Help needed with brake issues (multiple issues)

[Terminator03]

Ok, so a couple of weeks back I started having some noises indicating the typical frozen caliper(s) that seems so common with these. Anyway, after a lot of research I decided I was going to do the 5th gen brakes while I was at it, so I ordered the Powerstop Z34 rotors and pads front and rear (4th gens for rear), and the red powder coated 5th gen calipers front and rear. Well, before my brake parts could arrive, I had a catastrophic failure on my way to work. The scraping sound got worse, and suddenly the dash lit up like a Christmas tree with brake, abs, VSC/Trac, etc., and a loud high pitched alarm buzzer from behind the dash. I also had lost all brake pedal at this point so I pulled into a parking lot to inspect. Master was empty, so I looked under to see the source of the leak. Found the right rear inside of tire was wet with fluid, and fortunately was within walking distance to an Autozone so I grabbed a couple of big containers of brake fluid to get it home a couple of miles away to further diagnose. Put fluid in, and was able to limp it home, but had almost no brakes at all, and the alarm and lights stayed on of course. Anyway, once the wheel was off I saw that the outer pad was completely missing and rotor was pretty rough from the caliper dragging on it. Fluid came out of the caliper piston which was extended too far out of the bore to compensate for the missing pad. I hoping to have all my new stuff by Thursday or Friday to replace ALL of the brakes. Anyway, I’m hoping that the lights and warning sound will go away once everything is bled and repressurized! Any tips here from those that have had a failure like this would be greatly appreciated!

On a secondary note, my ebrake has never worked since I’ve had the truck. The used car place I bought it from had done the reg and inspection for me to drive away once the deal was done, and stupidly, the ebrake was the one thing I forgot to test. Anyway, once I took the brakes apart I found out “why” I don’t have a working ebrake! There are NO shoes or any hardware inside! They just tucked the cables up so the tips wouldn’t drag and make noise.:rant: So, I guess I need to get all new hardware too now. My question on that is: do the hardware kits come with EVERYTHING needed besides the shoes? Lesson learned, NEVER let a used car place do the inspection!

 

[snukkums]

On a secondary note, my ebrake has never worked since I’ve had the truck. The used car place I bought it from had done the reg and inspection for me to drive away once the deal was done, and stupidly, the ebrake was the one thing I forgot to test. Anyway, once I took the brakes apart I found out “why” I don’t have a working ebrake! There are NO shoes or any hardware inside! They just tucked the cables up so the tips wouldn’t drag and make noise.:rant: So, I guess I need to get all new hardware too now. My question on that is: do the hardware kits come with EVERYTHING needed besides the shoes? Lesson learned, NEVER let a used car place do the inspection!

I actually just put the powerstop calipers, rotors, and pads on my 08 a couple of months ago and it did not come with any ebrake hardware. It did have everything else to replace the front and rear brakes though.

 

[L8Shift]

I had ordered parts for an FZJ-80 ebrake, I don't believe a kit was offered for eBrakes.

As for the 5 Gen REAR brakes, I did not believe, the rears needed to be upgraded; just the fronts to get the 338mm.

5th Gen frt. caliper does require a 5th gen rotor, due to spacing issues.

 

[Terminator03]

I actually just put the powerstop calipers, rotors, and pads on my 08 a couple of months ago and it did not come with any ebrake hardware. It did have everything else to replace the front and rear brakes though.

Yeah, I know I have get the ebrake shoes and hardware separately, I was just wondering if the kits for the hardware come with all of the pieces to rebuild the ebrake completely. I don’t have the option of reusing ANY parts because there are none there!

I had ordered parts for an FZJ-80 ebrake, I don't believe a kit was offered for eBrakes.

As for the 5 Gen REAR brakes, I did not believe, the rears needed to be upgraded; just the fronts to get the 338mm.

5th Gen frt. caliper does require a 5th gen rotor, due to spacing issues.

Yeah, I had to order everything separately instead of one of the complete kits they offer because I’m using 4th gen rotors as many recommendations say the holes don’t line up properly when using 5th gen rotors in the rear. The 5th gen calipers work fine with them though, and the brake pads are the same in the rear for both gens. For the fronts I got 5th gen rotors and calipers. I also got stainless hoses for the front and rear.

 

[Morphyne]

Yes. The parts kit has everything. It's cheap too. I'm going to do mine soon.

 

[AuSeeker]

Yeah, I know I have get the ebrake shoes and hardware separately, I was just wondering if the kits for the hardware come with all of the pieces to rebuild the ebrake completely. I don’t have the option of reusing ANY parts because there are none there!

