Dealership refusing to cover under warranty due to offroad abuse

I have to agree with Fast Frank with one caveat, drum brakes are not sealed or a completely enclosed system. Dirt CAN and WILL eventually get in there if you take the vehicle into that environment. They do however resist dirt and grime better than disc brakes by design. So it is incumbent that you periodically check your drums or integrate an inspection of these parts after you go off-reading in similar conditions. Perhaps when you are cleaning the vehicle after your adventures.

I also have to side with hiPSI in the fact that it is the owners responsibility for regular maintenance post off-roading operations. Those brakes were not designed to roll around with dirt/mud caked in there for an extended period of time. Like many other machines, they are very capable if properly maintained.

I am sorry this happed to you OP, but in my humble opinion, you had an expensive educational experience. Now that you know this can happen you know what to look for or inspect after you go off-roading in similar conditions. Good luck and I hope you future outings turn out better.

 

this.

Warranty is supposed to cover manufacturer defects, not shit you break having fun.
Although it doesn't come out of the dealers pocket as Toyota Warranty would likely have covered it if the tech said it was a failure under normal conditions. It would be nice if they covered it but really there is nothing saying they have to. Even if you tried to put this through court it is likely you would lose as all the mud.

Really if the dealer wanted to be nice they could've cleaned up the mud and then submit the claim as a failure. But if caught they could get sued and lose their ability to perform levels of warranty without approval from head office.

Just because it says TRD Offroad doesn't mean its indestructible off road and shit wont break.

 

So what's a good bang for your buck gas pressure washer and foam cannon?? Any tips on how to effectively remove mud and dirt from underneath the truck and under the hood?

 

Yeah there is. It's probably cheaper for them to install, it's cheaper for ME to maintain in the long run, and the truck stops just as well as those with full discs. So people here want Discs why? Just for the pleasure of replacing your rear brakes three times as often? Do you feel let down by the braking power?

Really don't understand people's logic on this one. You arent exactly going to be towing 12k pound loads with this truck and need to combat fading.

 

This thread is not going the way OP planned. lulz

ETA - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/advice-for-cleaning-out-rear-drum-brakes.525436/

OP has had plenty of time to get the rear drums cleaned out, but was lazy./

 

This seems to be going in the typical direction of a Friday thread.

 

The plot thickens!

 

Sure!
Just go get any of those cheap pressure washers at Sams Club or Walmart. You will never use it enough to wear it out because fortunately, you don't have to do this after every off road adventure.

You do however, have to INSPECT your complete vehicle after a big off road trip.
There have been times that I had to take a big screwdriver and pry and chisel dried mud that had caked under my truck. It's not fun but it has to happen. Just always plan for an inspection and cleaning/repair time after big adventures. It is also funny to get under your truck and try to figure out how that big rock or tree limb got wedged into that tight space!

I know a lot of you either are/were in some branch of the military. This topic is one of the fundamental differences (besides armor lol) in civilian and military hardware... water, mud and dust resistance. I know you guys know this but this is for all those non military and non engineers that might not know this.

 

I've never done any of those things to my Xterra, and it has drums and they continue to work great after lots of offroading.

I maintain it of course, and repair things that break and wash mud off of parts, but not sure how you would get mud inside the drums that bad. But then I don't drive through mud if I don't have to.

 

Case closed. OP's fault.

 

Wow...sorry OP but you did this to yourself.

 

And to think people out there like him give this truck and toyota a bad rap. Shows there is always two sides to a story. Guy knew his brakes were full of mud and he didnt do anything!

 

I haven't drove through a lot of mud or water for fun in over 30 years, because back in the day I WAS NOT SMART and used to do it for fun on a Saturday. Sunday was spent fixing and cleaning crap that I broke on Saturday! Every now and then I still have to go through mud for my job. I go super slow and always try to go around it as much as possible. When I do though, as soon as I get back I know I have to clean and inspect.

 

Hahaha, busted!

 

Don't we have dual reservoir ? How do you lose all brakes on one drum failure ?

 

I've had to clean plenty of stuff off leaf springs and suspension components and such, but I've never had it get inside drums to a level that would cause a problem. But sounds like the OP probably just got it in some really muddy stuff.

In over 10 years of offroading that Xterra, I've bent one tie rod. That's it. But I don't abuse the skinny pedal either.

 

Gotta pay to play I guess, 4 months since he posted that and still didn't clean his drums.

 

I need something good, not wal mart special. Has to be durable, reliable and easy to maintain. Also need it for homes, family vehicles and work trucks.

 

On the other hand, op maybe you could have gotten the repair covered through your insurance?

 

Unfortunately, its the going trend nowadays.

Don’t want to be accountable for your own doings? No problem....

Just go online, make yourself the victim, gather white knights for validation/emotional support. Make enough noise with your new found group of betas, so that it appears as though you actually have a valid claim. Force the opposing party (Toyota) to submission by force.

If enough people make noise, they must be right.. right?