A Toyota dealer recently replaced the master brake cylinder (dual chamber), front calipers and brake lines on my 2000 4Runner, because of contaminated brake fluid. Ever since the repairs, I have a soft brake pedal that goes almost to the floor. I have taken it back twice and they can not figure out what is wrong. Front pads and rear shoes are ok but are hard after market pads/shoes. They can't solve the problem and are now suggesting installing Toyota pads & shoes (which are soft) at a cost of $500+, with no guarantees this will solve the problem. I already have invested $1400 and have no more money to be throwing at maybe fixes. Any suggestions?
cptnight
cptnight,
I had a like problem with one of my 4runners. When I bought the rig the brake pedal was going down close to the floor. I knew it needed new calipers and pads before the purchase. I did the job in thinking that should take care of the low pedal problem. Well guess what. It did not. So I scratched my head for awhile and after pulling out a lot of hair I figured out the problem. The brake pedal was out of adjustment from the get go. So I adjusted the pedal under the dash and have not had an issue since. So maybe this is the problem for you or maybe it is a bleed problem. But if it is a bleed problem then there is only one way to bleed the system. You start with the left rear wheel, then the right rear wheel, then the right front wheel then the left front wheel. If it has not been done in that order then you will still have air in the system and it will need to be bled properly. If a Toyota dealer did it then I would give them the benefit of the dought and think that they did it properly. It took me a while to figure the pedal thing and I'm sure the dealer is not thinking of it either. That is not a usual problem.
I had a like problem with one of my 4runners. When I bought the rig the brake pedal was going down close to the floor. I knew it needed new calipers and pads before the purchase. I did the job in thinking that should take care of the low pedal problem. Well guess what. It did not. So I scratched my head for awhile and after pulling out a lot of hair I figured out the problem. The brake pedal was out of adjustment from the get go. So I adjusted the pedal under the dash and have not had an issue since. So maybe this is the problem for you or maybe it is a bleed problem. But if it is a bleed problem then there is only one way to bleed the system. You start with the left rear wheel, then the right rear wheel, then the right front wheel then the left front wheel. If it has not been done in that order then you will still have air in the system and it will need to be bled properly. If a Toyota dealer did it then I would give them the benefit of the dought and think that they did it properly. It took me a while to figure the pedal thing and I'm sure the dealer is not thinking of it either. That is not a usual problem.
Jetwhine is absolutely correct. Try adjusting your brake pedal and that should solve your problem. Also something else to think about try going with a higher Edge Code brake friction. It's called Coefficient of Friction as per the Department of Transportation (GOOGLE). You'll get more stopping power specially when needed during normal operating conditions as the hotter the brakes the more the COF is affected which leads to brake fade. I personally have found Wagner brakes to have the highest edge codes in the market.
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
It is quite possible they didn't adjust the push rod correctly after the master cylinder replacement, it's also possible they didn't get all the air bled from the system. Pads and shoes won't make a low pedal unless the rear shoes are so far out of adjustment or the pad slides are seized and not letting them move, you would have a low pedal but not a soft to the floor pedal. Check the adjustment and try bleeding the brakes.
Oh jeeze, I didn't even notice how old the OP was! Either he figured it out or he's resting in pieces.
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