Not a good way to start the Day

[BenSD]

I have Monday's off work, so that's the day I usually wash my truck. I always pull it out into the driveway, wash it, then back it into the garage to dry it. I've done this nearly every week since I bought my '14 TEP, and I did the same with my '04 Sport for nearly 10 years.

Maybe 7 years ago with my '04, I had an issue where I washed my truck, then the brakes locked up when I tried to drive it the next day. I guess the brakes got wet and didn't release. When that happened with my '04, I gave it a bit of gas and they released without much issue. It felt a bit like when you stop right at a speed bump and you have to give it a bit of gas to get over it. I switched it into 4 low to give it a bit more power but without the threat of them breaking free and me flying forward.

The same thing happened this morning. I washed my truck last night, backed it into the garage, then started it up this morning and the rear brakes were locked. I switched it into 4 low and gave it just a tiny bit of gas. My truck started creeping forward, but I knew I was dragging the rear. My goal was to get it out of the garage so I had a bit more room to work with, but that's when I heard the sound.

Unbeknownst to me, the rear was sliding to the side. The rear passenger wheel was locked and the rear driver was not. It felt like I was making a nice slow measured forward progress, but not so much. The rear fender and bumper cover clipped an interior wall and this was the result. I had no clue the back was wandering because I was concentrating on being slow and steady and preparing for the brake to release.

Needless to say, after I hit the wall, the brake released and I was able to back it back in.

Has anyone else had any issues with brakes that stick? I suppose in the future I'll have to do a lap around the block to stop this from happening, but I've washed my truck hundreds of times now and this has happened only twice.

 

[DesertCanyons]

Bad day off is better than good day working

Ouch, that hurts just to look at it. Better check the wall too. If it shifted you could have load bearing issues.
I've never had my brakes lock up after washing the car. Not immediately or overnight. When I wash it at the coin op I'm driving it right afterwards so most of the water spins off. Sometimes the brakes are soft for a minute or two but then they dry off.
Sliding sideways on a dry floor. Never seen that one. Next time lock up the rear differential too. Might help?

 

[Boyds4Runner]

Sorry to see that happened. If the parking brake's are rusting shut after the wash there may be too much water getting in there somehow?

AS for the scratches there was another thread a long time ago and I posted the a trick had gotten from a local car-wash.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/198615-scraped-my-car-can-i-fix-2.html#post2034138

Someone made a further suggestion to spray the carb-cleaner on a rag first rather than the surface to be cleaned.

Anyway that should get the scuff marks off and then it may not look as bad.

Good luck!

 

[Jhalko]

Wow and I thought I had a case of the Mondays this week. :wtf:

Otherwise seems like a sign that a steel rear bumper is needed. :naughty:

 

[Miguelon]

That sucks, but it could be a sign that you can now order those new Bushwacker Fender Flares

 

[SnowTrail]

Compound

Ouch, I wouldn't wish this on anybody. I can't really tell from the pictures but a lot of it looks like it is paint transfer from the wall which if it is (hopefully) the case is removable. Compound such as mcguires and a microfiber cloth will go along way( better if you have a DA) but I would go at it regardless.

 

[BenSD]

The white in the photo is indeed paint transfer, but the corner of the wall has metal reinforcement, and that scraped the paint of the truck. Though I was able to pop the rear bumper back in place to drive it, the area where it connects with the rear mud flap has some damage and it won't fully click back in place. Also, the plastic bumper cover is damaged where it was bent. I'll certainly need a new bumper cover and also the fender trim piece. Thankfully I don't see any issues with the sheetmetal.

Thankfully the wall didn't see any big damage, just a dinged edge where it made contact, and that can be patched.

It sucks that it happened, but at least it makes for an interesting story.

 

[Quentin]

Are you setting the parking brake over night? Does our parking brake lock both rear wheels or just one?

That is crazy.

 

[BenSD]

Are you setting the parking brake over night? Does our parking brake lock both rear wheels or just one?

That is crazy.

I set the parking brake every time just out of habit. It sounds like I'll have to stop using it after washing my truck, or find a way to release it if that's causing the problem. I find it odd that one side was locked and the other not, but I have no clue how the system works.

 

[LawnDart]

Well...that looks hideous!

 

[96r50]

I'd say that your brake pads are rusting to your rotors after the wash. A couple laps around the block before parking it would probably prevent that in the future.

