Do I have a brake issue?

OP I feel for you on this one!!!! So a short history with me and my brand new 2013. This mileage below is an estimate because I am just reading the tread. However it is real close. And I think I am missing one!

5k front rotors cut due to warpage.

12 rear drums cut due to warpage.

17 both front and rear replaced due to warpage.

25 both front and rear replaced due to warpage.

36k after corporate Toyota involved replaced rear axle, and adjusted the power brake booster, because they said it was causing my issues.

Now at 42k I have rears warped again.

I have been through everything with Corporate and the dealer. I do NOT drive my vehicle hard at all, I do not tow, but I have the same driving conditions as you 60 mile round trip in stop and go, a lot of 75 mph to stop. They do not think it is me (at least they do not tell me that). I know how to abuse a truck and how not to. Believe me it is not abused. I agree with BlueT. I think most of my issues were the dealer over torqued my lugs just about every time I was in for my 4wheel rotation and balance and kept doing it.


The symptoms you describe here sound just like the beginning of rear drum warpage and will only get worse.


I hope to get aftermarket rotors and drums in HOPES that if someone were to over torque that they would have a slightly better chance in survival.

 

Wow, that's crazy. If that was me, I would have stopped at 17K mark of your story. For 15 years I bought Toyota for quality, looks like I should have done some more research before buying. Starting to regret it.

 

Well at 17k is when Corporate and Dealer was contacted for Lemon Law. That was denied. However don't regret your purchase, it can just be a one off issue about your brakes at this time. Too early to tell. But I would be mindful to make sure it is documented at the dealer in case further issues come up.

 

I am also hoping that this thread can shed some light on what could cause the issue so early and if it repeats itself what aftermarket solutions could be available.

 

Sometimes rotors can get hard spots on the rotor face from incorrect heat treatment. Try to get new out of them.

 

IMHO and in my experience.
Majority of time, the #1 reason for rotor or drum warpage is badly tighten lug nuts.

#2 reason would be bad (cheaply made) rotor or drum which happens often when you buy from local parts store. They are cheap for a reason. When it comes to OEM this is not fool proof, I bought bad rotor straight out of Toyota, realized only after instilling and checking a backlash.

#3 during installation backlash on rotor was not checked. Everything has some backlash, when you install rotor you supposed to check backlash and if its too much you supposed to adjust rotor to get as small backlash as possible. That way when clippers compress rotor they compress it not try to bend it.

#4 Extreme usage, NYC middle of summer doing 70 MPH on FDR sudden stop because yellow cab jump out in front of you.

#5 Defected rim. This is not common but I had people having rotor warping and only got fixed after they change wheels to something else.

 

This problem really worries me.
After proper rotor break-in,you should be able to come to a stop from highway speeds over & over,with no issues.
I have a '07 & need to remove my ABS for the scary brake pulse to stop. I can not drive on dirt,stone snow & wet asphalt without the truck continuing on down the road. That's why the ABS removeal.
I use a torque wrench to mount my wheels & monitor and grease my brakes as necessary.
A lot of the aftermarket rotors are China junk. I use Brakemotive rotors with ceramic pads. Very happy with them.
I would bring it back to Toyota & let them fix it,and check their work.
OP. I'm originally from Jersey. Where r u from?

 

I have a very similar issue 2014 TRD OR DC (20K miles), and the folks here chalked it up to the way EBC system works. I have a Toyota care appointment scheduled next week, and this will be the focus of my visit with them. Hopefully they they take the issue seriously.

 

Ok ABS trying to kill you is different problem than what OP has.
[This is a result of my testing and my opinion]
ABS problem is not so much ABS problem its Drums Brakes + ABS. We all have it and Toyota will not do crap about until lawsuit.
Simply put ABS has problems controlling drums on the rear and thats where the problems come.

 

When you say "ABS has problems controlling drums on the rear and that where the problems come." Do you mean the warping problems? Curious because it seems the rear seems to be my issue more than the front.

 

Blue,I respectfully disagree.
My '07 ABS brake problem,& OP's '15 ABS + drum brakes brake problem is showing a consistent issue with the Tacoma's brakes in general.
It sounds like OP has some serious issues for a new truck,with other new truck owners chiming in.
I know for certain that my truck is not safe with the ABS as it came from the factory.
I literally can not drive it safely without removing the ABS fuse.
My '07 with 55K & OP's '15 with 42K should not have brake issues of any kind.
It is the most basic safety issue & shows Toyota engineers have not gotten it right yet.

 

Yep.....

People have a right to form their own opinions.......However, they do not have a right to form their own "facts".

