Rear brake problem on 2018....Anybody else ?

I just had my 10K service on my Tacoma. I was advised that my rear brake shoes were down by 60%, and probably by my next oil change I would need new rear shoes. When I questioned this, the service writer told me, it is common if I have a tow vehicle (small 2500# atv trailer) this happens on all Siennas & Tacomas. Now, I haven't changed a set of brakes on a car in a couple decades, but isn't it true that, the front rotor's should be wearing faster than the rears?

I asked another employee at the dealer (out of sight of mine), and he told me that Toyota is having a lot of issues with brake master cylinders on the 2018 Tacomas. If true, isn't this a contributing factor.....? Should I call corporate ?

 

I didn’t read all that because I’m a lazy shitbag but did you pull your drums to verify? 60% is bananas.

 

It was probably just an upsell tactic. Put it in your mind now, and you will come in before the next oil change and get them changed.
Also, yes, there is a recall on some brake master cylinders, but not an issue that would cause excessive wear on the shoes.

 

These must have been the same mechanics that had to have been moonlighting at the Honda dealer and told my kid his tires were worn and had, at the most, 5 K left on them at 25K miles. They had at least 75% tread left and weren't even close to the tread bar indicators.

He drives like a great grandfather, even I can't stand riding with him, I keep trying to push down a non existent accelerator pedal.

 

Nobody pulls drums at 10K. If they do they lose money.

 

If it were a VW, I'd say very possible. They are horrible on rear pads. Your truck would need something broken, on both sides, to require new shoes at 10K. You would probably know it because your gas mileage would suck as well.

 

The 2018 maintenance manual requires visual inspection of brake linings/drums and brakes pads/discs for both 5K and 10K cycles... always ask measurements be made AND documented for every item in the service schedule (before they service your truck). The tech can annotate the findings on the inspection sheet... if the service department won’t do that, find another place to take your vehicle.

 

You really think they do everything on that list?

 

Drum linings usually last well over 100k.

 

I had 180,000 on my 2nd gen taco and they still were going. Not sure if the 3rd gens are different, but 10,000 sure doesn't sound right.

 

Wow. What's amazing is that the frame could need replacing before the brake pads.

 

Why wouldn’t they... I’m a professional, I do my job exactly as it should be performed and I expect most decent people do theirs as well. It’s a relatively short list... not a lot of effort to complete.

Edit Note: if the service center does NOT ask if you have been driving under any “special operating conditions” described on the list, then you will have an indication as to the professional level of that shop. Ask for the manager and inquire as to why you were not questioned about what additional maintenance items may apply to your truck, and then seek out a different service center.

 

If you decide to look for yourself, DO NOT go near the brake pedal while the drums are off. I'm sure you knew that but . . .

G.

 

Wow...Thanks everybody !.....I have noted all of you, I think I will ask to see them on the next visit. I too have never heard of this. I was trying a new dealer that I haven't to before, so maybe this was an up sell tactic.....

 

A lot of the basic service guys are job hoppers. They are just there to make a paycheck waiting for another dealer to call them up and offer a job for a dollar more an hour. They have no interest in that check list and certainly are not pulling drums to measure the shoes.
Now the true certified techs that get the recall work and larger jobs are there to stay and they do care about the job and the customer, but they are not the ones doing your 5 and 10k services.
I have been on both sides as I was a job hopper until I got into my current location, in which I then became a top level certified ATV tech and certifed in both outboard and Sterndrive Mercury engines. I have been there almost 8 years now and have a reputation along with a list of customers who will only let me touch their toys. I have seen quite a few entry level "techs" come and go, and only 1 has made it to also become outboard certified.

 

I call bull .
I tow a lot so I adjust rear brakes a lot and I still have material at 45,000.
Check yourself if fraudulent report to toy corporate so that shifter doesn’t F someone else.

 

My dealer told me the EXCACT same thing at my 15k service. They said I was at 60% and asked if I tow a lot or haul a lot. I said nope, never have and he just said keep an eye on it. They also told me my front brakes were at 100% so I kind of figured it was BS. Check for myself when I got home, all was good. Needless to say I won’t go back to Crown Toyota for my 20k service.

 

Maybe so at Toyota... considered by many as not a high end company. I haven’t taken my truck in for service yet, so I’ll see the process first hand soon. For my MB, the service center checks everything, including documenting brake pad mm remaining, tire depth remaining, etc. Of course, the “A” and “B” checks are expensive and time consuming (1.5 hours for A and 2.5 for B), perhaps an example of “you get what you pay for”. I have a normal expectation of Toyota, thus expect them to do the work specified. I also post local reviews of both good and bad experiences... those may not mean too much to the dealer, but they do to future customers who perform due diligence.

I believe your informative experience, it’s unfortunate the industry accepts such low integrity... grooming younger techs to be professional, responsible, and safety minded would produce a better than one person success rate as you have seen.

 

Towing puts extra strain on both the front and rear brakes so if the rear shoes were down to 60% then you'd already be on your second or third set of front pads. Total BS. If the rear shoes are in fact worn down that much it's because of a problem with the braking system.

 

Is it possible for Toyota to inspect brakes without taking off your wheels?