OEM Brakes are terriable

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08t4rlimited

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I have been creepy for about a month (sold my 335i and bought a runner).

Anyway, I am hapy with most of it except the terrible seat and spongy brakes.

The seat I realize there is not much I can do but the brakes on the other hand...my old ride the brakes where phenomenal...if my wife or friend was driving the car I would get whiplash until they adjusted to it.

However, now I feel myself pressing hardly on a sponge trying to stop my runner. My wife has a Camry and about 1yr ago she complained about the brake feel and I replaced everything...nothing changed. I later read online that camrys brakes are "mushy."

Is this more of a "all Toyota's have mushy brakes" or just the two I own? Also without going crazy (brembo brake kit) what is a good brake setup? I am not planning on changinging brake lines...just pads and rotors.

(it's an 08' limited v6)
 
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i have heard good things about EBC Rotors/pads and getting a set of GOOD pads will most likely be your best bet because slotted and drilled rotors probably wont do much i am going to be replacing my front rotors and pads at the end of August and since i like the look i am gonna get EBC slotted rotors with a set of EBC pads or to be cheaper Duralast life time pads
 
2007toyota4runners said:
i have heard good things about EBC Rotors/pads and getting a set of GOOD pads will most likely be your best bet because slotted and drilled rotors probably wont do much i am going to be replacing my front rotors and pads at the end of August and since i like the look i am gonna get EBC slotted rotors with a set of EBC pads or to be cheaper Duralast life time pads
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Don't get duralast pads. They suck.
 
I have always been happy with my brakes. Maybe you expect more. I just replaced my pads at 68k miles but they could have went another 5k miles. I replaced them with oem. Have you bleed the brakes and replaced all the fluid, that may be your problem. My pedal feels firm to me.
 
brakes are great on the 4runner for an SUV actually - this is coming from a brembo set up on my jeep srt8. no complaints with my yota
 
My first runner had a soft pedal feel. I later found that part of the problem was someone used re-manufactured calipers. My current 4runner is worlds better. They are the original calipers with newer pads only. Like was said earlier, I would flush the fluid, maybe upgrade the pads and make sure the calipers are not cheap re-manufactured ones. Upgrading calipers might get you what you are looking for. However, I am not sure what would get you on par with a BMW.
 
before i got my 04 sport I had a 04 Grand Cherokee with the V8, 33" tires and 4:56 gears. The brakes were all stoch except for the EBC pads. They were 10 times better then the brakes in my Runner. The brakes on the Runner were done at the dealer before I bought it and they still suck. I brakes are the one let-down with my 4Runner.
 
Heres what you do. Change the brake line to stainless steel lines, DOT 4 fluid, good pads (I run carbotech XP8) and call it a day. I run this set up everyday and every track event. I could not give it more praise unless I get a BBK.
 
The best combo for me is: EBC 3GD sloted and dimpled front rotors, Hawk LT front pads and new front callipers that are not frozen. I can stop my 4500 lb beast with larger 165/70/17 tires on a dime now. Huge difference. It was the best investment on any upgrade so far.
 
:cheers:
 

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Brake lines will help "feel" the most...stainless brake lines will make the pedal feel less spongy...but pads and rotors will help stopping as well.
 
settytb said:
Brake lines will help "feel" the most...stainless brake lines will make the pedal feel less spongy...but pads and rotors will help stopping as well.
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Will someone school me on how stainless steel brake lines will make brakes feel less spongy?
 
When u step on the brakes all the pressure from the fluid going to the caliper makes the rubber hose swell a lil. Therefore making them feel spongy. Now on the stainless it will not allow the line to swell like so and in turn provide you with better braking charecteristics. Its really nice btw.
 
zonianbrat said:
Will someone school me on how stainless steel brake lines will make brakes feel less spongy?
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It helps your head think they feel less spongy. They do look cool, but modern brake hoses are made with advanced plastics that are as strong or stronger than steel.
 
Nobody mentioned this so I figured you should know....



Make sure the shims are there behind the brake pads, and make sure they're not rusty. The rust build up can actually make the shims expand, and although it's only fractions of a centimenter, that can make a spongy pedal due to the further travel of having to squish those rusty shims down.
 
ChaosStarter said:
Nobody mentioned this so I figured you should know....



Make sure the shims are there behind the brake pads, and make sure they're not rusty. The rust build up can actually make the shims expand, and although it's only fractions of a centimenter, that can make a spongy pedal due to the further travel of having to squish those rusty shims down.
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I have worked on cars for many years and that is the first I have ever heard that theory. I didn't know that rust had sponge like consistency. Rust I have seen flakes off and turns to dust. I would love to see the source of your information.
 
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