealing with right now.

Will give it a shot, thanks!

 

[Parker1938]

Could be the rear axle seals have been leaking into the brakes. The gear oil will cause the brake shoes to get real sticky. Enough oil and they could keep the vehicle from moving.

Pull the rear wheels and check.

Also, when the "it doesn't move" happens, do the RPMs rev high, freely, or stay low like it's trying to pull something heavy?

If the pulling heavy scenario, It's probably the brakes holding it.

The RPMs stay low and do not race. I checked the rear brakes and one side is fine, the other has what looks like oily cat fur all over it. I guess that is oil combined with brake dust. It looks like I will need to be replacing the axle seals since this one may be leaking, along with the brake shoes.

You may need new front rotors and pads. How new are they?

As Gerdo stated, it sounds like your problem lies in the rear. In addition to the possibility of leaking axle seals, the bellcranks may be so rusty that they have seized (thanks to salt water0.

The bellcranks look good with no rust. Mater of fact, there is little to no rust on this truck. It lived its first 11 years in central Louisiana far away from the gulf and hardly ever any snow.

The front brakes were supposedly replaced about a year ago and 15,000 miles ago. I think I'll do the rear brakes and seal and see if that works and if still having the stopping problems I'll go ahead and do the Tundra front brake mod.

Thanks for the feed back. I will post up when I make the repairs.