Stuck Brake Piston
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Ask10
New member
To be fair, my 3rd gen has eaten 3 sets of calipers from new to now and they're only $250 a pair to replace. But that's really the only thing that's gone bad out of the ordinary.
Not too bad considering all the other problems I've had with other cars such as transmissions, head gaskets, ECU failures etc (Think Chrysler). If I had my choice, I would have the city buy Toyota 4runners as fleet vehicles vs. Dodge Durangos and Dodge Chargers. If they hadn't spent so much money on fixing our fleet cars, we might be able to stop cutting costs!
Not too bad considering all the other problems I've had with other cars such as transmissions, head gaskets, ECU failures etc (Think Chrysler). If I had my choice, I would have the city buy Toyota 4runners as fleet vehicles vs. Dodge Durangos and Dodge Chargers. If they hadn't spent so much money on fixing our fleet cars, we might be able to stop cutting costs!
preacher35
New member
My last SUV was a Nissan Xterra and it had three seized calipers. My wife's Acadia had a seized caliper (among 3 thousand other f'd up issues). My '05 4Runner has had no problems save the A/C evaporator and I have 107k on the clock. I'd say if the worst problems you have at 103k are two seized calipers (which, btw, are relatively easy and inexpensive issues to remedy), you are in pretty damned good shape.
toyo
Member
Go buy a Tahoe or Explorer if you think a bad caliper is your worst problem.
Ask10
New member
^^Tahoe's and Explorers (I've had one of each) are pretty good compared to other vehicles Durangos, Traverses, XC90s, Touaregs, Armadas, Range Rovers etc heck, even Honda Pilots have a fairly bad rap compared to 4runners, not too mention they are useless offroad. I think the 4runner is one of the most problem free vehicles one can possibly purchase, and their resale value reflects it.
toyo
Member
It just boggles my mind how some people can come on here and make bullshit comments that really have no merit. What about when he goes to sell his 4R? Is he gonna come on here and make a positive comment about the great resale he just got? Hell no....
If you don't like your vehicle just get rid of it and go play with another make and model.
chethro
New member
I have to agree that the calipers are the weak link in our vehicles. It is well documented on here already.
I replaced all my calipers and rotors at 103,000. At least they are under life time warranties so its just my labor that I'm out if I have any problems. The passenger rear caliper I've replaced three times in the past 2 months due to a barely noticeable leak at the bleeder I put on a speed bleeder and have decided to roll with it as is. Two calipers were from Advance and the one on it now is from Napa. This isn't Toyota's fault though. I blame it on poor quality control on the rebuilds. In all three cases, the seating surface for the bleeder was not a smooth machined surface. It was rough looking like it had been bead blasted only
I think another issue at least with my vehicle is that the rear brakes do more work than they should. They are always very hot and the fronts are cold.
I replaced all my calipers and rotors at 103,000. At least they are under life time warranties so its just my labor that I'm out if I have any problems. The passenger rear caliper I've replaced three times in the past 2 months due to a barely noticeable leak at the bleeder I put on a speed bleeder and have decided to roll with it as is. Two calipers were from Advance and the one on it now is from Napa. This isn't Toyota's fault though. I blame it on poor quality control on the rebuilds. In all three cases, the seating surface for the bleeder was not a smooth machined surface. It was rough looking like it had been bead blasted only
I think another issue at least with my vehicle is that the rear brakes do more work than they should. They are always very hot and the fronts are cold.
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BlackWorksInc
New member
Actually this has never happened to anyone else, I'm glad we have a thread about itStrange, we should probably tell Toyota about it.
Serious note, I recall [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] saying that this is far less common on the west coast. Blame the rust belt...
I noticed a lot of these failures are in rust prone territories and humid climates which makes me wonder. I haven't seen a seized caliper in my dealership yet, so it was just something to note.
