Just got my 4Runner running this weekend after a head gasket job. Ive never driven this vehicle since I bought it with the motor half tore apart. Well when I got the truck I noticed the brakes didnt work too well at all. I figured it was because the truck was off so no brake booster. Well I get it running and its still the same. The vacume line to the booster has plenty of vacume pressure. I havent had time to really look at it since we had a hellacious rain all weekend. I drove it and the brakes seem fine at low speeds but at 35 or higher when you hit the brakes to stop it takes forever to stop. The pedal feels fine just no stopping power. What should I be checking??

 

i would check the shoes and pads first

 

i would check everything, fluid, rotors, pads, shoes, drums, etc...

is the pedal hard, with contact at the top of the pedal, or soft with contact at being closer to the floor?

 

Echo checking all brake components, bleeding brakes is probably all you need imho tho.

 

dont mean to thread-jack but might as well ask this too.

Mine somtimes does the latter of that question.
on a hardstop it feels like the pedal will almost go to the floor but then will build up alot of pressure and be fine.

pads and shoes are fine..

 

there is probly rust on the rotors, turn the rotors and replace the shoes.
make sure the rear shoes are adjusted up to the drums.
flush out the old fluid.

make sure the LSPV bracket has not been altered, and that it moves up and down freely.

 

describe your problem exactly

 

Bleed it recently? Check your master cylinder to make sure its work right and the brake booster.

 

i second checking the brake booster...make sure you have no vacuum leak at all...

 

Thanks guys, the amount of vacuum lines on the v6 is a little scary

I will do my best to discribe this:

On normal braking the pedal feels fine. Only have to depress it a few inches to get very good power out of it.
But Somtimes... if I need to really stop hard I will..
first step on the brake, it will start to slow me down, I press a little harder and the pedal starts to go to the floor... after about an inch or two of sinking the pedal will feel very stiff almost like it has built up pressure.

 

to test your master cyl, do this: use pinch off pliers and pinch off the three hoses. two front hoses, and one rear.

hold the pedal down firmly, for a few mins. if it slowly fades. your seals are leaking internally and you need to relace the master.

but you may have a wheel cyl leak too. or the pads are inferior.