Not a good way to start the Day

[cyclist]

If the fender flares are like the side mirrors, they should be able to be ordered from Toyota OEM parts pre-painted. I know the mirror covers were around $40 already painted. Worth checking before you spend time and elbow grease to remove the white paint.

 

[96r50]

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.)

The parking brake activates on both rear wheels, not just the right. It has nothing to do with the calipers either, it is a separate set of cable actuated drum brakes inside the hat on the rear rotor. It's very hard to spray water on the parking brake components as they are well hidden from the elements. The cables can seize up from a lack of use or from driving through too many deep puddles but it's pretty unlikely on a two year old vehicle.

 

[Antman]

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).

Thank you for the very useful reply. I didn't realize the parking brake was only on the rear passenger wheel.

This is completely incorrect, sorry!

The parking brake on all cars are BOTH rear wheels, not one.

Get the facts straight before you post, please.

 

[BenSD]

This is completely incorrect, sorry!

The parking brake on all cars are BOTH rear wheels, not one.

Get the facts straight before you post, please.

Since it works on both rear wheels, does that change anything? Do you still think it was the parking brake and just bad luck that one side got locked up and the other didn't? It certainly would have pulled straight if both were locked up. I just want to have a better understanding of the system to know what went wrong and how to prevent it again.

 

[Vulgarian]

Ouch, that sucks. I could totally see myself turning that into a reason to convince my wife that I need to buy a steel rear bumper with a tire swing out - and maybe a front one too just for prevention measures.

 

[Jhalko]

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.

Water off a ducks back as they say... I know how I'd feel if this happened, don't beat yourself up.

so what you are saying is he is right? lol

I know I've done some REALLY stupid stuff that I wouldn't have the courage to post for all to know... Live and learn.

 

[vjack]

This is completely incorrect, sorry!

The parking brake on all cars are BOTH rear wheels, not one.

Get the facts straight before you post, please.

Sorry, my bad: I'm new to the 4Runner. My last 2 cars the e-brake was just a single wheel, I thought that was pretty standard.

 

[Antman]

Sorry, my bad: I'm new to the 4Runner. My last 2 cars the e-brake was just a single wheel, I thought that was pretty standard.

Not to get off topic, but which cars? I've never seen a car with a one wheel E-brake...

 

[ST1FLER]

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:

he wasnt really.... so what you are saying is I am right?

 

[Antman]

Since it works on both rear wheels, does that change anything? Do you still think it was the parking brake and just bad luck that one side got locked up and the other didn't? It certainly would have pulled straight if both were locked up. I just want to have a better understanding of the system to know what went wrong and how to prevent it again.

I guess just one wheel was stuck. Your rear diff would still allow the "unstuck" wheel to spin and that would drag the other along.

Weird that this happened! Maybe don't set that parking brake next time you wash/park right away.

 

[vjack]

Not to get off topic, but which cars? I've never seen a car with a one wheel E-brake...

Well the two cars I had issues with were a Dodge Neon and a Subaru Forester. They both had sticky/rusted parking brakes at various times, and on both of them it was only the rear passenger wheel that would slide.

I just assumed that the parking brake only went to that wheel, but I suppose now that I think about it, it's possible that the brake actuated both wheels but only the passenger's side was the one that would get stuck (coincidence?). I am *not* a mechanic, clearly. (Both of those cars had rear drum brakes, so right out of the gate it's not the same situation as the 4Runner.)

 

[K9trainer]

This may help

I Kidd, I Kidd

 

[SwampRunner]

I would definitely bring it to the dealer while still under warranty to get to the exact cause of the problem. There is no good reason for that to happen on such a new vehicle (even if you might have been playing in some mud or water -- which it doesn't look like). My hunch is the parking brake issue discussed, but you won't know for sure until someone looks at it. Please keep us posted.

 

[AVGuy]

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.

Ouch. Nothing that can't be fixed, but that's the thing with cars - mistakes don't come cheap. That being said, I've never seen something like this happen before. More than likely, you've got a brake caliper that is seizing/dragging a little (perhaps made worse by staying wet overnight?). I'd get that looked at at some point soon just to be sure. Hope you get everything worked out soon, man.

 

[4FL]

I have never had this issue with the brakes. This is the first I heard of it also.

Are you sure you just did not forget to release your parking brake?

 

[BenSD]

I have never had this issue with the brakes. This is the first I heard of it also.

Are you sure you just did not forget to release your parking brake?

I'm 100% sure it was released. When the parking brake is released, the daytime running lights come on, and a house across the street has a window that reflects my garage, so I always enjoy watching the lights come on when the brake is released.

 

[nglayton]

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.

It must be something your doing, I've had an 87, a 99 and now a 2011, I also washed them every week and have never, ever, not even once had the brakes lock up and not release.

For you to have it on 2 different vehicles seems odd.....

 

[NuclearN8]

Not sure why you're using the parking brake in your garage...

I've never used the parking brake on any vehicle I've owned and I park on hills a lot living in Cental and SW PA... Maybe I've been lucky, buuuut if the vehicle transmission miraculously shifts by itself with the vehicle off then that's what insurance is for in my opinion...

The Parking brake doesn't prevent wheel slide, which you painfully just found out the hard way...

All that aside, it's not suppose to stay locked once disengaged so it seems like something malfunctioned mechanically if operator error wasn't involved.

I would call your insurance companies (vehicle and homeowners) and let them figure it out...

 

[BenSD]

Not sure why you're using the parking brake in your garage...

I've never used the parking brake on any vehicle I've owned and I park on hills a lot living in Cental and SW PA... Maybe I've been lucky, buuuut if the vehicle transmission miraculously shifts by itself with the vehicle off then that's what insurance is for in my opinion...

The Parking brake doesn't prevent wheel slide, which you painfully just found out the hard way...

All that aside, it's not suppose to stay locked once disengaged so it seems like something malfunctioned mechanically if operator error wasn't involved.

I would call your insurance companies (vehicle and homeowners) and let them figure it out...

Insurance has already been contacted for the repair. My best guess is that the brakes were wet from washing the truck, and when the parking brake was engaged, somehow it seized up. Something definitely mechanically malfunctioned. That's why I posted this as a heads up to others.

 

[Dalko43]

OP, no idea how your rear "slid" across pavement or concrete into the wall like that.

As for your brakes acting funny...it is highly recommended that you drive your car around the block after a wash for that exact reason.