Frustrating difficult brake bleed

Frustrated beyond belief. Since I've owned my '09 I have had a "soft" pedal. I've wrenched all my vehicles other than transmissions (engine rebuilds, frame off) so pretty adept at working on vehicles. Have done maybe 10-15 bleeds before but never like this. Asking for help. 99% sure there is air, pump pedal and gets hard and stays, have gone through 2 quarts of DOT3 with vacuuming, and also tried helper (press brake/release nipple/hold to floor/tighten nipple/repeat) clear fluid no bubbles (RR/LR/RF/LF). argh! searched and searched with no help, shop agrees air trapped somewhere, recommends removing all calipers and brake lines where there is a sig elevated region which may be trapping air. Suggestions on what I havent thought of?????

 

I had same issue and solved it by spending the $ 80 bucks at a local shop. They had the "special" toyota bleed machine for the ABS control. It took about an hour and fixed the soft pedal problem for me. I should have had them do the fluid exchange as well as it was only another $ 30 bucks, but as I had just done that on my own I passed

 

Get techstream and get the ABS items bled.

 

This.

Or go out to a dirt road with no one around and make the abs do its thing a good amount.

 

you used incorrect fluid (should be DOT 4) and incorrect bleeding procedure (should be pressure bleeder such as Motive)

 

I used DOT 4 and brake bled with a check valve in the hose going from the bleeder to a catch container.

 

thats not the correct way to do it

but anybody who wants to do it the wrong way and enjoy the results of such is certainly 100% free to do so

 

Jeesh man. Half your posts come off like you know everything and you hate the world. It seems to me you like to make others look dumb and make yourself look smart, but that's just my impression and perhaps I'm wrong and you're not even aware you come off like that. If you can help a user try being mindful of not being a jerk while doing so. I'm sure many folks on here have helped you just as they have helped me. Pay it forward and be decent when doing so.

 

@Empty_Lord I'm sure you can provide some guidance. You've always been able to answer all my questions.

 

@Bishop84
I am sure he could give some advice

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/homemade-jack-stands-sketch-or-good-to-go.789943/

 

Maybe master cylinder was changed and not bench bled.or your master cylinder is leaking internally

 

I think its a master cylinder with internal pressure leak. I've changed them on early 2nd gens a few times.

But the first step is ABS bleed, you need a scan tool capable of triggering it.

 

TRD offroad by chance?

 

Amazed at the narcissism of some that post on public forums. DOT3 vs DOT4? c'mon......boiling point only difference...... Let's just try to help each other and keep our rigs out of the "stealers" hands ;-)

Anyways, to follow up on my original post. Removed the 2 ABS1 and ABS2 fuses (disabling the ABS) and pedal firmness is as it would be coming from the factory! Bleeding was obviously fine other than air in the ABS, probably going to have to have the ODBii scanner do it's thing to remove.

And yes, TRD

 

I guess, I should have said, I use Dot 4 and bleed the brakes by pumping the brake pedal with a check valve in the hose between the bleeder screw and catch container.

 

So I think the 09 had the fancy electric booster on the off roads. If it does, the rear is where the air likely is. Trying to get ABS to active then bleed may work. But Techstream is the way to do it proper

 

I had the same problem. 3 quarts and it still wasn’t right. Took it to my local guy and he said it took another 3 quarts. Said it was partially due to the ABS and master cylinder being at about the same height and not like others where the ABS is lower.

 

Maybe try adjusting the rear brakes. You will know they aren't adjusted correctly if your truck moves while in gear and parking brake applied.