Why are the 2nd gen brakes so squishy

this has bothered me from the first day I took my truck home from the dealer back in September of 2010.

Everytime I press down on the brake pedal, it feels so squishy, not firm like other vehicles I've driven. I've visited a few dealers and they don't see anything wrong, and I've even driven other 2nd gen tacomas at the dealerships while waiting and their brakes feel the same way.

I've always checked for leaks in the master cylinder and every dealer I go to say my brake pads have plenty of pad left, and rotors look good. The truck doesn't shake or anything while braking, and braking distance is always reasonable.

So just a complaint.

 

Mine are as firm as a porn stars Johnson

 

My brakes are firm as fuck. But I have a TRD Off-road with electronic brake booster.

Anyone who drives my truck complains that the brakes are too firm.

 

Try adjusting your rear shoes, when i replaced my rear brakes I didn't adjust them far enough out and they were squishy like there was air trapped in the system. I pulled the drums and adjusted them to where there was a little bit of friction on the drum and it was solid after that. They're self adjusting but i'm not sure how well they work.

 

Only having my truck for a few months, it was the first thing I noticed and hated. My sports car is night and day, I get so much feedback through the pedal. But mine is as firm as it gets, around 1" of travel.

Not sure when a brake line flush was done last on my truck, but I see it in my future... Time to find a friend

 

I almost put myself thru the windshield the first time I drove mine.

 

All my friends say my brakes are too aggressive when they've driven my truck. No complaint from me. But, as said above, not like a sports car, no feedback. Oh wait, we bought trucks...

 

two different braking systems are found on the tacoma... standard vacuum assisted brake setup, then the MUUUUCH better MUUUUCH more firm electric boosted master cylinder. The later is only found on the TRD off road 4x4's 09+ and some trucks vsc when it was "optional"

I cant stand the squishy vacuum assisted brake setup... drove a 3rd gen sport 4x4 (same braking system as 2nd gen) with the vacuum booster and went... yeah no thanks.

 

I personally liked the vacuum boosted brakes in my 08 versus the electronic boosted in my 15, locks up way too easy and sensitive.

 

^^^^this
Mechanic for 20 years. My pedal is firm as shit, which I like. It's funny as shit when my wife drives it,she hates that brakes are so sensitive. But I do clean and adjust rears often, as I pull a bass boat often, which has brakes as well. Love my brakes!

 

Mine squish on my 2012. suits my cruising style very well.

 

I have the vacuum booster on my '12.
I don't find the brakes soft at all.
I changed the fluid this Spring (bled all 4 corners to new fluid) and they feel as good as ever.
Although I haven't driven the electronic setup so I have nothing to compare to.

Anyway, perhaps the OP has some air in the system. I would bleed all 4 corners just to be sure.

 

Hmmm, I didn't know that about the different braking systems. I don't have an off-road model.

 

Key point bolded above.

 

my 2015 with 9,000 miles shakes when I break.

 

Brakes need re-bedding.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Bedding+brakes&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

 

I look at mine and my face hits the steering wheel.

 

Before I got in to test drive my Sport, (2+ years ago) I told the salesman that I didn't like the feel of a soft brake pedal. He looked at me weird, but this is what I had "researched" online.

I confirmed that this was false during test drive.

Also, family that sit in the front passenger seat tend to lurch forward every time I apply brakes. I drive and fix transit busses for a living - I'd say I have gotten really good at a smooth drive. So seeing this, says something about it's firmness. At least for me.

 

This is a complaint with most/all Toyotas. I personally don't get it. I hate touchy brakes. Its a truck so it should have semi loose brakes

 

Either rebedding like Jimmyh said or you ride your brakes excessively/live in mountinous area/have an issue with seased brakes etc.

Most of the time when that happens its operator error.