Crappy emergency brake

[Okki]

So I'm sitting at the dealer for the 20K maintenance and I asked them to adjust the emergency brake since it doesn't seem to be doing much braking. I forgot I had it on one day and was able to back up like it wasn't on at all. On my CRV it would lift the rear of the car up if you did that.

So they tell me they can charge me for "reducing the travel of the pedal by taking some slack out of the cable" but that it won't affect the actual braking.

So the question is: A) Is everyone's emergency brake crap on the 5th gen? and B) is there any adjustment to the brake force instead of just the pedal travel?

Okki

PS: still waiting to hear on if they're fixing the headlight TBS. putting it in the "what work do I need to have done" area of their online scheduling system did not result in them both knowing about the TBS or what to do about it.:gun5:

 

[Mason]

"TBS very funny"... Wait the Tv channel????? :

For the parking brake, if the dealer still charges you, you might want to do it yourself or show your dealer/service tech this link... Courtesy of Harper
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/121087-parking-brake.html

I haven't really used my parking brake for anything since I don't park on inclines... I'll have to check it out next time and see if I have the same problem.

Same goes for the headlights... if the guys don't know what you are talking about just give them the pdf for the Headlight Oxidation TSB.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...2-headlamp-surface-oxidation.html#post1114473

I've found that even if I tell them something when the vehicle is in for service they usually won't acknowledge it as a problem until I bring in some kind of "proof". Then voila things start to get taken care of. I'm not sure if they have a printer for you to use, if they don't just drag someone out to your computer/phone and show them what you got..

 

[kmiller8821]

Well stated Mason. Okki, my dealer replaced my lights under the TSB without question.

 

[Jtraskell]

Okki, I would definitely get another dealer and get it fixed. (Or DIY) I just tried mine, I was in reverse , <5mph, hit the emergency brake and my rig came to a sudden and very firm STOP. I tried to increase engine speed to get it to move, no go. Vehicle would not budge. Rear end started raising and I thought it would be better idea to let off the gas before it did let go and I might run into the neighbors bushes......be safe.

 

[Okki]

TBS.. hahahahaha.. that's what I get for posting from my phone!

Anyway.. headlight assemblies have been ordered; so that's good.

The emergency brake they did nothing about and said it was "operating within normal specs". I'll take a look at it myself one of these weekends.

Okki

 

[Bourbonator]

I always set my parking brake, and the few occasions I've forgotten to release it, it's done its job.

 

[nw_4Runner]

Usually on an auto, I put in neutral, set brake, then move to park to avoid putting all the weight on the do-dad (feel free to insert accurate name of part here). Emergency brake pedal on floor, my 4Runner will not hold on a slight incline. I'll be showing them at first service, and probably Harper's info too... to me, the emergency brake is out of spec if it can't hold the weight of the vehicle.

 

[BigredTEX]

So I'm sitting at the dealer for the 20K maintenance and I asked them to adjust the emergency brake since it doesn't seem to be doing much braking. I forgot I had it on one day and was able to back up like it wasn't on at all. On my CRV it would lift the rear of the car up if you did that.

So they tell me they can charge me for "reducing the travel of the pedal by taking some slack out of the cable" but that it won't affect the actual braking.

So the question is: A) Is everyone's emergency brake crap on the 5th gen? and B) is there any adjustment to the brake force instead of just the pedal travel?

Okki

:gun5:

Nine is CRAP! It goes to the floor and provides no stopping force. I'm going to the dealer next week with a minor list of issues and this is one of them.

 

[Wepps]

Yeah, it's not that hard to adjust from under the center console. I took mine in for to 10k or 15k service and asked the dealer to do it. I was told the tech didn't have time and needed a "special" tool to do so. One day I was working on the 4Runner and popped the center console and found the cable. It's two 10mm wrenches IIRC and you loosen a lock nut, tighten the other nut a few turns at a time and test until the pedal does what it's supposed to. Tighten lock nut and I was good.

 

[GrantK]

Although I haven't stress tested mine and it hasn't seen much use, the times I have used it, it seems to work just fine. I'll have to go into the mountains and see how it does on a steep grade.

 

[Victor_inox]

Why would you call. It emergency brake? Its parking brake.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Yeah, it's not that hard to adjust from under the center console. I took mine in for to 10k or 15k service and asked the dealer to do it. I was told the tech didn't have time and needed a "special" tool to do so. One day I was working on the 4Runner and popped the center console and found the cable. It's two 10mm wrenches IIRC and you loosen a lock nut, tighten the other nut a few turns at a time and test until the pedal does what it's supposed to. Tighten lock nut and I was good.

This is actually backwards from how you adjust a Parking Brake system. You're first and often only adjustment is done at the rear brakes at the actual mechanism. The adjustment of the cable connecting to the brakes is only used if the cable itself is worn/stretched and provides little leverage when the parking brake is fully applied.

To adjust the 4Runner's Parking Brake, remove the rear wheels, remove the rubber plug, align the hole with the star wheel and adjust the star wheel to apply tension on the internal drum brake until the wheel cannot be turned by hand any further, then back off a half turn or full turn. Factory Specifications say it should be roughly between 6-12 clicks to fully engage the parking brake.

