yodta

Hey fellas,
just picked up a used '02 Tacoma and have a question about brake sensitivity.

I'm coming from an '87 4wd pickup, which is clunkier and the brakes have a more "mechanical" feel - more pedal travel, less boost than the '02, etc.

My question is, where in the pedal travel do you guys find that your truck begins to brake?

on the '02 I have, it requires very little pressure to bring the truck to a stop, basically seeming like an alarmingly super sensitive pedal to me.

Is this normal? I would imagine it's great for carrying loads or towing, but it's unlike any other vehicle I've driven.


I'm pretty sure none of the hydraulics are seized at this point; I'm not finding any drag at any of the wheels.

Booster checks out good.

Comments/ideas?

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

That is a hard call to make as to which was is "normal"

I have a 87 4runner and a 2000 Tacoma and i can not feel any great difference in braking . I keep after my brakes with new rotors and new drums so that might make a difference.

Then the tires you run can make a big difference.

do you use the E- brake on both vehicles.

I see a big difference in vehicles with poorly adjusted rear brakes in pedal travel.

If you have leaky seals and gear oil has contaminated the pads or shoes that will make your brakes grab . Giving it a touchy pedal feel perhaps

yodta

thanks for the reply; I appreciate the feedback, as I've not had the chance to check out any other Tacomas for comparison. your information is helpful; basically just confirms that your Tacoma has the same feel as your earlier vehicle, which is also similar to mine, so most likely both of yours are about the same degree of "normal".

the Tacoma I just got begins to brake immediately just off the pedal seat, which just doesn't seem right to me. it's gotta be something simple.

thanks for the suggestions. yeah, I'm planning to physically inspect the rears in a little while.

yodta

I checked out the wheel cylinders this pass weekend, and closed the brake adjuster a bit to see if that would help any.

No leaks back there, wheel cylinders or differential seals, and the brake adjustment didn't make any significant difference either.

The pedal stroke just feels short before full braking is accomplished.

yodta

I just test drove another 2002 quickly a little bit earlier. It's an automatic, but otherwise the same; no ABS, etc. Brake pedal feels normal in that vehicle, so now at least that confirms that what I'm experiencing is not normal for this vehicle.

Been on justanswer.com earlier with a couple of Toyota pros, and have a couple of things to try. The best suggestion was to now try moving the LSPV upward in its bracket to disengage the spring rod from the valve piston to take the LSPV out of the equation. Then said next step will be to verify the booster rod position using the SST noted above, which I will have to order. I'm going to try the LSPV thing tonight, and if no success there, dropping it off at the dealership tomorrow for them to check out.

yodta

so no success with the LSPV adjustment. basically the same. I'm putting money on the booster adjustment rod, which requires two Toyota SSTs to check and adjust if necessary.

just updating this process as I go, in the event that this helps someone down the road.

this is what the FSM says about the booster push rod clearance and adjustment with reference to the master cylinder piston: