TRD Pro Soft Brake Pedal

Interesting Thread. In January, I plan on trading in my 2010 FJ Cruiser for a 2021 4Runner TRD/ORP. The FJ is essentially the same drive train as the 4Runner. And the FJ has this same longer pedal travel before the brakes engage as described here. It is rather strange and took a while to get used to. I've never heard any noises, but then I don't hear well even on a good day. LOL
Possibly the reason would be as mentioned in Post #15 above. Seems to make sense.

Rick

 

I noticed a low decibel noise happen upon braking when I got my 2019 OR new last year. I would hear it every now and then, but don't even notice it any more. The pedal does travel a bit before the brakes engage, but braking is more than adequate once it engages.

 

Just wanted to pop in and say this thread was very helpful. We have a new SR5 with 6,000 miles and were freaking out about brake depression and the strange air noise that is made during the first empty 1-2'' on the brake. It seems clear that this is normal and it saves us a risky run to the dealer.

 

Unfortunately this seems to be the norm. I even put SS brake lines on mine to try to stiffen the pedal feel but didn't change a thing.

 

the dealership has to bleed the brakes. I got my 4runner new and I had to bleed the brakes .. I did the work and the brake fluid had a lot of air in the rear brake calipers.. now I do my brakes over decades .. and I did not go to the dealership because I did the work for 1 hour .. vehicle had 1000 miles because the brakes did not work properly .. after I did the job no issues on the brakes .. inspect the brake pads every year when I rotate my tires ..

 

I have a 2018 SR5, bought new in Nov 2017, now with 45,000 miles. I've learned to live with the soft pedal, long throw in normal driving. However, I don't think I'll ever be able to brake in emergencies without engaging the ABS system. There is zero feel during panic stops. It is in for new brakes with a local mechanic now. I asked them to bleed the lines. Will see if there is any change....

 

[QUOTE="LoonsNest,

many will change the brake pads around 60K miles. if your in a city with traffic brakes will be replaced around 40K miles .. if you did not do any tire rotations or remove the tires then inspect the brake pads mechanic shop will do the work and bleed the brake lines and add new brake fluid ..

 

The brake job and bleeding has had a significant impact on brake feel and pedal travel. I am presuming the pedal travel improvements are due to the new pads and rotors. With wear over time, you forget what new brakes feel like. The brake feel is also improved, although still not as firm as my wife's Outback. I am attributing that to the bleeding. Thanks to all those who have contributed to this thread. I am a happier 4Runner owner as a result of your collective comments.

 

Holy shit I’ve been searching for this and you’re the only other person I’ve seen that’s mentioned it! (I haven’t searched every forum everywhere but from my googling) Thank you! I’ve got 1000 miles on mine and I swore I heard a fairly quiet but noticeable electronic hiss noise coming from the drivers side dash and lasts for a few seconds. Is there any remedy? I don’t drive a lot with no music but I can for sure hear it when I am just out and about.
I told my SO today that almost every quirk or issue I’ve had with the 4r has been brought up by someone somewhere, and I’m not some ocd nut case as it may seem!

 

dam not good to hear it was new. I obviously have the same issue in mine where the brake pedal play is much longer than my previous vehicles and others have said here and around the web it’s just how it is. I will ask my local dealer to do this when I go in for the alignment that was way off as soon as I got it off the lot. Not to mention the f ing black dots on the head lamp but that’s another thread I know

 

well the brake fluid is flushing it out ... the right caliper rear wheel flush it out ...then the front caliper right wheel [pass] flush it out .then the front driver caliper flush out ..

also the brake pads are a bit rusted it !!!!!!!!!!!! then the pads/pins cleaned it .. did the silicone grease .
my 2016 runner great brakes very good ... also the disc a mirror ..

the head lamp is the polishing it ... very clear ..

 

Hilarious that this comment is going on 5 years old and is more relevant than ever.

 

I'm hoping to find some answers on this thread. 1st time 4Runner owner. We purchased a 2015 Limited four weeks ago. The dealership replaced pads and turned rotors. Felt soft but I thought it was due to being a whole different animal than I've ever driven. Every vehicle is different. The more I drove it the more the brakes seemed softer with a grab at the end of braking. It does do the hiss or hydraulic sound when applying brakes. I took it to Les Schwab because I just didn't feel right. They did a bleed and refill also calibrated the ABS module? Now I have no brakes. HELP!

 

Take it back to Les Schwab and have them correct the problem.

 

the mechanic is the correct issue ! problem is the braking of the no braking ..
so the dealership is a month of the brakes ?

 

Seriously? They don’t check before giving it back to the customer? Speaking of which, how were you able to get it home with no brakes?

 

I'm having it towed to our local Toyota dealership. Hopefully they will fix what Les Schwab messed up. BTW I got it home by downshifting, keeping more than safe distance and was ready to put it in the ditch if I needed to.

 

The previous shop really needs to be aware of this. Are they a decently professional shop? If so, they need to know in order to correct whatever problem led to a car being released to a customer without brakes. If they are minimally profesional, they should understand it’s gross negligence to not correct whatever led to this happening.

However, you risking your life by leaving the parking lot without brakes, suggests to me your opinion of them was that they were a bunch of clowns.lol

 

the Toyota dealership is the inspect brakes ! the forum statements ...

 

It was Les Schwab. Wills Toyota did a proper bleed with the computer. They sent it home with me and now it still feels soft to me but I have brakes.

 

My pro, gx, tundra and Rav have all had soft brake pedals.

 

NO COMPUTER !!!!!!!!!!!!! THE CALIPER BRAKES REAR AND THE FRONT BRAKE FLUID OF THE AIR BUBBLES ... THEN THE FLUID IS NO AIR BUBBLES.. NO KEY ... THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL 3 TIMES OF THE FLOOR AND THE 1 MECHANICS OUTSIDE THE CALIPER FLUID ..

 

Brake pedal feel is one of my least favorite aspects of our 4Runners but if you’ve ever had to panic stop you will realize that they really do work!