Should my car "lunge forward" with parking brake?

[kaitlyn2004]

I've got a 2020 4runner and definitely been getting used to it over the past year or so. One thing that still gets me is the parking brake seems... weak? Granted I don't know precisely how they work and have previously owned Honda and Audi, but those parking brakes seemed to really lock the cars, where if I release the pedal brake on a slope the car doesn't move (but in 4runner it will)

Also, the few times I have forgotten to release the parking brake, it feels rather easy to drive forward or reverse (only doing a few feet before realizing the parking brake..) like it's not holding it so securely?

Is there something diff about the parking brake on the 4runner? Is "not locking it exactly in place" normal?

 

[Saker]

It could need adjustment by Toyota or could it possibly be that you are not pushing the Parking Brake pedal down hard enough?

If you are, then take it in and have them adjust the Parking Brake! It shouldn’t be easy to drive forward with it on. IMHO

Page 224
PARKING BRAKE
To set the parking brake, fully depress the parking brake pedal with your left foot while depress- ing the brake pedal with your right foot.
(Depressing the pedal again releases the parking brake.)
■ Parking the vehicle P. 176
■ Usage in winter time P. 330
U.S.A. Canada

 

[Forgetful]

Mine is the same. I've found that foot ones seem weaker than hand ones

 

[MyanRagahis]

I've had Toyota adjust mine in the past and I've adjusted mine in the past as well. Both times it gets weaker and gives out. I still use it because of muscle memory but it doesn't hold at all anymore lol.
My Dad's second gen Tacoma on the other hand, that thing won't move at all with his parking brake engaged. Not sure what it is about the 4Runners.

 

[offshorebear]

Its normal. 4Runners have weak parking breaks.

 

[91foxbody]

Mine does it as well. FYI if you take it in for routine maintenance under warranty they won't fix it, you'll need to make a service appointment for it. Total PITA.

 

[djeepin]

I think that EB (emergency brake), makes it slow down vehicle in case of catastrophic loss of brake fluid, when brake pump pumped out all of it from reservoir while driver pressing main brake pedal and emergency brake pedal same time. it's all in time for about 3 seconds, probably less, before impact hopefully at speed less than 40 mph (when belts/airbags guarantee to save life). Not good to have complete lock out rear wheels at highway speed - ABS will not help then. For parking recommended to have transmission lever in position P(ark). Audi used EB (electronically activated brake) and it is different animal. confusion in abbreviation - both EB. That's what I think.

 

[Gclark949]

Mine barely works too. It is crap design.

 

[4r-4ever]

i agree, it should not lock the wheel when you use the parking brake otherwise the emergency braking could cause the 4runner to spin. it should give you enough braking to stop the car if your fluid is lost. there's an instruction in the manual that says you should hear 8 clicks when you press the parking brake fully. if it's more than that, you probably need a good adjustment.

I think that EB (emergency brake), makes it slow down vehicle in case of catastrophic loss of brake fluid, when brake pump pumped out all of it from reservoir while driver pressing main brake pedal and emergency brake pedal same time. it's all in time for about 3 seconds, probably less, before impact hopefully at speed less than 40 mph (when belts/airbags guarantee to save life). Not good to have complete lock out rear wheels at highway speed - ABS will not help then. For parking recommended to have transmission lever in position P(ark). Audi used EB (electronically activated brake) and it is different animal. confusion in abbreviation - both EB. That's what I think.

 

[Saker]

Here is a link that may help. It describes the similarities and differences between Parking Brakes and Emergency Brakes.

Parking Brake vs. Emergency Brake: What's the Difference?