2002 Tacoma Brake Pedal Binding

Good afternoon,
I have a 2002 Tacoma , with a V-6 and Automatic transmission and about 6 months ago I noticed the brake pedal has become hard to press for just the first little bit almost like the pedal is caught on something and then it works fine. The brakes are new and the booster is new, and I have checked the pedal height. I crawled under the dash and was looking at the "linkage" there is a connector where the pedal connects to the pedal lever by what looks almost like a piece of chain linkage. It has 2 pins with c clips and one of the pins is longer where the pedal spring connects. If I remove the clips and just watch it while I press the pedal the pins push themselves out, and I actually put a washer on the pin first before I put them back in and it actually made it a little bit better. The weird thing is , I really cannot see the reason for the piece of chain looking like linkage, if I completely remove it, the pedal works great. I posted a picture of what I am talking about below. Does anyone have any idea how to fix this.

Thank you

 

I’m having this same exact issue. Did you ever have any luck fixing it?

 

My 2003 did the same thing but I believe my assembly is different then yours. I had to replace my lever according to the mechanic this was after the new booster install. Anyway when I finally located a new lever (discontinued part) they installed it and when I got it back it was worse. I sprayed it all with a little WD-40 and it was tolerable. I ended up taking it apart and found that the mechanic didn't install the bushing in the top of the lever. I put a new one in and greased up all the pins and it was way better. I still get the occasional hard spot when I first press it but over time it seems to be working itself in.

My thread on it.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/binding-brake-pedal-linkage.777864/#post-27860000

 

Better gear up up for a power brake booster... that's how it evolved for me...brake pedal slowly got stiffer and stiffer. Make darn sure when you pull it off that you measure the distance from the end of rod to the back of new booster...very critical

 

Looking at the photo on your post, looks like I’ve got the same assembly, I just noticed the stuff feeling after swapping my brake booster, so I will try some WD40 and see where that gets me. Thank you!

 

Hopefully that helps I just sprayed the WD-40 around the pins on the top and bottom of the lever, when I took it apart to look at the lever and install the bushings I made sure to grease all the bushings and pins. Like I said I still had some stiffness when I would first press it but I'm about 300 miles or so since the repair and it seems to be getting better, almost like it had to wear in a little bit.