Brakes work!

[Ryan F.]

Members,

40 mph on a narrow two lane road at 11:30 p.m. A chocolate lab bolts into my path, slam the brakes, and the big fella whoas down immediately. Lab freaked, but not hit. I continue to be impressed with this truck. I can tell you this--the thing is completely composed in an emergency stop. Good to know. Thank God the dog, the 4 Runner, and the family are okay.

 

[Jed]

Easily impressed? I'd sure expect the brakes to work in an emergency situation (and all other times, for that matter!).

Now that you mention it, the stopping distances I've seen for the 4Runner are marginal. But it's a relatively heavy SUV, so I wouldn't expect it to stop like a sports car. Edmunds has a pretty good video where they show braking tests & distances.

 

[westwind77]

Members,

40 mph on a narrow two lane road at 11:30 p.m. A chocolate lab bolts into my path, slam the brakes, and the big fella whoas down immediately. Lab freaked, but not hit. I continue to be impressed with this truck. I can tell you this--the thing is completely composed in an emergency stop. Good to know. Thank God the dog, the 4 Runner, and the family are okay.

I am assuming the 'brake assist' kicked on? It is amazing how fast that system can kick on and how fast it can slow the 4R when you really need it to. I know there is no way to turn it off, but part of me is curious a comp with the system on vs off to see the difference in emergency stopping, obviously tested by professionals and published. Personally I love it, I know other hate it because they feel it is too 'touchy', seems to be a factor of your driving habits and driving environment.

 

[Jed]

The whole idea of brake assist was created because researchers determined that many people do not apply enough pedal pressure during an emergency braking maneuver. So thanks to our electronic nannies, the sensors can basically determine when you're in an emergency braking situation and help you out by applying the necessary braking force to allow maximum braking.

But you have to realize that this system will only allow you to have shorter braking distances if you otherwise failed to apply adequate pressure to the brake pedal during an emergency stop. In other words, you aren't getting shorter stopping distances because of brake assist if you are already jamming the brake pedal hard in the first place. So I think it's great technology for those who may benefit from it.

 

[4Funnr]

The whole idea of brake assist was created because researchers determined that many people do not apply enough pedal pressure during an emergency braking maneuver. So thanks to our electronic nannies, the sensors can basically determine when you're in an emergency braking situation and help you out by applying the necessary braking force to allow maximum braking.

But you have to realize that this system will only allow you to have shorter braking distances if you otherwise failed to apply adequate pressure to the brake pedal during an emergency stop. In other words, you aren't getting shorter stopping distances because of brake assist if you are already jamming the brake pedal hard in the first place. So I think it's great technology for those who may benefit from it.

You also forgot that brake assist will throttle the brake pressure (ABS) to prevent a skid and maintain frictional slowing power.

Also, this is coupled with the traction control system so that any swerving during heavy braking will be less likely to result in a loss of control or a rollover.

 

[Jed]

Brake assist is a separate function and will work either independently or together with ABS/VSC

Here's a copy and paste right from Toyota's website:

Brake Assist (BA)
In emergencies, some drivers, especially inexperienced ones, often panic and do not apply sufficient pressure on the brake pedal. Brake Assist measures the speed and force with which the brake pedal is pushed to determine whether the driver is attempting an emergency stop. If the system determines that is the case, it applies additional brake pressure to allow the driver to take full advantage of the ABS brake system. When the driver intentionally eases up on the brake pedal, the system reduces the amount of assistance it provides. This feature comes with VSC.

 

[Ryan F.]

Brake assist is a separate function and will work either independently or together with ABS/VSC

Here's a copy and paste right from Toyota's website:

Brake Assist (BA)
In emergencies, some drivers, especially inexperienced ones, often panic and do not apply sufficient pressure on the brake pedal. Brake Assist measures the speed and force with which the brake pedal is pushed to determine whether the driver is attempting an emergency stop. If the system determines that is the case, it applies additional brake pressure to allow the driver to take full advantage of the ABS brake system. When the driver intentionally eases up on the brake pedal, the system reduces the amount of assistance it provides. This feature comes with VSC.

