Touchy Grabby Brakes

[catrains]

Just to follow up on this post, my frame seems to be fine. I got new Cooper tires last December and have about 30k miles on them now, they are wearing nice and even with 10k mile rotation intervals.

As for the brake assist, I still get it occasionally, but have learned to keep it under control most of the time.

if you did not go to a frame shop that uses computer aided measuring to check for the frame being in spec then what happened is the typical wheel alignment shop could adjust for the frame damage.

a bent frame from a rear hit usually causes the vehicle not to track properly. the front axle and the rear do not follow exactly ,,,. in severe cases following a vehicle moving , with this issue , it can be seen

 

[bcolts]

a bent frame from a rear hit usually causes the vehicle not to track properly. the front axle and the rear do not follow exactly ,,,. in severe cases following a vehicle moving , with this issue , it can be seen

I've heard that called "dog tracking". Next time you're walking your dog and he gets out ahead of you, you'll see why.

 

[BlueRidge77]

I'm glad I found this thread. I just recently bought a used 16 Trail Edition with only 7,800 miles and I've noticed the grabby brakes. I have not had it go into "panic" mode, but I haven't put too many miles on it yet either. Before buying the used 4Runner, I test drove 3 new SR5s and I didn't notice this issue on any of them. Other than the normal "getting used to it" type of thing. The used one I bought has a more aggressive bite. Have any of you with issues driven other 5th gen 4Runners and noticed the brakes are different or not as 'grabby'? I wonder if some vehicles are worse than others? Thanks guys.

 

[bofa]

Not only the touchy brake, but the brake dive made me learn to stop the 4R with more finesse. It wasnt too bad. I much prefer it over a sloppy pedal.

 

[badhabits]

I must be the only one that does not have this brake problem. I drove my 2013 SR5 for 4 years, and now my 2016 Trail and except for the 3 times that I know I set off the panic stop my brakes have not grabbed or locked up under any weather conditions. In fact I thought the brakes on the 13 were bit mushy and needed to be firmer.

 

[bloodninja]

I must be the only one that does not have this brake problem. I drove my 2013 SR5 for 4 years, and now my 2016 Trail and except for the 3 times that I know I set off the panic stop my brakes have not grabbed or locked up under any weather conditions. In fact I thought the brakes on the 13 were bit mushy and needed to be firmer.

Same here with my 2012 Limited. As long as I use finesse, my truck doesn't have touchy brakes. So much of driving the 4Runner though is preparation and conservative driving. It's a lumbering beast, so I drive it like it. If every time you brake is last-minute reactionary, I could see it being touchy due to the Brake Assist that most modern cars have.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[badhabits]

I will say this that I am not one to run up onto a stop and apply the brakes at the last minute which could cause the panic stop to apply, but even when I need to stop in a hurry I can avoid the stop on a dime mode.

 

[2nd Chance]

Here is a thread I started on this topic last June.

Brake Assist - Panic Stop (Tire Pressure)

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/221877-brake-assist-panic-stop-tire-pressure.html

 

[badhabits]

Toyota is not the only one to use this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_brake_assist
Brake assist - Active safety features

Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA)

Range Rover Evoque: Emergency brake assist (EBA) - Brakes - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Owner's Manual

And there's more.

 

[johnbt]

I've driven 1,000 miles during the past month in my 2016 TEP and haven't noticed anything strange about the brakes. I wasn't aware it even had Brake Assist. After reading the thread yesterday I gave the pedal a few good stabs today at anywhere from 25 to 45 mph and the truck stopped as expected. It was built in August or September if that matters.

The Avalon I bought 3 days later(for my girlfriend) was built in September or August and I can't keep the months straight. I'll try it for Brake Assist the next time she lets me drive it.

John

 

[2nd Chance]

The first time I had the issue was a red light camera in the rain. Scare the living shit out of me. Rears locked up slid sideways (a little) and nose dived like a ant eater looking for ants.

I have since played with tire pressure and it has helped some.

BTW I have tested in the snow and I can actually lock up the rears before they ABS kicks on. The dealer said that this is normal.

