Who ever designed the front brake lines on a 97 4Runner...
 

Needs to be shot!

I just tried to change the front brakes on my Yota and man, why is there a hard line to the actual caliper? :pop: When changing brakes and pads, you have to move the caliper... Now after the fact, I could have unbolted the bracket that the soft line and hardline meet at, but still. You wouldn't have that on a Jeep. You could tell that the line had been bent many times as it was like a constant wave pattern and it was already kind of crimped where it screws into the caliper. Oh well, now I have find some place that has a replacement for it. Auto Zone and Advanced Auto had nothing in stock. Grrrrr....

Ok Rant Off.

Matt

Yeah, I think that the hard line there is kinda stupid (exists on 2nd gens too), but it was probably put there for some reason. The suggestion I had for keeping that from being bent or broken was zip tie the caliper to the upper a-arm.

....you dont have to remove the caliper at all. The brake pads slip out the top. Just remove the anti-rattle spring, and the two pins, and both pads will slide right out the top. Brakes should take about 20 mins or so.

If you are taking off the calipers, you are WAYYY over complicating the setup.

Hard lines are always better since they dont expand, hence why Toyota made the setup this way.

Hard line would be less prone to damage on the trail. You weren't letting it hang by the brake line were you?

Also, as you stated, a bracket unbolts from the spindle to allow you move the whole setup, incase you have to remove the caliper and change the brake rotor.

Toyota....always thinking ahead!

im assuming he was changing rotors aswell. which is why he would be taking the caliper off

I've changed dozens of pads, removed dozens of calipers and swapped numerous rotors on a variety of Toyotas and I've yet to brake or crimp a hard line. With the proper tools such as a flare nut wrench (10mm), some shop towels and a few vacuum plugs, with the other obvious tools, working on front disc brakes is about as easy as it gets for wrenching. :D

Perhaps you might invest in a repair manual or search online for a procedure on Toyota brake pad replacement. I think you've way overcomplicated the issue...it's quite easy.

Good luck when you try it again.

:guitar:

I was replacing the rotors as well. I have the tools to remove the hard line from the caliper as well but was not wantng to do that. No it wasn't hanging by the Hard line. I had it sitting on a small jackstand and leaning against the lower A arm... Brake replacing is easy I know, and it normally would be an issue. I will admit that I am new to the Toyota stuff and I should invest in a FSM just so I can get learned on the vehicle.

The hard line isn't really that big of a deal if you just remove the bracket holding the line to the steering knuckle.

Toyota Doesn't do too many things wrong...

I have found that if I am having troubles with something it is my stupidity not some engineer for Toyota.

I can understand that I should have removed the bracket holding the line. I actually looked at it and thought, "hey I bet if I just unbolted this it would make it easy to move" Then I thought "Naa, I'll jut bend the line carfully." My bad. I guess I shouldn't bash the engineers but I just wanted to vent. I am sure there is a reason for the Hard line and I know a hard line is better for braking.

Anybody know where I can fine a free/cheep FSM for a 97 4Runner? :D

FSM online, $10 day use fee (you can download the entire FSM in one day, no prob).

https://techinfo.toyota.com/login/techinfologin2.html

..and you need an american credit card (damn toyota hating canadians :()

Or just get it off eBay, I got it on CD from someone who probably did that for ~$8

Do all I need is the repair manual and the wireing diagrams?

Make it easier on yourself and use this method here: Fully Automatic Factory Service Manual (FSM) Downloading. You still need to pay the $10 TIS fee but this makes D/Ling alot easier. The first couple of posts cover the instructions and post#128 has the downloaders for the 97 4Runner info. The author, NaterGater, has definitely made this whole process alot easier than it used to be.

I sent a PM that you should check before doing anything else first.

go buy a jeep then. your a disgrace to the toyota community and should be shot. jk, you said the guy who designed that line should be shot. why do we buy toyotas over jeeps? b/c we want long lasting quality. jeeps are ok but 100% junk when compared to a toyota. to think i almost bought a jeep over the 4runner i have.

you should be calling the dealership to get that brake line, its probably prebent and wont cost more than $20 a side. buying parts from places like napa and autozone rather than dealership parts is like buying....hmm..a jeep over a toyota, while still expecting toyota quality. i made those mistakes when i first got into cars too. now i know.

Oh yeah, about the jeep brake line -

Short story shorter - Brake job on early 90's wrangler 10 years ago ended with the rubber line bowing out and rubbing against the tire and blew out the line. Sudden loss of brakes is a scary thing...

You shouldn't need to use bungees or zip ties as a crucial part of the brake system.

i usually hang the calipers with wire or bungie cords when im @ work. sometimes they fall and its alot easier to put that cord on then to replace a line b/c you dropped the caliper.