Extremely Sensitive/Odd Brakes? Or underlying issue?

Issue 1:

I've done my research/searching and haven't seen anyone else with this exact issue: my brakes seem a little off. What I mean by that is I can depress the pedal and hold it steady at a certain position and go from slowing down to REALLY slowing down without depressing the brake any further.

It's almost like once the pads get warm after having the brakes applied for a 1/2 second, they really start to bite and cause an abrupt deceleration in speed.

It usually happens when exiting a highway on an offramp. The brakes will be applied for a second or so, I won't change pedal position at all, and I go from slowing down gradually, to literally being jerked forward due to a sudden involuntary increase in deceleration.

Issue 2:

8/10 times I apply the brakes, I feel a slight 1-second-long vibration or pulsation in the pedal. It feels exactly like ABS kicking in, but much more subtle. It doesn't last the entire time I have the pedal depressed - only for about 1 second, and happens both moving forward and in reverse.

Vital info:

- TRD OR
- Completely stock (except HID lows)
- Has only been off-road once, where I experimented with Crawl, etc. All systems worked fine.
- Less than 700 miles on it
- All other break-in procedures followed

I've heard that the OR has a different brake booster than other models, and I'd assume that's due to being equipped with Crawl Control and/or MTS. I'm wondering if these two issues are related, and/or normal, and/or because I bought an OR trim versus SR, SR5, Sport or Limited.

Does anyone know anything I might be missing about this issue? I'd like for others to chime in. Can't tell if it's an issue - or worse: a safety issue - or just normal operation.

 

I think it's normal. They seem sensitive to me as well which I think is due to the brake booster. I'm sure someone will chime in with a comment that your truck is fucked up but it isn't.

 

the brakes can be really touchy, something different about the booster on the offroad model.

 

Issue 2 - Brake booster... you get used to it.

 

just want to add that these brakes are dusty

 

Yep. My SR5 is smooth as silk. No vibrations, pulsing, or anything not expected.

G.

 

Good to know! Seems the OR wheels will be easy to clean, and I'm a stickler for not allowing brake dust to stain and/or otherwise degrade the finish of the wheels.

 

i have the same issue.....i put this in the normal category..

 

I have experienced the same thing on my 2016 4x4 TRD Offroad (except no pulse or vibration) - just very sensitive and difficult to control a 'smooth' stop, in any situation - if you want to come to a stop, it just is not easy to do it without jerking the truck. I searched this whole forum hoping there's some way to adjust it, but nope, it's apparently normal, and here's why, has to do with the Electro hyd assist-VS-numatic assist brakes - see the 2nd gen 4x4 Offroad thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/whats-up-with-my-brakes-2012-trd-offroad-4by.432424/. I also think it's partly because the transmission downshifts as you are coasting to a stop, so even if you have consistent foot pressure on the peddle, when the trans downshifts is slows the truck and either caused inadvertent increase in foot pressure or a change in vacuum which may apply more brakes - not sure, but something apparently we need to live with, and price we pay for the crawl control.

 

The downshifting of the automatic definitely contributes to this lurchy stopping issue. I've put it in neutral a few times while slowing and it was easy stop smoothly. (Not recommended, but establishes part of the issue.)

 

Well shit, that makes all the sense in the world now. I remember reading press reviews bitching about the brakes and how "touchy" they were and I thought to myself that the magazine testers must be smoking crack or something, as my SR stops smooth and with an excellent pedal feel every time.

I guess the brake booster does make that huge of a difference. I'm not even exaggerating when I say that my Taco has better feeling brakes than some sports cars I've owned and driven. Maybe not better in terms of stopping distance, but in terms of a confident feel that's easy to modulate I would give them very high marks.

 

Perfectly normal for the OR and you get used to it after awhile. I no longer notice it in my truck after 10k miles.

 

Good stuff to know, thanks folks!

 

hey, a normal problem I don't have! My truck can and does stop smooth. Is not unlike other vehicles I've driven in that area... I'd take it in and get it checked out.

 

Taking it in on Tuesday to get my brake booster looked into. The brake pedal puslates/buzzes like a cell phone about every other press. Anyone who thinks this behavior is "normal" is delusional.

No vehicle I have driven has ever done this. No vehicle SHOULD ever do this.

Also, my brakes randomly need to be depressed harder..almost like it backs off (as if they aren't keeping pressure). So far its only done it at start up, but with the way this this lurches forward its disconcerting.

 

Mine doesn't lurch and the pedal pressure to braking is consistent. No buzz either.

Do what you gotta do.

 

Tacoflavorkisses1 - Agreed - any brake pedal that puslates/buzzes has a problem, pls let us know what the dealer says!
Rusticater - is your vehicle a TRD Offroad 4x4?
Jsinnard - and are you are talking about your TRD Offroad 4x4? You can easily come to a smooth stop?

 

Yes I can come to a smooth stop in my OR, no pedal vibration, the first 500 miles it took some getting used to with the hydraulic bb

 

That's good news, okay, same here - just bought mine 2 months ago, so I just need to get use to it, but boy my other Taco (which as a 2016 regular 2 wheel drive) was so much smoother. I remember when i first test drove the OR, the first thing i noticed was the brakes had zero play (I mean like zero, so when you press on the peddle the travel is like 1/64th of an inch), I asked the salesman, like what the hell is up with these brakes, and salesman of course said it was normal and that is due to the OR having then crawl control thing and electronic this and that (Electro hid assist….etc). Whatever, i will get use to it - they are super strong so like that aspect, just wish i could buffer the sensitivity.

 

Had the same issue in my 2016 TRD OR 4x4 and have it on my 2017 TRD OR 4x4. Went round and round with the dealer and determined its normal. I have this weird shifting issue my 17 where the downshift into second pulls the truck back (typical downshift feeling) but then it clunks into first and the truck loses all of its resistance. Anyone know of a thread discussing that issue?