Why are the 2nd gen brakes so squishy

I noticed my brake's did the same thing. Toyota drum brake's self adjust when you use your E-brake. Instead of putting my truck on the lift and manually adjusting them. I just pressed the E-brake on/off a bunch of time's. Over a few days (needed a lot of adjustment)it was firm like when I bought it. Use your E-brake every time you park car/truck and it will stay firm. If it doesn't your adjuster's are binding/broken and need to be cleaned/fixed. I hope this help's.

 

I am with @Jimmyh. 2010 truck and it is 2016-17. When was the last time that the brake fluid was flushed?

 

For whatever reason, on the earlier 2nd gen's it is a fact a life. You have soft brakes! Me and Mush Mouse have literally exhausted about every feasible, possible solution that the laws of physics allow. Between the 2 of us we have changed, serviced, greased, swapped, bled, and said prayers for every part in the entire system. That is just the way it is. You can make it slightly better at times. but thats the way it is.

Best solution I found so far (which still is not 100% lasting) is to buy a pump. Don't bleed the brakes the old fashion way, spend like $30 and buy a pump. Bleed the hell out of the brake lines starting RR, then LR, then RF, then LF. Then pull the rear wheels, pull off the drums, clean them very well with a light sanding block. Then pass some steel wool or something similar over the shoes to make a nice clean surface, then use adjuster to get the clearances as close as you can. Then put the wheels back on. Goto a SAFE parking lot. Do a HIGH speed reverse and SLAM the brakes to make them lock up. Then do the same going forward a couple of times. Then goto a GRAVEL parking lot, or a wet parking lot and repeat so that you start sliding and the ABS kicks in.

What you just did was completely bleed any air out of the system with the pump. By slamming the brakes going forward was to force the ABS system to engage. More importantly, the high speed reverse forced the rear brake auto lever to set. Seems to help.

The "shake" when braking is the "Tacoma shake". Just like the "Tacoma Lean", the "Tacoma Tick" and the burnt out temp gauge in the head liner (you can only solder it so many times, then it just burns the circuit completely up, lol).

It all just adds to the character of the trucks we know and love.

I bought my truck brand new. I literally saw it unloaded off of the carrier. Its been a decade now, that is just the way it is on early 2nd gen's. BUT, she always stops like she supposed to! That is what is important!

 

Mine as well. When I drive my wifes 4Runner I'm amazed at the difference.

 

I did the same, adjusted them up it helped alot

 

pretty easy with 2 peeps, just get some hose a jar, fluid, 10mm open end,rags theres lots of infos on the procedure. also I recommend to turkey baster out the resovoir first and get the old fluid out then refill with new stuff that way new fluid gets into the lines first

 

ok..

 

I came across another reason why I had mushy feel, I think the rotors had a glaze on them from the pads I replaced and the newbies weren't bedded in, since running a few thousand they have since bedded themselves better a feel good, youll get"em Ragin