Clicking Brake Pedal

[Jeff614]

Inside around the foot brake pedal. To me it really sounds like a momentary switch clicking, and I thought it was a mechanical brake switch making, but then after some quick paying attention, I could see that the brake lights were coming on well before the clicking.

Exactly the way I'd describe it as well! It's most definitely inside the vehicle, sounds like from the top of the brake pedal assembly. Sounded like a momentary switch to me at first too. Also, FWIW, it will do it with the vehicle off as well. Very odd. Sometimes just goes away on its own, other times it takes a literal shake of the pedal or taping it with my foot and all is quiet again.

- Jeff

 

[DCOURTS1984]

Same sound here. I just picked up a 2015 Trail Premium. Its like a combination between a small clicking sound and a hissing sound. Almost sounds like a hydraulic press.

 

[Gecko]

Holy bump, I know, but I am also noticing this issue. The strange thing is that its intermittent.

Some days it there and some days it's not. I feel like I notice it more after i've been driving for a while, potentially in "hard" conditions like stop and go traffic.

As others have noticed, it is like 2" of brake pedal travel and then you feel and hear a clicking sensation at the pedal. It also clicks on release.

Did anyone ever determine what this was? While the mods have suggested we are women or clueless, I do not think what they are describing is the sensation most of us are noticing.

 

[Hans Moleman]

Holy bump, I know, but I am also noticing this issue. The strange thing is that its intermittent.

Some days it there and some days it's not. I feel like I notice it more after i've been driving for a while, potentially in "hard" conditions like stop and go traffic.

As others have noticed, it is like 2" of brake pedal travel and then you feel and hear a clicking sensation at the pedal. It also clicks on release.

Did anyone ever determine what this was? While the mods have suggested we are women or clueless, I do not think what they are describing is the sensation most of us are noticing.

I get the same thing. Most of the time it's just a hiss sound. Then sometimes it's a click sound.

 

[enyce]

Does anyone have a clicking brake pedal? I swear I can hear a click every time I step on it. I wasn't aware of it before, you could hear it over the normal "air sound"... Anyone? Debating bringing her in for service...

'15 Trail with the same noise. Guess its normal:shrug:

 

[Gecko]

I think the "hiss" is the brake booster, which is normal. When you say "hiss" do you mean this? YouTube

The click is entirely different (for me).

 

[Gecko]

I was able to get it on video this morning:

YouTube

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ShCpwrjoqE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[CavPro]

Could that be a switch for the brake lights?

 

[epjfsa]

Could that be a switch for the brake lights?

Yes, it 100% is and why is there a thread about this. Every car I've owned has a switch that sounds exactly like this right off the top of pedal travel.

 

[Lozki]

Yes, it 100% is and why is there a thread about this. Every car I've owned has a switch that sounds exactly like this right off the top of pedal travel.

I see in your signature you have a Mini Cooper, does it make the same clicking sound? I'm just curious because my sister's Mini Cooper definitely does not make the same clicking that my 2015 4Runner does.

I've had a 1997 4Runner, 1999 Tacoma, and a 2008 4Runner, and none of them made this same clicking sound that my 2015 4Runner does.

I figure the clicking is pretty harmless, but it can be rather annoying at times.

 

[Dillusion]

No clicking on mine.

It only clicks once when I accelerate for the first time after starting up. Doesn't make it the rest of the trip. Not even sure if its the same thing clicking.

 

[Lozki]

The clicking when you first accelerate is different. My 2008 4Runner made that sound, as well as my 2015.

This click is one little click each time you depress the brake pedal. Sometimes I think I can even feel the click in my foot. But I may just be going crazy...

 

[Dillusion]

The clicking when you first accelerate is different. My 2008 4Runner made that sound, as well as my 2015.

This click is one little click each time you depress the brake pedal. Sometimes I think I can even feel the click in my foot. But I may just be going crazy...

I know its different. No clicking when I push the brake at all.

Just a very noisy pedal but I can live with it.

 

[Gecko]

My 4R is in for a few maintenance things before the warranty runs out, and this is one I asked about. It's at a dealer and with master techs who I trust, and both told me for certain this clicking is the pin in the brake pedal that activates the brake lights. Nothing to worry about.

It is strange though, that sometimes mine clicks and sometimes it doesn't. Oh well.

