Something up with brakes or just time to replace?

[Jeremy03Sport]

I'd say in the last year after driving some newer vehicles that my brakes on my 03 don't grab as well as they use to. After jumping in my car and then my friends newer vehicle I go to hit the brakes and the car is damn near squeeling to a halt. Seems I got use to mine which have to be pushed quite a ways towards the floor to grab. I bought new brake pads, but when I pulled my wheels off, the original pads looked good yet. I'd say there was still 60-75% left on pads when compared to the new ones. So, I didn't bother changing. Almost seems like the lines need to be bled. Is it possible something is sticking on the caliper and only one pad is grabbing the rotor? My 4runner has about 49,000 miles on it. Anyone experience anything similar? Just wondering if it's just normal brake wear or something I can make use of the warranty on.

 

[Spider5]

How the master cylinder level. It sounds like air in the line or leaking. If one brake seems to be working better then the others maybe you have a bad or out of adjustment distribution block.

 

[sharp4runr]

might be time to flush the brake fluid and get a fresh fill.

 

[Jeremy03Sport]

reservoir level seemed good the last time I checked and I don't know whether or not the fluid circulates much, but it still looks clean.

Probably wouldn't hurt to inspect each set of pads again and try bleeding the system. We've done a fair amount of towing with it, so maybe the pads were worn more than I first thought. Should pads be wearing evenly on each side of the rotor? If so, and I find that they aren't, maybe there is an issue with the caliper. It spent the last three years in michigan, mud in the summer and salt/snow in the winter. Maybe the pistons in the caliper are corroded and sticking on one side.

 

[Bluto]

We've done a fair amount of towing with it

Take sharp4runr's advice and change the fluid. Heat from braking can really degrade the fluid.

I think most Toyota's in general have a soft feel to the brake pedal.

 

[NCSCOTT]

From my observations with various vehicles the outer pad always seemed to wear more than the inners. It didn't matter weather it was a Dodge, Chevy or Ford. My brakes have 45k on them and I just changed the oil yesterday. This is the first vehicle I owned that the pads seem to wear even. Front and back. This is the most miles i have ever got on a set of brakes too. They still look like they have 30-40% pad left. It must be the 4 piston design of the front calipers. Just a guess. Or just typical Toyota Quality.

 

[trd_style]

try driving and put alittle more pressure to your stop when you hit a small pothole. does it squeeks really bad and does it stop about 3-4 ft. later? i have posted this issue before and someone told me it's normal? not sure why. but if there's anymore research about this, i would like to know =)