Why would you call. It emergency brake? Its parking brake.

This is correct, the term "Emergency Brake" is no longer correct and is frowned upon in the automotive field. These days what we used to consider an emergency brake is actually a Parking Brake. They are not designed to slow the vehicle down, or provide further braking force. They are simply designed to hold the vehicle against its own weight.

As for the Parking Brake being easily over powered by your 4Runner in reverse? Well, that's simple... your CRV has no low end torque, the 1GR-FE has a quite bit more power than your CRV.

If I apply the parking brake (I adjusted mine to be very sensitive, and with my strong legs I can get it to really hold) and hit reverse, my 4Runner's engine will easily over power the parking brake, I've accidentally drive off with it engaged. But then again, I have the V8 so its got a little more oomph on the low end than the 1GR-FE.

In short, if you're on a sharp incline and apply the parking brake. It should completely engage between 6-12 clicks, hold the vehicle solidly, and provide some resistance when trying to drive off, but will be over powered by the engine eventually.

 

[jambo]

So I'm sitting at the dealer for the 20K maintenance and I asked them to adjust the emergency brake since it doesn't seem to be doing much braking. I forgot I had it on one day and was able to back up like it wasn't on at all. On my CRV it would lift the rear of the car up if you did that.

So they tell me they can charge me for "reducing the travel of the pedal by taking some slack out of the cable" but that it won't affect the actual braking.

So the question is: A) Is everyone's emergency brake crap on the 5th gen? and B) is there any adjustment to the brake force instead of just the pedal travel?

Okki

PS: still waiting to hear on if they're fixing the headlight TBS. putting it in the "what work do I need to have done" area of their online scheduling system did not result in them both knowing about the TBS or what to do about it.:gun5:

My parking brake is useless too and I only have 1200 kms and was ****ty from day one. Going to dealer on Monday.

 

[INDYMAC]

My parking brake is useless too and I only have 1200 kms and was ****ty from day one. Going to dealer on Monday.

I took my 2012 4Runner back to the dealer two days after I bought it and asked them to adjust the parking brake. The pedal would go all the way to the floor (definitely more than 5-7 clicks) and was difficult to find the pedal to release. They said they adjusted it, but it was exactly the same afterwards. I'll ask them to do it again right when I take it in for the 5K mile service. I anticipate the same result though. Pretty sad.

 

[desertred]

I haven't parked on an incline yet, so don't know if the parking brake will hold my 5th gen on a grade, but I have had the warning chime chirp a few times when I forgot to release the brake while pulling out of my drive way or a parking lot. It felt like there was almost no drag at all.

 

[Okki]

This is actually backwards from how you adjust a Parking Brake system. You're first and often only adjustment is done at the rear brakes at the actual mechanism. The adjustment of the cable connecting to the brakes is only used if the cable itself is worn/stretched and provides little leverage when the parking brake is fully applied.

To adjust the 4Runner's Parking Brake, remove the rear wheels, remove the rubber plug, align the hole with the star wheel and adjust the star wheel to apply tension on the internal drum brake until the wheel cannot be turned by hand any further, then back off a half turn or full turn. Factory Specifications say it should be roughly between 6-12 clicks to fully engage the parking brake.



This is correct, the term "Emergency Brake" is no longer correct and is frowned upon in the automotive field. These days what we used to consider an emergency brake is actually a Parking Brake. They are not designed to slow the vehicle down, or provide further braking force. They are simply designed to hold the vehicle against its own weight.

As for the Parking Brake being easily over powered by your 4Runner in reverse? Well, that's simple... your CRV has no low end torque, the 1GR-FE has a quite bit more power than your CRV.

If I apply the parking brake (I adjusted mine to be very sensitive, and with my strong legs I can get it to really hold) and hit reverse, my 4Runner's engine will easily over power the parking brake, I've accidentally drive off with it engaged. But then again, I have the V8 so its got a little more oomph on the low end than the 1GR-FE.

In short, if you're on a sharp incline and apply the parking brake. It should completely engage between 6-12 clicks, hold the vehicle solidly, and provide some resistance when trying to drive off, but will be over powered by the engine eventually.

Yeah... It definitely doesn't hold they vehicle steady. You can ask my wife or SEP about that . I agree that the first adjustment should be at the brake, that's why I asked about it at my 20K maintenance. Sorry to say that mechanics are not what they once were (barring the odd exception).

I am asking for a quote when I bring it in for the headlight swap. Not paying $80 in stealer fees for it either. I'll do it myself in that case.

Okki

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Are you saying I am an odd exception or that I'm like the rest of the mechanics you find? LoL

Wish you the best of luck!

 

[Okki]

Are you saying I am an odd exception or that I'm like the rest of the mechanics you find? LoL

Wish you the best of luck!

Hey.. at least you know to start the adjustment NOT at the pedal; so that puts you in the exception category compared to my local Toyota dealer! hahahahaha

But seriously... I appreciate the info you posted!

Okki