 

[pointman]

Odd. I have the same click at the pedal, as the video posted. It occurs so infrequently. I can also feel the click in my foot. If I cycle the ignition it goes away. How that is considered normal is beyond me. But glad to have found a solid response here. Thanks all.

 

[ElectroBoy]

The clicking noise is a switch.
It’s an input to the safety interlock system that prevents you from shifting out of Park unless you have your foot depressing the brake pedal.

 

[pointman]

The clicking noise is a switch.
It’s an input to the safety interlock system that prevents you from shifting out of Park unless you have your foot depressing the brake pedal.

My click happens when driving already. Anytime when I touch the brake pedal when slowing down and such. Again it goes away when I cycle he ignition though. If I am having it when I’m moving does that mean there is something wrong then, as it’s not to hold me in park?

 

[ElectroBoy]

My click happens when driving already. Anytime when I touch the brake pedal when slowing down and such. Again it goes away when I cycle he ignition though. If I am having it when I’m moving does that mean there is something wrong then, as it’s not to hold me in park?

The switch clicks on anytime you press the brake pedal past a certain point. And it clicks off when you release the pedal. This function works at all times. While driving, when idling at a light with brakes on, in neutral, in park, etc. It is simply a mechanical switch. But it supplies a signal to a system that prevents you from shifting out of Park unless that switch is in the “brake on” position. And if the ignition switch is in the On position. If probably retracts a locking pin that enables you to move the gear shift out of the Park position.

You can demonstrate this for yourself. Turn On the ignition. You don’t need to start the truck. Try to move the shifter out of Park. Can’t do it. Depress the brake pedal a little and if you’re in a garage you’ll see the brake lights go on. Try to move the shifter again. Can’t. Now depress the pedal a little further until you hear the click. Try the shifter. There you go.
Once you’re out of Park the system doesn’t care what the switch position is. The switch just keeps clicking away with no effect while you’re driving, in time with your brake foot.

 

[pointman]

The switch clicks on anytime you press the brake pedal past a certain point. And it clicks off when you release the pedal. This function works at all times. While driving, when idling at a light with brakes on, in neutral, in park, etc. It is simply a mechanical switch. But it supplies a signal to a system that prevents you from shifting out of Park unless that switch is in the “brake on” position. And if the ignition switch is in the On position. If probably retracts a locking pin that enables you to move the gear shift out of the Park position.

You can demonstrate this for yourself. Turn On the ignition. You don’t need to start the truck. Try to move the shifter out of Park. Can’t do it. Depress the brake pedal a little and if you’re in a garage you’ll see the brake lights go on. Try to move the shifter again. Can’t. Now depress the pedal a little further until you hear the click. Try the shifter. There you go.
Once you’re out of Park the system doesn’t care what the switch position is. The switch just keeps clicking away with no effect while you’re driving, in time with your brake foot.

Thanks again for the reply. I really appreciate it. I am confused now. My situation is different as what is in question is only when the 4R is running, I am driving, and on occasion I can hear and feel the brake pedal click. Again all this when the vehicle is moving. Usually the brake pedal (when driving) never clicks. Today was only the second time this has occurred where while driving it would click every time I touched the brake pedal. Once I turned the 4R off and restarted and drove the click was once again gone. It can’t be normal normal if the click does not exist normally and pops up and once it does it continues clicking during the duration of the drive until the 4R is turned off. Isnt that odd? Doesn’t that mean the click should always be happening every time I touch the brake pedal??

 

[ProfessorP]

Mine clicks most of the time, but I don’t notice it unless my OCD is kicking into overdrive. Pretty obvious it’s a switch that’s doing its job. Intermittent audible clicking is probably related to input variables from your foot, etc.

If any T4R noise is bothering you, buy a current gen F-150 Ecoboost 2.7 V6 and drive it for a year. They start out smooth and quiet but quickly end up sounding like a one man band kicking a steel trash can full of crack riddled monkeys and ball bearings down the road.

I lasted 18 months of Ford ownership before going back to Toyota. After 30 years of OCD Honda and Toyota ownership where I noticed every rare, minor squeak or rattle, the Ford truck cured me of paying attention to minor sounds.

When the turbo needed replacement after 14,000 miles I knew It would be a short relationship.