LittleCaesar
New member
Here is a link for you to muddle over concerning your brakes. A very handy DYI for brakes.
4x4Wire - Toyota 4WD, Off-Highway, & 4x4 Information
4x4Wire - Toyota 4WD, Off-Highway, & 4x4 Information
Touchy Brake Syndrome
- Thread starter madbomber08
- Start date
madbomber08
New member
It was the rear shoes. Unnoticed by me, the rear shoes were saturated in gear oil. I had cleaned each side probably 4 times and each time I thought that they were fine and not saturated in gear oil. Shows you how much I know.
However, when coming to a slow stop when my vehicle is not level, there is still some "play" in the rear end. When I let off the brake it almost feels as if the rear shoes won't release from the drum. But I know now that's not the case. I think it's time for a new drive shaft u-joints. YAY
However, when coming to a slow stop when my vehicle is not level, there is still some "play" in the rear end. When I let off the brake it almost feels as if the rear shoes won't release from the drum. But I know now that's not the case. I think it's time for a new drive shaft u-joints. YAY
Nelsonmd
New member
Sounds like you still have leaky rear axle seals. Have you read BigFishAllDay's thread on this? He talks about the importance of getting the depth right on the seal. You might have driven yours in too far.
BTW, not sure what you paid for your replacement seal, but lots of guys have been saying lately that they paid $15-20 for it. Toyota of Dallas sells them for $5. Just FYI in case you overpaid last time.
Are you sure your shoes aren't sticking? You say they are covered in gear oil again, so sticking is the first thing I would expect. I had the same thing going on until I replaced my seal last week.
I cleaned and sanded by pads, and they seem to be fine, though now I do get some squealing/humming/vibration while creeping at very low speed. It is probably because of the oil bath they got for a couple weeks, but they seem to work fine anyway, so I am going to let them go until it gets worse.
madbomber08
New member
I'm sorry Nelson, I didn't make myself clear in my previous post. The reason I found out they were ACTUALLY saturated in gear oil was by taking it to a mechanic. During his phone call saying the vehicle was finished, he informed me that the rear shoes were saturated with oil beyond repair. So he went ahead and replaced the oily shoes with the "best" Napa shoes--$129.22 for the job! He didn't say anything about leaking axle seals again and I don't see gear oil anywere back there so I assume they're leak free. Right now I'm kind of kicking myself in the butt because I enjoy working on it and I should have listened to people's advice on here to just change the shoes after a blown axle seal. There are some great DIY out there on replacing shoes.
Anyway, the rear is fixed (until an axle seal starts to leak again). Today I found out that it's not the rear thats lagging but the front. It seems to be that I have a sticky driver front caliper. I think. I've been wrong before. But when I release the brakes on even the slightest incline, I can feel the brake pedal jerk. With the driver door open, I can see enough of the front tire to see it jerk. By jerk I mean to lag behind a little bit. Soooo guys, whats next? Cough Cough TUNDRA BRAKES? Or should I rebuild the stock ones?
Nelsonmd
New member
Ah, ok, that does clarify it more, though keep an eye on the rears to make sure you don't get a leak. I had a latent leak that wasn't noticeable without taking the drum off and actually looking at the pads and rotors (it must have been a small leak, but big enough to cause me problems).
ndhoward431
New member
My 4runner has 232,000 miles on it. I hate to say it but I have done the Tundra brake mod and while the stopping power is incredible compared to those stock crappy ones, I have dealt with the touchy brake thing since I bought it in 2001, even with the new brakes. All the touchiness is in the front on mine and it seems as tho it fades as the brakes warm up.
First thing in the morning if I even touch that brake pedal at speeds under 30mph-ish it dives forward and comes close to locking up. I guess its just something I've gotten used to, but I'm sure that it's supposed to be fixed, I've just never known how.
So don't worry madbomber08, I know your pain lol. It won't hurt your truck, but it is super annoying to deal with
First thing in the morning if I even touch that brake pedal at speeds under 30mph-ish it dives forward and comes close to locking up. I guess its just something I've gotten used to, but I'm sure that it's supposed to be fixed, I've just never known how.
