Problems with aftermarket brake pads?

[speedracer33]

My new '03 4Runner needed brake pads, so since I'm going to use it to tow I upgraded to more aggressive pads. Not like race pads, but ones that are good to 1000F (Axxis Ultimates). A couple of days have gone by, and this morning when I started it the ABS and VSC lights came on. They stayed on after I restarted it, so I took it to the dealer, and they said it was throwing three codes: yaw rate sensor, L4 Postition Switch, and low master cylinder pressure.

Is it possible that the harder brake pads are throwing off the sensors because the caliper can't press them into the rotors as hard, and as a result these errors are coming up? I also switched to ATE Super Blue fluid, but I can't imagine that having an effect. Has anybody else had this kind of problem before? Can the OEM Toyota pads handle the kind of heat that towing about 4000lbs (with trailer brakes on both axles) puts into them?

 

[ToolmanJohn]

Possible Connector Problem

During the course of changing the pads, maybe one of the many sensor wires on the brake system was knocked loose/broken accidentally?

When you changed the fluid over, and bled the system, maybe there is air in a line somewhere and the system detects it as a fault and is displaying the error codes?

I would check every area of the brake system that was worked on.

 

[Rocky_taco]

Did you change just the front pads or the front and rear? The problem with higher temp pads is that they don

 

[speedracer33]

Did you change just the front pads or the front and rear? The problem with higher temp pads is that they don

 

[Casper]

Odd,

I run Axxis Ultimates on both axles with ATE Typ200 (Super Blue's albino brother) fluid and have had zero issues with either the brakes or the fluid causing issues (excess more brake dust).

 

[Coralkillah]

As it turned out, the problem was the fluid. The DOT 4 Super Blue damaged a sensor in the master cylinder. I found a used one online and it should be fixed by tomorrow.

I was wondering about the Brake Fluid as Axxis Ultimates were the exact ones I got for my fronts on my 03 Sport (from StopTech) and StopTech were the ones that told me to get those pads as they were just a tad bit better in performance than the OEM ones.....

There was a thread somewhere on here about Brake Fluids and which ones were compatible with the T4Rs.....

 

[Rocky_taco]

mostly because I'm used to dealing with a Cherokee, which has a higher tow rating and I had brake heat problems with it. I keep forgetting that Toyota is the kind of company that makes a car that can do what it promises.

Tell me about it. Not only is my racecar on OEM rear pads, but I had to go to 800lb front springs to keep the weight from transferring too dramatically and locking them up. I also added a better rear wing to keep the ass planted under hard braking.

As it turned out, the problem was the fluid. The DOT 4 Super Blue damaged a sensor in the master cylinder. I found a used one online and it should be fixed by tomorrow.

Matt

Ha ha ha... I've got a 98 Cherokee... And you are right, the brakes suck on that thing. I think it was designed by AMC before they were picked up by Chrysler.

At least you race a class that allows you to change springs and add a wing. I was racing spec. So I didn't have those advantages. I was also racing FWD so my rear tires are flat spot city as you lift the inside rear going in to corners and flatspot it trailbraking when it sets back down.

Glad to hear you figured out the problem. Do you know exactly what it is about ATE blue that screwed up the sensor? I use ATE blue in most of my cars and all of my race cars and am curious what the problem was.

 

[TimelessR1]

Sorry, I dont want to hijack this tread but there was a question of why would you need better then OEM pads. I'm not an expert by any means, but I remember in a few tech articles I've read, that one reason to get a pad that can withstand higher temps is that , if you are going down a long downgrade and using the brakes alot and the temperture of the pads exceeds the temperture rating of that particulatar pad, what happens is the pad starts to chemically break down, and actually material chemically starts adhereing to the rotor surface. Which in turn can create the impression of a warped rotor when in fact its due to an irregular build up of pad material on the rotor.


On a side note....I'm still intrested in the outcome of this since I'm changing my rotor and pads extrememly soon too, and dont want to run into any wierd issues

 

[Casper]

Like Speed Racer and Taco, I also come from a motorsports back ground (BMW Mseries) and enjoy the feel of a harder and higher pedal, higher CF (axxis ultimates are a .45 i believe) pad that gives better bite and overall stopping ability along with better pedal modulation. Granted there is some trade off with increased brake dust and the occational squeel under light braking but for the most part its a fantastic addition to the truck. The addition of the stainless steel lines and higher CF pads have actually saved me on a few occations in panic stops.

Running a higher MOT (maximum operating temp) pad can have added benefits for those looking for increased load capability. While im sure that toyota did its homework and gave us a nice pad, you would be surprised at just how good the 4runner's OEM brake setup is with just a few adjustments.

As for how the fluid messed up the master cylinder..i really dont see how thats possible since Typ200 is its brother and I have had no issues. Could it possibly be the dye used to turn it blue? Naww...Ive run it in 3 other cars and never had a Master cylinder or any other issue with it. Its completely compatible with dot3 and exceeds that for dot4..hmm strange really.