Front brake wear on my tacoma

Hi folks just joined this forum. I have a 2005 tacoma with 44000 miles and the break pedal feels real low. I use the truck for pulling my boat and highway travels, not allot of stop and go. The calipers do have a ridge from the wear so they appear to be worn down. Is this normal for this mileage? It seems like I have to press the pedal down fairly hard to get it to stop. What should I replace them with with? Thanks for the help.

paul

 

Ridge wear is usually attributed to aftermarket pads in my experience. Seized sliders usually cause premature wear on the whole pad. Same with seized calipers.

Use OEM and you'll have less headaches. Make sure to press the calipers all the way back to ensure they are free.

Also, adjust your rear drums! It can make a huge difference in pedal feel.

 

Have your rear brake shoes adjusted (or DIY), Last summer I replaced my rear shoes and didn't adjust them out enough (closer to the drum) and as soon as I hit my brakes the pedal sank to the floor. After adjusting it with a tad bit of drag it went back to normal.
You could have air in the system as well, but I would start with adjusting the rear before bleeding the system.

 

Also to expand on my previous post, if the rear drums are out of adjustment, they won't contact the drum under normal braking. This causes the fronts to do all the work and they'll wear quicker.

 

Calipers self adjust as the pads ware. That is why the brake fluid level goes down (it fills the void) as the pads ware a very good indication of pad ware if it's full with new pads when it gets to add you need to have a good look at your pads. The pads do not cover the entire rotor they will leave a line as all of the brakes parts ware rears are the same way. Rears to some extent self adjust but it is only enough to keep the pistons from coming out of the bores (big problem with long ago brakes) so a rear brake adjustment may also be in order.

 

Thanks for the reply. I bought this truck new so I know the history. Don't front brakes wear out long before rears do on all vehicles? There is a ridge about 1/4" from the OD of rotor. They are currently what was put on from the factory. Thanks
paul

 

That ridge is normal, happens all the time.

 

Rear Brake Adjustment from the shop manual:
Note: the Bolded in Parenthesis is my words.

ADJUST REAR DRUM BRAKE SHOE CLEARANCE
:
(a) Provisionally install the hub nuts. ( Lug Nuts to hold the drum in place ).

(b) Remove the hole plug, and turn the adjuster to expand the shoe until the drum locks.

(c) Using a screwdriver, release the adjuster 15 notches.

(d) Install the hole plug.

 

My truck has 85000 miles, original brakes on the back, the front, I machined the rotors and new pads at 65000 miles. I only use Toyota parts, there is a difference.
Adding, lots of highway, but also lots of towing trailers without brakes.

 

In am not knocking the OEM stuff but I recommend you put a set of adaptive one pads in the front along with premium rotors from Napa. I changed mine from OEM at 35k due to mostly city driving and these pads normally last 70k. It is what most of your police departments use and is an awesome pad. It's all I use. Change the rotors just to make the job easy.

Also if the pins your pads ride on inside the caliper have corrosion on them go ahead and get new ones. They are less than $5 I think.

 

Yes the rears will out last the front brakes at least 2:1 because of the weight transfer when you brake. In your case I would inspect the rears more than any thing else it maybe your only chance. The rear drums untouched become good friends and they can be a real problem to get off at 200K (yes you guys I know all about the bolts to remove the drums and all so about the fact a stuck drum will rip the threads out). Most likely a good cleaning and some anti seize on the axle and drum will be all you need.

 

My Tacoma is coming up on 85k miles with original brakes front and rear. The fronts are due for replacement but have not worn down to the wear indicators yet. I have all the parts but don't have the time.

 

In that case I hope you bought new rotors.

 

Yes - pads, rotors and pins.

The problem is that the pins are seized and I need to find time to get them out.

 

I have a 2010 trd sport with the 5 speed automatic .
I take the brakes apart every spring and fall , clean them up , lube them up as well as adjust them and put them back into service .
Still running factory brakes at 200k
Using the e brake every time you park is what they recommend and I follow this as religion
If you spend the time , your brakes will last a lifetime .
If you consider the environment your brakes have to function properly in , taking some extra measures pays off .

 

Wow this was great as far as all the response. But my original question was at 44000 is it typical to get enough wear on the front pads/rotors to cause the pedal to be significantly lower? These are all original factory components. I am going to inspect and adjust the rear brakes and measure the front rotors and check the pins to see if they are bound. I am going to replace the pads and rotors regardless so does toyota make a higher performance rotor/pad combination for the tacoma? I probably will stay with toyota parts but would like more positive stopping power. It doesn't feel like I could stop real quick if I wanted. Thank you again.

paul

 

Lemme add a few thing I didn't see in the responses. I've had 2 Toyota Service Reps that own Tacoma's and others on this forum, recommend staying with OEM Pads & Rotors.
I'm looking at "Towing Duty" Pads, tho more brake dust. There are good aftermarket alternatives.
Search TacomaWorld for some recommendations
There is a TRD Brake Upgrade for a couple grand
You might consider Stainless Steel Brake Lines. I bought from TW Member OCTaco here.
Little over $100. More responsive pedal feel, especially during hard braking.
Also Bleed your brakes. Have seen recommendation, once a year.
Have Brake fluid completely flushed and replaced, it degrades with time. Especially if it's never been done.
Also, if I've got the figures right, 12 years old and 44,000 miles.
If it sits for a couple weeks, you'll develop rust on the rotors and if you don't feather your brakes when you first start off,
you'll embed the rust into the pads, in turn grinding down your rotors with the rust.
I have a 2000 Toyota Solara with 32,000 mi. Learned by experience.
And my thoughts on your question, low pedal, brake fluid. The Rotor wear is gonna happen.
Rusty Rotors accelerates it.

CC