So don't worry madbomber08, I know your pain lol. It won't hurt your truck, but it is super annoying to deal with
liv2bike
New member
- First thing in the morning if I even touch that brake pedal at speeds under 30mph-ish it dives forward and comes close to locking up. I guess its just something I've gotten used to, but I'm sure that it's supposed to be fixed, I've just never known how. -
glad it's not just my truck...exactly the same with my runner. it is annoying. i need to open up my drums in the near future and inspect them. my front brakes are way too grabby. feels like it is biased too much to the front.
glad it's not just my truck...exactly the same with my runner. it is annoying. i need to open up my drums in the near future and inspect them. my front brakes are way too grabby. feels like it is biased too much to the front.
madbomber08
New member
Replacing the rear shoes improved the touchiness A LOT. Even when I bought it a year ago I remember thinking that the brakes were very touchy. I think it's safe to assume that my shoes were contaminated for over a year. I really don't know how the P.O. lived with it because it's very annoying.
I do agree that it doesn't hurt the truck at all, but it does hurt me. It was kind of embarrassing pulling into school in the morning and having to wait for someone to walk across. Nothing like having the truck come to a slamming halt when it's totally unnecessary. Both the person walking across and the person behind me who came inches of rear-ending me are thinking "Wtf is he slamming on his brakes for?" Not to mention in the winter on ice it can be hazardous too.
I know you've had your truck since '01 and you've probably replaced an axle seal or 4 before :moon:, so I won't argue with you that your touchiness is from up front. It's depressing to know that even with the big bad tundra brakes that you still have the problem. But if you have never replaced your rear shoes, and have had to replace axle seals before, I and 1000 other members on here would highly suggest it.
p.s. sorry for the book i cannot stop myself once i get started
madbomber08
New member
I'm always glad I'm not the only one as well. When my rear brakes were sticking to the drum, mine dived a lot more then it does now. So even since it feels like the fronts are too grabby, check out the rears. I couldn't physically SEE the gear oil on the shoes, or feel it at first, but when the mechanic told me too feel my oily ones I could feel it. I think it's because I have no idea what a "good" brake shoe feels like. Or pads for that matter!
It definitely made my 4runner less fun to drive. It sucked having to always think about the next stop, It really sucked. Then having to fluctuate the brake pedal just right so I would'nt get thrown out the windshield is no fun either.
VERY touchy brake syndrome...going slow, FRONT brakes grab suddenly wont release... place into reverse, no problem, place from reverse into drive and i can go...no problem. However, just going directly into drive (by first having to HAVE-TO put my foot on the brake, it grabs sometimes and anchors down. Even when applying acceleration it jus anchors down. Put into neutral then into reverse, brakes release... When after truck warms-up, the grabbing stops.... So, i replaced rear cylinders and shoes, made sure everything there was moving ok; replace front rotors and discs..everything (calipers and pistons) moving ok. Press on brake pedal...cant turn wheel; release brake pedal and i can turn the wheel by hand. Put tires back on, step on brake to put into drive..Brake Syndrome again. NOW i'm think'n something to do with ABS or brake actuator ?
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topaziam
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topaziam
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So i'm still new to the forum and trying to get my post count up... but I do have this problem. I bought my son a 99 4runner, liked it so much that I bought myself a 2002. This condition happens in both trucks. Brakes are newer, new shocks and springs in mine and shocks in his.... Only happens when I first start the car then goes away. Any new ideas on the subject?
Thanks
Thanks
Just make sure they are adjusted correctly. It sounds like they might be close to the tolerance and once they warm up the metal expands to make them work right.
But these are old trucks now. Maybe do a complete brake flush and see if it helps too. Does it have ABS? My old one did not but had a load sensing proportioning valve. That can act up when it gets old too.
But these are old trucks now. Maybe do a complete brake flush and see if it helps too. Does it have ABS? My old one did not but had a load sensing proportioning valve. That can act up when it gets old too.
