Suspension and brake problems, advice please.

[ZoomSpeed]

Hey guys, I just picked up a high miles (147k) 2001 4Runner not to long ago and I'm having some trouble with the suspension and could use some advice from you guys.

1. The car bounces alot when going over bumps or when I brake.

2. Sometimes when I hit a bump or some rough pavement the entire car will shutter and the steering wheel vibrates. Sometimes it feels like I'm about to loose control of the car.

3. If I'm at low speed and i hold the brake just enough to bring the car to a slow stop, then instead of gradually slowing down the car kind of slows for a second then it goes for a second as if i let go of the brake. This "brakes on; brakes off" feel just repeats until I stop, unless I apply enough pressure to just jerk the car to a stop.

4. Over all the steering feels loose and squirrelly and the brakes feel mushy.

I'm thinking to remedy #1 I'll get some new shocks. Would new springs be overkill?

Not really sure what would cause #2. Any one have suggestions here?

For #3 I'm guessing just new pads, rotors, shoes, drums, and brake fluid would fix it.

Do you guys have any suggestions on anything else I should replace or check out?

Thanks for any insight.

 

[Andrew_I]

Alright well for starters 147k is actually not that high. I mean its for sure not new but if it was well taken care of they can go for 300k miles+. The bumping during breaking is due to the same problem as #3. The brakes often get warped and will have a go-stop feeling. I find if it gets annoying i just stomp the breaks real hard... not so good for the tires but fixes the warp. To fix this new rotors need to be put in but pads will probably be needed and i would recommend getting both. Most people replace their rotors with after market ones as well as brake pads. The squishy brake feeling may be that there is air in the lines which involves a simple bleed or possibly a master cylinder on its last legs.

Now when the truck bounces when going over bumps it really depends if it is a slow floating bump (shock rebuild) or just a chatter. The chatter is prone to all SUV/trucks with a stiff suspension and you will simply have to learn to control it. Most often the back end will jump and skip over rough and close together bumps.
Springs are definitely not necessary but may be a good idea depending on the condition and abuse the 4runners been through.

You should be sure to check that the timing belt has been replaced within the last 50-60k miles.

 

[p nut]

2. Sometimes when I hit a bump or some rough pavement the entire car will shutter and the steering wheel vibrates. Sometimes it feels like I'm about to loose control of the car.

I had this same issue on my 98 4Runner, and so have other guys. Some had this fixed by replacing the steering rack bushings. Others, this did not help at all. The bushings are cheap, so try that first.

 

[Bobotex]

Toyota 4runner.93.Changed coil springs,brakes and drums on rear. Got bad chatter on rear brakes when I apply above 20 mph. Readjusted and still have chatter. Pads have ripples in the top now. Parking brake is loose. Was before brake replacement and didn't have chatter. Drums are Chinese from Rock Auto. Went in reverse and applied brakes hard to self adjust and still chatter. Petal not spongy. Assume air is out of line. Rebleed? Replace new shoes? Threw away old drums. Both shoes have chatter marks on them. Replaced one brake line I pinched when replacing coil springs with braided steel when I lowered axle. No leaks holds pressure.

 

[nissanh]

1) Inspect shocks and replace any work shock: replace a pair : OEM shocks are cheap. Avoid Cheap aftermarket because a cheap monro failed in 1 year!

2) May be work control arm bushings

3) Definitely needs rear drums and shoes. A seller on ebay sells good brake drums. Two shipped for $66. I used his products and are in excellent quality. This is for 97, check with him for a 2001.
Search "3558 Rear Brake Drum Pair of 2" on ebay

If you plan to do front, see the same seller, he even got good deals on front. Front comes in two sizes 15 inch wheels had a smaller rotor.
Use OEM brake pads if you want to stop with much less effort and to avoid unnecessary sounds when braking.


4) Work steering components?

LASTLY: My 4R is at 216K miles and steering is still firm and nothing has been replaced in the system. 147 K miles for shocks and suspension seems too early. Are those OEM? How confident about the mileage in your truck?
Do not buy Chinese cheap suspension bushings. Those fail in no time.

 

[Kanoe]

Toyota 4runner.93.Changed coil springs,brakes and drums on rear. Got bad chatter on rear brakes when I apply above 20 mph. Readjusted and still have chatter. Pads have ripples in the top now. Parking brake is loose. Was before brake replacement and didn't have chatter. Drums are Chinese from Rock Auto. Went in reverse and applied brakes hard to self adjust and still chatter. Petal not spongy. Assume air is out of line. Rebleed? Replace new shoes? Threw away old drums. Both shoes have chatter marks on them. Replaced one brake line I pinched when replacing coil springs with braided steel when I lowered axle. No leaks holds pressure.

I had this chattering when I put new rock auto drums on the rear of my corolla. I think it’s the way the drums are machined, they pull the shoes off the backing plate and then it snaps back. I used the e-brake aggressively for a day or two to smooth the drums a bit and it went away. That was a couple years back now. Oem pads but oem drums were way too pricey.