 

[Mistaken]

Yikes! Don't do that!

But really, glad no one was hurt and the 4Runner can be fixed.

 

[K9trainer]

Driver error, you slid over 2 feet and didn't notice anything, good thing you weren't on a cliff

 

[BenSD]

Driver error, you slid over 2 feet and didn't notice anything, good thing you weren't on a cliff

Well, clearly I drove into a wall so you're right about that, but you are over simplifying it a bit. I've backed into and driven out of my garage hundreds of times. Just like all of us, we know how far the mirrors should be from the walls, how things should line up, etc. When pulling forward, I line myself up by keeping my driver mirror about 3 inches from the wall then drive straight.

When you combine that with the fact that I was waiting for the brakes to break free at any moment, I wasn't thinking to check my rear view mirror to see if my rear had slid to the side while I was driving straight and my mirror was still the proper distance from the wall. All the usual indicators were fine. Last time when this happened, I pulled perfectly straight and the rear didn't slide sideways so I didn't know that was a possibility to look for.

It's easy to simply say "driver error" and move on to try and make me feel like an idiot, but I'm well ahead of you there. That's why I posted this in the first place -- to show that this perfect storm of unexpected events can happen to others in the community, and help others if they run into this situation. If it has happened to me twice now with 2 different trucks over 12 years, it could happen to others as well.

So yeah, check that rear view mirror when driving forward and make sure you aren't sliding sideways even if you feel like you are going straight and everything else lines up fine.

 

[ST1FLER]

so what you are saying is he is right? lol

 

[vjack]

The "parking brake" usually just actuates the back right wheel (it's just a cable that goes directly to the brake calipers, it's a completely different system from the normal brake lines). [EDIT: it has been pointed out that on the 4Runners there are actually e-brakes on both rear wheels. Sorry about that]

I've had two cars get sticky parking brakes before, although both were 10+ years old when the started to exhibit the problems. I am surprised you are getting that kind of rusting on a 2-year-old car in Southern California.

Anyway, here's how you can release a stuck parking brake:release the brake and then step on it *hard*. you want to get it tighter than it was before, to pull the cable a bit. You may have to do this 2 or 3 times but it will work loose whatever is stuck. (I think driving with the brake on is a mistake.)

Since this car should still be under warranty I would have the dealer take a look at the brake. I would also tell them that a faulty brake caused the vehicle to slide and see if they will cover it, or give you a discount on the body work. (I would omit the part where you knew the brake was stuck and drove anyway.)

 

[salong53]

[MENTION=1704]BenSD[/MENTION] I had issues on my 4th gen where the brakes would feel touchy and lock up after a wash if I didn't sling the water off. Since then I've made it a habit to do a lap around the block to sling any water off the brakes/tires/wheels and then give it a good toweling off again.

Definitely a bad idea to set the parking brake on wet or extremely hot rotors. I hate you had to learn that one the hard way but at least it's just the plastic that's damaged.

 

[BenSD]

The "parking brake" usually just actuates the back right wheel (it's just a cable that goes directly to the brake calipers, it's a completely different system from the normal brake lines).

I've had two cars get sticky parking brakes before, although both were 10+ years old when the started to exhibit the problems. I am surprised you are getting that kind of rusting on a 2-year-old car in Southern California.

Anyway, here's how you can release a stuck parking brake:release the brake and then step on it *hard*. you want to get it tighter than it was before, to pull the cable a bit. You may have to do this 2 or 3 times but it will work loose whatever is stuck. (I think driving with the brake on is a mistake.)

Since this car should still be under warranty I would have the dealer take a look at the brake. I would also tell them that a faulty brake caused the vehicle to slide and see if they will cover it, or give you a discount on the body work. (I would omit the part where you knew the brake was stuck and drove anyway.)

Thank you for the very useful reply. I didn't realize the parking brake was only on the rear passenger wheel. That makes perfect sense that it was the the culprit by getting stuck because it was wet. In the future, I'll stop using the parking brake after washing my truck, and I'll try the technique for trying to release it if it gets stuck again. Thanks again for the feedback!

 

[wsgoat]

so what you are saying is he is right? lol

:crazy:

 

[BenSD]

so what you are saying is he is right? lol

Yes, but so was vjack on the top of page 2. Read vjack's post and compare. Being right isn't the same as being helpful. :rockon: