Mushy brakes

B

BoostTed

New member
This topic might have been discussed numerous times but I didn't find anything thing in the search.

I think it's pretty known that the feel on the 4runner's brakes is a bit off. It stops just fine but when you depress the brake pedal it does not give you much confidence. Also at stop lights if you aren't stepping on the brake pedal with a decent amount of force it tends to creep forward.

I recently swapped out the brake lines for some stainless steel ones and what a difference, brake pedal feel is much improved, and it no longer has that hydraulic sound every time you step on the pedal. The rear lines are extended so when i decide to lift, it will be ready.
 
Register to hide this ad
I also have noticed on mine that while sitting at red lights I have to push fairly hard to keep it from creeping forward.
 
Mine isn't like that at all. Mine are really sensitive compared to my old 2003 4Runner and my wife's 2010 Sienna.

Sounds like you might need a bleed.
 
flatspin said:
Mine isn't like that at all. Mine are really sensitive compared to my old 2003 4Runner and my wife's 2010 Sienna.

Sounds like you might need a bleed.
Click to expand...

Maybe they fixed it for 2014? Friend's 2012 4runner was the same, his felt really soft like mine. I decided to change to ss lines after driving his car with the new lines.
 
Stiffer brake lines were introduced in the 2014 refresh. I have only test driven a '14 and they felt "normal."

What year is yours, Ted?
 
Every time I drive a rental car (too often) I snap people's necks for the first few stops. The 4R brakes are definitely softer than what I've had in prior cars, but you get used to them.
 
I adjusted to them, but i got tired of doing that so I swapped out the lines. They were cheap so why not.

ArcticEd said:
Every time I drive a rental car (too often) I snap people's necks for the first few stops. The 4R brakes are definitely softer than what I've had in prior cars, but you get used to them.
Click to expand...
 
2014 Trail

2014 Trail Edition here, I find brakes are very soft in fact so soft that 5000kms into driving my truck, I was at a drive through a couple feet behind a vehicle, listening to music and all not paying attention, looked for something in center console, next thing BAM!:ybrick: (heart dropped) smacked into the van in front of me but my foot was still on the break pedal just not hard enough. No damage to mine or his vehicle but ive learned to ensure my foot is pressed in good at red lights and such.
 
KiruxaT4R said:
2014 Trail Edition here, I find brakes are very soft in fact so soft that 5000kms into driving my truck, I was at a drive through a couple feet behind a vehicle, listening to music and all not paying attention, looked for something in center console, next thing BAM!:ybrick: (heart dropped) smacked into the van in front of me but my foot was still on the break pedal just not hard enough. No damage to mine or his vehicle but ive learned to ensure my foot is pressed in good at red lights and such.
Click to expand...

Almost happened to me a few times, I was lucky and looked up in time.
 
BoostTed said:
Almost happened to me a few times, I was lucky and looked up in time.
Click to expand...

Yup. Two worst things about this truck.

1- "Dirt velcro" crap carpet AKA crapet.

2- Brake creep at idle.


I'm gonna try the stainless lines when I do brakes, I think.

Thanks for this thread!
 
I've been increasing concerned about the brake performance. Thanks for sharing. Do you have info on what's recommend for replacements?
 
BoostTed said:
Almost happened to me a few times, I was lucky and looked up in time.
Click to expand...

I have a 2013 and brakes are also soft. It's funny just today I was wearing flip flops and the pedal seems extra low and soft and I almost rolled into a person in cross walk . Very lucky. I have to get in the habit of just pushing and holding firm when daydreaming at a light.
 
Last edited:
jpog said:
Also interested in the lines you used. My '14 TE has soft brake feel as well.
Click to expand...

Geez the soft brakes on the 14's also are not good, I was under the impression Toyota fixed that in 2014 refresh with stiffer rubber lines. Toyota even listed it in the 2014 updates. I have a 13 and brakes are soft, I also have 15 on order and was hoping this issues was fixed but ?
 
I have a 13 and the brakes are extremely grabby, to the point I was stopping to fast when I first got the truck. Idle creep? Not a chance... I find the brakes excellent, even the panic assist stop will throw you into the windshield even when their cold!
 
i find my 2015 limited to be very grabby as well. The brakes I find to have a big dead zone and very little modulation available.

Ofcourse this is coming from a Subaru STi which I sold and my garage queen Honda S2000.
 
2014 TEP owner here also not happy with the feel of the brake pedal. Prior to my purchase my daily driver was a 2008 FJC. The brake pedal in that is firm, as soon as you start to press it, and stays firm the entire time. On my 4Runner the pedal feels like mush until it is depressed about half way. In normal braking it is just annoying. But in a few panic stops I have had it goes immediately into anti-lock mode with a huge nose dive. It stops the vehicle more quickly than I intend, which has me worried about getting rear ended.

Funny thing is if I pump the brakes one time, they feel more normal. Dealer says they are fine, but it annoys me to no end.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 128 (members: 1, guests: 127)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,309
Messages
3,554,071
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top