Hey Jed,

How do you know when sufficient pedal pressure has been applied? Only the computer knows....oooooh. Geez, dude, all I am saying is that very much like everything on this truck for me works as it should. Call it reliability. Something that many Toyota critics suggest has gone downhill. I beg to differ.

 

[westwind77]

But you have to realize that this system will only allow you to have shorter braking distances if you otherwise failed to apply adequate pressure to the brake pedal during an emergency stop.

I respectfully agree & disagree. I think that the electronic system can sense your 'panic' and engange the braking system faster and harder than you could in the same time frame, that is just the benefit of technology sometimes. The few theths of a seconds it can give you maybe be the difference between an accident or a big fffhhhheeeewwww, and a slow drive home. Of course that is assuming you still keep your foot down hard and let the systems work as they were designed. Almost like some of the accident avoidance systems you see in car, if they see you speeding up behind a stoped car they will slam on your brakes automatically to try to stop or at least lessen the impact. Sometimes I wonder if they are getting too 'automatic'!

 

[Jed]

Hey Jed,

How do you know when sufficient pedal pressure has been applied? Only the computer knows....oooooh. Geez, dude, all I am saying is that very much like everything on this truck for me works as it should. Call it reliability. Something that many Toyota critics suggest has gone downhill. I beg to differ.

Think of it like this: If you seem something ahead of you that makes you smash down on the brake pedal as hard as you can, chances are good that you applied sufficient pressure to the brake pedal. I can make my 4Runner go into lockup (and then of course modulated by the ABS to prevent lockup) instantly, so I know that I'm applying good pedal pressure. The computer also looks at other factors as well, such as the length of time you went from accelerating to braking in order to determine if you're in a panic stop situation. Most drivers tend to casually move their foot off the gas pedal and on to the brake pedal during normal braking. But if you moved very quickly from gas pedal (with some throttle applied) to braking, chances are good that it's a panic stop.

BTW, if you've ever read the studies on brake assist, you'll know that most people who fail to provide enough force on the brake pedal fall into two general categories: older females and petite females. That may sound sexist and ageist, but that was their findings.

 

[Jed]

westwind,

I think the opposite is true. The brake assist actually takes time to engage because it has to determine if maximum braking is really what you need. If you just smash the pedal hard, braking will be instantaneous and brake assist will never get a chance to come into play at all because it's not needed.

I wish I could find the information I read on this subject. I'm sure you guys would be interested to read it too.

 

[westwind77]

westwind,

I think the opposite is true. The brake assist actually takes time to engage because it has to determine if maximum braking is really what you need. If you just smash the pedal hard, braking will be instantaneous and brake assist will never get a chance to come into play at all because it's not needed.

I wish I could find the information I read on this subject. I'm sure you guys would be interested to read it too.

I would be interested to read it. I think we are going to agree to disagree here however. I had an 'emergency stop' a while back, as you said it sensed the time from the gas to brake and the initial force, and engaged the 'brake assist', in doing so even with my pressing down I still felt the 4R pull the pedal from my feet faster and with more force than I could initially apply. I had my previous SUV for 11 years, no brake assist with 4 wheel ABS, I can not count the amount of times I had to 'emergency stop' and the time it would take for the system to really 'lock up' was a LOT more than when the 4R engages its brake assist. I agree, the system would work very well with small people or older people who may not have that force to really press down hard and fast, so I do not doubt that fact. I still think that with the system it will stop you faster because of the quick fast hard initial reaction of the computer system to the brakes. Once the pedal is down, whether from the computer or you, the brakes will perform the same, to me it is all about the initial 'reaction time'.

Does the 4th gen have the brake assist as well?

 

[BrianLSU]

Hey Jed,

How do you know when sufficient pedal pressure has been applied? Only the computer knows....oooooh. Geez, dude, all I am saying is that very much like everything on this truck for me works as it should. Call it reliability. Something that many Toyota critics suggest has gone downhill. I beg to differ.

Just ignore him, it saves time and brain cells.