While I haven't had to do anything with my ebrakes on my 4R so I'm not sure exactly what is all in there as far as hardware parts, but I do know very well how they more or less work, I have done more drum brakes then I care to remember and they are a pain most of the time, was so happy when the first disc brakes came out, so much easier to work on, and I would be very surprised if you get everything you need in the kit to completely redo your ebrake, but I hope I'm wrong, from my years of doing drum brake you use to only get the parts that can wear out, e.g. springs/ pins and retainers, adjusters, etc., the ebrake is basically a simple drum brake setup and there are usually a few parts that don't really wear out and are usually not included in a hardware kit, at least they weren't back in the days when almost all rear brakes were drum brakes and earlier years when all brakes were drum brakes.

I would recommend being prepared to not have everything in the kit so it's not a surprise, but if the kit has it all, great news, and I also would try and find an exploded view of the ebrake and a Toyota shop manual would really come in handy since you have nothing in the ebrakes now to let you know how they should go together, lot of parts that have to be put together correctly or the ebrakes will not work!

 

[Terminator03]

While I haven't had to do anything with my ebrakes on my 4R so I'm not sure exactly what is all in there as far as hardware parts, but I do know very well how they more or less work, I have done more drum brakes then I care to remember and they are a pain most of the time, was so happy when the first disc brakes came out, so much easier to work on, and I would be very surprised if you get everything you need in the kit to completely redo your ebrake, but I hope I'm wrong, from my years of doing drum brake you use to only get the parts that can wear out, e.g. springs/ pins and retainers, adjusters, etc., the ebrake is basically a simple drum brake setup and there are usually a few parts that don't really wear out and are usually not included in a hardware kit, at least they weren't back in the days when almost all rear brakes were drum brakes and earlier years when all brakes were drum brakes.

I would recommend being prepared to not have everything in the kit so it's not a surprise, but if the kit has it all, great news, and I also would try and find an exploded view of the ebrake and a Toyota shop manual would really come in handy since you have nothing in the ebrakes now to let you know how they should go together, lot of parts that have to be put together correctly or the ebrakes will not work!

Yes, that is exactly my concern. When I’ve done drums on other cars, I’ve generally just paid attention to how everything was placed before taking it apart, and if worse came to worse, I still had the other side to look at for reference. Like you mentioned, the old drum brake kits would have most of the parts, except for the metal balance bar that connects the shoes, and sometimes not even the adjusters were included. I literally have nothing to start with, so I’ll definitely have to dig up a diagram.

I’m also concerned about the ABS light being on with that alarm noise. Hopefully that resolves once there is correct pressure in the lines. I don’t believe the code scanner I have has the ability to clear ABS codes, if that needs to be manually cleared after the brake work. I guess this situation that happened to me yesterday with the fluid pumping out completely would happen if a rear line blew/broke, so I’m sure someone has had that happen before. I couldn’t find any threads yesterday when I searched though.

 

[wc11]

I bought something like this and it has everything short of shoes
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0049MJKYC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[mwebster22]

I've read, but have no experience with, that if somehow you get air in the ABS system it's a big problem. Maybe that happened whe the fluid leaked out.

 

[Terminator03]

I've read, but have no experience with, that if somehow you get air in the ABS system it's a big problem. Maybe that happened whe the fluid leaked out.

Yep, I’m really worried about that. I couldn’t find exactly “why” it’s a problem, but everyone seems to caution against running it dry. Like I said, if a rear brake line rusted through or a hose popped, or something like that, the same thing would happen because that motor just pumps the fluid continuously to the rear until it empties the reservoir. Not a great design...

 

[Terminator03]

I bought something like this and it has everything short of shoes
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0049MJKYC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought one of those parts kits from Napa today, but looking at the diagrams I could find, it seems like there are a couple of parts it doesn’t come with such as the spreader bars that have a spring on them that go between the shoes, and possible a clip/pad retainer that goes on that pivot stud at the 12 o’clock position at the top. I need to search for pics of them fully assembled because the diagram picture I have from a service manual doesn’t show the parts very clearly, and I have nothing to reference. Normally, I can at least look at the opposite side if I forgot how something goes together.

 

[ScooterMD]

Rebuilding the e brakes on these 4Runners is awful. Just awful, no other way to describe it. I struggled through it a few months ago and found some diagrams that were helpful. If I can dig those up I will message you.