Personally, I'm more inclined to believe it's something to do with the ABS and independent of the drums themselves.....But that's just a hunch, based on opinion, and devoid of ANY substantiated fact. (How's THAT?)

 

One of the many voices in the back of my head is telling me to keep this to myself and not tempt fate, but here I go....(And this MIGHT belong in any one of a hundred other threads, but I'm here now, so...)

And I hope while I'm typing this, parts and pieces aren't falling off my truck and littering up the driveway.....Karma can be a fickle bitch.....

My 2011 DCSB OR/automatic with more than 75,000 miles doesn't have issues with the needle bearing in the diff. It doesn't have issues with the rear leaf springs. It doesn't have braking issues. The frame is virtually rust free. My radio works just fine. I don't miss having a rear window defroster. There's no unusual vibrations in the front end. No noise on start up. I was very impressed with how well it stopped on snow and ice last winter. Etc, etc, and so on.... I keep reading just how disappointed so many Tacoma owners seem to be, and how many chronic issues people seem to have. My truck has a moderate lift. Right now it even has top plate spacers and rear blocks and wheel spacers(Oh the humanity....!!!) I did have a problem getting my tires to balance, but that is now settled. Any vibration from the tires was just that, and NOT to be blamed on anything from pinion bearings to weak leaf springs. I get decent gas mileage, but nothing earth shattering. I LOVE driving this truck (especially after driving a 3/4-ton Dodge long bed/double cab for 11 years)

My point?

I really do believe too many people are overthinking problems. Yes, there are a few issues with Tacomas. But not EVERY problem is a conspiracy launched by the evil Dr Toyoda. (Actual spelling of original owner of Toyota) Sometimes you have to look at the SIMPLEST problems first, and work your way up from there. Yes, it's very possible this is a brake drum problem that's worthy of a class action lawsuit.....Or it may just be an out of round tire or a warped brake drum/rotor caused from driving into standing water/mud with overheated brakes. (BTDT, got a pile of warped Jeep brake rotors out behind the shop)

Yes, it's good to "think out loud" and explore all the possibilities. It's probably helpful for the OP to know all the possible issues so he can delve into them in order to find his propblem. But when I see people making bold statements as if they KNOW the problem via an internet explanation from 1000 miles away, I have to shake my head and wonder....

I've been fooling around with 4wd's for more than 45 years now. To suplement my "addiction", I work on other peoples trucks. It's hard enoughto diagnose problems with your hands and eyes on the truck, muchless from a few words on a computer monitor.

I'm NOT singling out anyone in particular, nor am I saying anyone is WRONG. Just be careful when you make statements of FACT based on an opinion and something you read on the internet.

OK....The soapbox is now open for the next speaker!

 

Ok I don't have proof good enough for court but I have enough for me. So you right I should probably wrote its according to my testing and IMO

 

Ok, it's Friday. What was the outcome of the dealer's diagnosis?

 

Hehe, where you live it's dark already. Where he lives it could be sunny and he's still at the dealer. My bet is it's his ABS, he's not used to that stuff.

 

I lived in N.J. and I know what the OP is talking about. When I go back (rarely) it takes a good 30-45 seconds to get back into the swing of N.J. driving. That is called survival or something like that.

 

Sorry, somehow I lost alerts for this thread - did not know there were more replies. Postponed my appointment, but took it in 2 weeks ago. They said truck drives normal, but I don't think they took my complaint seriously. Sure enough, that was the day when the problem was not as pronounced. I did not have a chance to take the tech on another test ride with me in it, had to get to work. Still feel it this morning. I don't see how ABS would be causing this - I had many vehicles with ABS, not one did this on dry pavement. I may take the time to take it to the dealer I bought it from, maybe they will have a different opinion. I really don't think it's normal, for any vehicle.

 

I had a Toyota Care appointment and after a visual inspection I got a tech to test drive with me on smooth dry pavement. He acknowledged my concern and agreed that he could feel the pulse/brake grab. Then he said "get used to it, it's normal". I asked if this was a frequent complaint from Tacoma owners and he said it is and will always be. Basically the conversation turned to....The braking system design has been in place for a long time and Toyota isn't going to change it. So I'm trying to ignore the issue and it's hard. I'm coming from a Subaru which had awesome brakes. Hopefully I can get over it and not notice it anymore.

 

I'm not going to read the whole thread, but here's my 2 cents. Based on the fact that you're not getting a steering wheel shake, i'd say its probably coming from the rear. That being said (and the fact that you only have 1k miles on the truck) I have seen brand new drums out of round. Generally when doing a drum brake job, if i'm replacing the drums I'll turn them on the lathe before installing. I've seen them as far as .030" OOR. Just ask them to resurface the drums and i'd be willing to bet it'll fix your issue.