There isn't a vehicle ever made that doesn't have some type of problem. If there is I want to see it. A few vehicles have come close...my wife's 96 Accord had it's first (very minor repair - $4) at over 230k miles.
The calipers on the 4runner are a more expensive problem. But if you compare at the repair record of the 4runner to other vehicles...the 4runner is very very reliable.
To me the calipers are just a inconvenience. After my second set...I bought NAPA with a lifetime warranty. So I just have to spend an hour replacing them when they freeze up again. I'm now on my 4th set of calipers. But that's the ONLY repairs I've had to do...nothing more. It now has over 260k miles...and is in EXCELLENT condition. Runs great...doesn't burn any oil. I wouldn't hesitate to take a trip to California and back.
The calipers on the 4runner are a more expensive problem. But if you compare at the repair record of the 4runner to other vehicles...the 4runner is very very reliable.
To me the calipers are just a inconvenience. After my second set...I bought NAPA with a lifetime warranty. So I just have to spend an hour replacing them when they freeze up again. I'm now on my 4th set of calipers. But that's the ONLY repairs I've had to do...nothing more. It now has over 260k miles...and is in EXCELLENT condition. Runs great...doesn't burn any oil. I wouldn't hesitate to take a trip to California and back.
toyo
Member
Damn Mike! That's the 1st reply you have made where I didn't want to reach thru my computer and slap you!
My current 4R is my 4th 4R that I have owned and the 1st one to ever need a caliper. The original owner had it in the state of Washington for a few years. I guess that's why it failed prematurely.
270k and original calipers.
My 2005 4R has 270k and the original calipers. Colorado has very Little rust. I am OCD when it comes to maintenance and I have flushed the brake fluid every 30k. My biggest issue with the brakes has been chronic brake pulsation caused by rotor runout and thickness variations. Every vehicle can have warped rotors, it's just more noticeable on the 4R's because the calipers are fixed. Fixed calipers are less forgiving to rotor runout than the floating type found on most vehicles. I have found that I must match rotors to the hub to correct the problem, even new rotors must be matched. Rotor matching insures less than .001" runout. Since I started matching rotors I have not had any pulsation issues. (It's also important to use quality brakes pads. I like Akebono which I think makes the OE pad.
My 2005 4R has 270k and the original calipers. Colorado has very Little rust. I am OCD when it comes to maintenance and I have flushed the brake fluid every 30k. My biggest issue with the brakes has been chronic brake pulsation caused by rotor runout and thickness variations. Every vehicle can have warped rotors, it's just more noticeable on the 4R's because the calipers are fixed. Fixed calipers are less forgiving to rotor runout than the floating type found on most vehicles. I have found that I must match rotors to the hub to correct the problem, even new rotors must be matched. Rotor matching insures less than .001" runout. Since I started matching rotors I have not had any pulsation issues. (It's also important to use quality brakes pads. I like Akebono which I think makes the OE pad.
I dont know guys, but brake calipers should not be a "maintenance" item. Rotors and pads? Yes, they are wear items, but calipers? No. Sorry, I dont subscribe to the group think that forums like these foster such as "just get the NAPA or Autozone warranty ones and swap them out every year". Brake calipers should be bullet proof. Plenty of toyota models that dont have this problem.
BlackWorksInc
New member
We've had a couple 1st Gen Tacomas and 3rd Gen 4Runners (they use the same caliper) with various caliper issues in the past. Just had one this weekend where the outboard pistons were slow to react and even didn't apply evenly, customer will need a new one since we don't rebuild them at the dealership.
I'm curious, I never bothered to look; but is the issue with the "Small" brake calipers used with the 16" rims or do the SE and Limited with the "Big" brake calipers also suffer from this issue?
I'm not saying that they shouldn't be bullet-proof, but there's been caliper issues on various models of vehicles spread across many brands.
Its across the board on 13WG, 13WL, and 13WH calipers if you live in salt infested (man made or natural) areas. Rotor size (319mm vs 33xmm) only means heat sink size.
