Vacuum brake issue? Help appreciated

A friend of mine is not very computer savvy so thought I’d post this for him. I own a 2014 off-road which he loves so he recently bought a 2015 access cab Off road. He has neuropathy in his feet but he test drove my truck and seemed OK with brakes but with his truck his brakes are just so damn sensitive that is actually thinking about selling the truck. I feel like I’ve seen similar thread on here somewhere, I can’t seem to re-find, where there was some sort of mod that could be made to lessen sensitiveness breaks up the brakes? Hopefully not making that up. Or dealt with this issue possibly. He’s got the tranny flushed or drained and refilled I’m not a 100% sure and he’s also taken it to two local dealers and they have said that the the brakes are in spec. Once again don’t know 100% what that means other than that they’re saying there’s no issue with them but he says when you drove my truck it was tolerable. I have not gotten a chance to test drive this truck so I cannot compare. Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Does the master cylinder setup in the 2015 look like this?

 

I couldn’t say i did forward him the pic because hes not on here and computer illiterate. He has a 15’ OR acces cab. Pretty identical to my 14’ heres my master cylinder. Looks same. The first thing a independent mechanic mentioned was the master but he didn’t delve too deep. Said there is or was a gnarly shake when breaking but I thought maybe he just wasn’t used to these touchy brakes. Thought i had maybe seen a thread in lessening I the touchiness if it all

 

If its an OR then its got the electro-boost brake setup. Notoriously touchy, i loved it when i had my 2011 but it does take some getting used to

 

Yea hes got some sort of foot issue. I helped him find the truck. Pretty good deal like 20g with 50k miles. When I drive my 2002 gmc and go back to the tacome that first brake I practically go through the windshield forgetting so thought he just maybe needed some time. But i guess hes gonna sell thought id ask on here see if there was any thing that could be done

 

The later TRD Off-road models have electronically controlled hydro boost brakes. Not vacuum boost like all the other trims.
They're touchy for sure but best damn brakes I've ever had in a truck. Almost went through the windshield at first.
Your buddy will just have to get used to them.
I would advise against any fuckery to make the brakes essentially less effective

 

Thanks

 

If he can learn the feel of those systems, the benefit is the excellent traction control capabilities. It can individually control wheel spin at each wheel in slippery situations. Very stable on the highway in the snow for example. With mine, i found that it was very hard to gas it and get the rear end to break loose and swing around. Any wheel spin is immediately detected and the brake module immediately sends a shot of brake pressure down to that wheel and stops the spinning. Very hard to get sideways

 

If his MC setup is like what we both see here, I will say that one is a bit touchier than the std. vacuum-assist MC. The pic I posted is from my wifes '14 4Runner. The 2nd Gen Tacoma's(

$90 2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma With 4L Right Petrol intake air snorkel kit high performance system compatible kit Replacement black Rotational Molding (2005-2015)

2005-2015) that use an electric-assist MC, have the same unit as the 4R. I don't drive her car on a daily basis, but have driven it enough in the 4+ yrs. she's owned it to say that it's more prone to what I call "nose-dive" braking. Braking is a bit more sensitive.
I too have neuropathy in the bottom of the upper part of my feet, but it's not far enough advanced to affect braking. I could be wrong, but I suspect your friends neuropathic situation and a difference in '14 - '15 electric-assist braking may be involved.
I would be hesitant to let anyone tell me this VERY expensive MC needs replacing. The cost for the parts and labor are way up there.

 

if its a TRD OR 4x4 09+ it will have the electric boosted setup..... a TRD OR prerunner will not.

 

Agreed. I can easily figure out a way to make the brakes less effective, but if the truck ever gets into an accident, a sharp lawyer will say, "You did WHAT to the brakes?"

 

Only thing I can think of would be to back off the rear shoe adjusters just a tad then it would give the spongy effect thgat many complain of...

 

Well that probably won't work for long. Unless you never use the parking brake. By using it you adjust the shoes.

 

Back them off and apply some lock tight.

 

definitely agree

Yea i wonder if $ might be a factor as well. Toyota won’t touch it because they say its fine i think just needs to time to acclimate to that “nose dive” type feeling that wasnt the case with the 1st gen

15’ 4x4 so electic boost. Had heard him mention vacuum so went with it. Thanks

 

They probably hear that same complaint alot from new tacoma drivers. They're right not to touch it, if it had a problem it would be setting trouble codes