I've driven 1,000 miles during the past month in my 2016 TEP and haven't noticed anything strange about the brakes. I wasn't aware it even had Brake Assist. After reading the thread yesterday I gave the pedal a few good stabs today at anywhere from 25 to 45 mph and the truck stopped as expected. It was built in August or September if that matters.

The Avalon I bought 3 days later(for my girlfriend) was built in September or August and I can't keep the months straight. I'll try it for Brake Assist the next time she lets me drive it.

John

 

[1engineer]

I've driven 1,000 miles during the past month in my 2016 TEP and haven't noticed anything strange about the brakes. I wasn't aware it even had Brake Assist. After reading the thread yesterday I gave the pedal a few good stabs today at anywhere from 25 to 45 mph and the truck stopped as expected. It was built in August or September if that matters.

The Avalon I bought 3 days later(for my girlfriend) was built in September or August and I can't keep the months straight. I'll try it for Brake Assist the next time she lets me drive it.

John

Oh, you'll know it when it happens lol. It's the speed of actuation, not the force of your foot on the pedal. Just go to a deserted street and pretend a deer comes out of nowhere. You gotta go from the gas to the brake really fast, like in an emergency. You will stop. Now.

 

[2nd Chance]

Oh, you'll know it when it happens lol. It's the speed of actuation, not the force of your foot on the pedal. Just go to a deserted street and pretend a deer comes out of nowhere. You gotta go from the gas to the brake really fast, like in an emergency. You will stop. Now.

I read the " Oh, you'll know it when it happens lol"


Thank you for making me laugh I needed this today as it's been a long cold day.

 

[BlueRidge77]

I appreciate everyone's feedback. I'm sure my wife and I will get used to it. It's just odd that we have to...

 

[2nd Chance]

I appreciate everyone's feedback. I'm sure my wife and I will get used to it. It's just odd that we have to...

Don't worry you do get used to it.

Funny thing is when I drive my company truck 2007 Escalade I have to stand on the brakes to get it to stop and that is worse in my opinion.

 

[Donovan1]

No real brake override unfortunately. My working theory is that they tune this to anemic little old Asian ladies when they think of braking force required. That combined with the very soft feeling pedal from the hydraulically assisted booster make it extremely easy to engage the panic stop feature. It takes a bit of getting used to.

My FJ has basically the same system and is much more linear in breaking. Of course it has more wander too and bigger tires. When I wear boots especially in the 4Runner I seem to have a problem with brake modulation. They seem to grab hard a lot quicker that in the FJ. Scares the family sometimes.

 

[adrtoy]

Happened to me twice before I asked about on here. It is quite the eye opener but you do get used to it.

I would have liked to have seen the look on that guys face behind me when I decided not to go thru that yellow light.

 

[johnbt]

"Just go to a deserted street and pretend a deer comes out of nowhere."

Just wait, it won't be long until I need it for real - the driveway, the street, the road, etc.

John

 

[BlackWorksInc]

My FJ has basically the same system and is much more linear in breaking. Of course it has more wander too and bigger tires. When I wear boots especially in the 4Runner I seem to have a problem with brake modulation. They seem to grab hard a lot quicker that in the FJ. Scares the family sometimes.

The Landcruisers have similar system (I think theirs is a hair beefier) and it's got a firmer feeling pedal than the 4Runners.

I think it comes down to what Toyota thought their customer base was going to be (soccer moms and such) and so that's why they're so "soft" feeling. I wish I knew how to adjust the stiffness feeling, but I haven't found a reliable way to do so.

 

[BlueRidge77]

The Landcruisers have similar system (I think theirs is a hair beefier) and it's got a firmer feeling pedal than the 4Runners.

I think it comes down to what Toyota thought their customer base was going to be (soccer moms and such) and so that's why they're so "soft" feeling. I wish I knew how to adjust the stiffness feeling, but I haven't found a reliable way to do so.

This. I agree. I think I press the pedal and it is so soft I can't tell if the brakes are engaging or not. Then I keep pressing and it bites hard. Mainly when I'm creeping at low speed and then need to stop. Like at a stop sign and you need to move up to see. I'll give it time. I'm just concerned for my wife when she drives it in rain/snow.