I had a similar experience. Someone crossed right in front of me, I was at 40-50mph. Hit the brakes and wow, it stopped quick, controlled and most surprisingly without a hint of tire squeal. I didn't even hit it hard, just firm. I was use to my old Rubicon and instinctively didn't smash, the Jeep would have squealed hard, the 4Runner's reaction was really nice. Actually put a smile on my face and I wanted to do it again.

 

[Ryan F.]

Just ignore him, it saves time and brain cells.

I had a similar experience. Someone crossed right in front of me, I was at 40-50mph. Hit the brakes and wow, it stopped quick, controlled and most surprisingly without a hint of tire squeal. I didn't even hit it hard, just firm. I was use to my old Rubicon and instinctively didn't smash, the Jeep would have squealed hard, the 4Runner's reaction was really nice. Actually put a smile on my face and I wanted to do it again.

BrianLSU,

You get what I mean--thanks. My experience was identical to yours. This truck rocks!

 

[SeattleMike]

...
Actually put a smile on my face and I wanted to do it again.
...

You perfectly summed up my entire 5th Generation experience.

 

[Jed]

I would be interested to read it. I think we are going to agree to disagree here however. I had an 'emergency stop' a while back, as you said it sensed the time from the gas to brake and the initial force, and engaged the 'brake assist', in doing so even with my pressing down I still felt the 4R pull the pedal from my feet faster and with more force than I could initially apply. I had my previous SUV for 11 years, no brake assist with 4 wheel ABS, I can not count the amount of times I had to 'emergency stop' and the time it would take for the system to really 'lock up' was a LOT more than when the 4R engages its brake assist. I agree, the system would work very well with small people or older people who may not have that force to really press down hard and fast, so I do not doubt that fact. I still think that with the system it will stop you faster because of the quick fast hard initial reaction of the computer system to the brakes. Once the pedal is down, whether from the computer or you, the brakes will perform the same, to me it is all about the initial 'reaction time'.

Does the 4th gen have the brake assist as well?

Yes, of course the 4th gen has it....it's not new technology!

Keep in mind that you should not feel anything when BA is active. The brake pedal can't "pull" down from your foot. In fact, the moment you let off the brake pedal even slightly, BA disengages. If you think about it, that's the way it would have to work. You can't have someone activate BA during a panic stop and then the brakes stay applies when the driver lets up on the brake pedal. So logically, the moment your foot even begins to release brake pedal pressure, BA is completely disengaged. Any other way and it would be totally unsafe.

 

[T4Fun]

what is the 60-0 distance for the 4runner? ON the gx, its a respectable 127 feet.

 

[Jed]

what is the 60-0 distance for the 4runner? ON the gx, its a respectable 127 feet.

A quote from Automobile magazine's 2010 4Runner road test:


Many auto reviews praise the 4Runner for handling better than most midsize crossover SUVs. In fact, the 2010 4Runner is so adept at highway and surface-street driving that it could easily function as a daily driver. With regard to braking, the 4Runner receives only an average rating, requiring 140 feet to stop from 60 mph.

I think that's okay, but certainly nothing to write home about!

 

[Ryan F.]

A quote from Automobile magazine's 2010 4Runner road test:


Many auto reviews praise the 4Runner for handling better than most midsize crossover SUVs. In fact, the 2010 4Runner is so adept at highway and surface-street driving that it could easily function as a daily driver. With regard to braking, the 4Runner receives only an average rating, requiring 140 feet to stop from 60 mph.

I think that's okay, but certainly nothing to write home about!

Edmunds.com whoaed it down from 60 in 122 ft. I'm gonna go ahead and write home about that if it's okay with Jed.

 

[rsarrami]

Something to consider

Tires (specially robber component) play an important role is stopping in both hot and cold weather.

The 2010 4Runner comes with a poor choice of tire (in my opinion and based on availability of better tires). Stopping can improve by about 20' at 60mph should you consider alternative tires such as Michelin LTX MS/2.

Regards,

 

[Jed]

Edmunds.com whoaed it down from 60 in 122 ft. I'm gonna go ahead and write home about that if it's okay with Jed.

122? That's quite a bit better. I guess there are a lot of variables that determine braking distances, especially the road surface that the vehicle is tested upon. Either way, that's a much shorter distance, so if you feel like writing home about it, then be my guest.