Should I be scared to buy a 2000 Tundra b/c of brakes?

Buzz · #1 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 10:17 AM

I had my mind made up to buy a 2000 Tundra Limited 4x4 that I have found recently. It has right at 36,000 miles. Just yesterday I found this site and others that discuss the problems existing with the Tundra's brakes. The owner of the vehicle claims there have been no problems with the brakes, but how do I know? The price is pretty good, but not exceptional.

After hearing all the problems with the 2000 models brakes and the fact the vehicle is just out of warranty - should I keep looking for a 2001 or 2002 model instead? I would hate to pay all the money for it, and then have to turn around and put big money in the brakes.

I want this truck mostly to just be a general purpose truck and tow a boat that weighs about 3000 pounds. The truck will not be driven in city traffic and it will not be driven more than 7000 miles per year. Whatever truck I buy, I want to keep for years and years. This will be my first truck, and I have always heard good things about the Toyota. Frankly, I was a bit surprised to see all the grumblings about the Tundra that I have seen.

Has this problem been fixed for good? If I were to pony up the money for a 2004 - can I expect the same problems or has Toyota finally got a grip on the problem?

Also, does anybody know why Toyota put drum brakes on the back of this? My 2000 Accord LX has drum rear brakes and it stops fine, but I was just curious why they use drum brakes while all the others use disk.

longwoodklon · #2 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 10:47 AM

It's definitely something to consider. But of the thousands of trucks sold, the ones complaining here seem to be in the minority, most have not had brake troubles. That said, all Toyota has done to fix the problem is gone to slightly larger calipers but they haven't addressed the cheap rotors. Worst case, you get the truck and it develops problems. You can get new Cryo'd/slotted rotors from Wheelers for like $300. I'd imagine that would solve any problems, should they arise. Of course, a brand new 2004 double cab would be nice............... As for the drum brakes, I too think they should go to disc all the way around. But look at the Camry, their flagship sedan and it also comes standard with rear drum brakes. The brakes on my truck seem great, but I can only imagine how much better they'd be with disc all around.
/Mike

toyotafool · #3 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 11:06 AM

Well I don't have a lot of experience but I will try to relay what little I have..
I bought my 2000 in sept of 1999 with 8 miles on it..I don't know where that high miles came from but I will try to live with it... occasionally out of the blue there is a shudder when breaking.. has been all along.. eventually I did notice that when it occurred I noticed that the brake pedal was a little lower on application than previous... I learned that the rear brakes are adjusted by applying the parking brake so I learned to do that a time or two when I thought about it and the problem was mostly nonexistant...If you search the magazines that wrote up the TUNDRA when it first came out you will find that it's brakes outperformed ALL other trucks... rear brakes account for only 30% of braking force..drum brakes normally last MUCH longer than disks with fewer needed repairs and better reliability... if they are kept adjusted..I am now due for new pads on the front (less than 3/16 remaining) and I have to forgoe the TSB recommended repair and just replace the pads..They worked fine so far and now that I nearly have the Truck broken in they will probably do fine again...I LOVE MY TRUCK THE WAY IT IS.. the expense of upgrading brakes that I am happy with does not feel like good use of moneyto me. BTW mine is a 2000 access cab 4X2 Limited without leather withARE cab high topper and 101,xxx miles... still get compliments on it regularly...no one beleives it is that old or that high milage... I try to explain that is NOT high milage... my previous 4 TOYOTAs went much further than that before replacing the front pads, but this one is much heavier so I will cope... I am running Micheline LTX M/S presently... they wear much better than the original Dunlop tires but not as quiet.. more road surface noise in the cab...over all wouldn't be noticed in the BIG 3 trucks but the TUNDRA is soooo quiet it is noticable..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzz

I had my mind made up to buy a 2000 Tundra Limited 4x4 that I have found recently. It has right at 36,000 miles. Just yesterday I found this site and others that discuss the problems existing with the Tundra's brakes. The owner of the vehicle claims there have been no problems with the brakes, but how do I know? The price is pretty good, but not exceptional.

After hearing all the problems with the 2000 models brakes and the fact the vehicle is just out of warranty - should I keep looking for a 2001 or 2002 model instead? I would hate to pay all the money for it, and then have to turn around and put big money in the brakes.

I want this truck mostly to just be a general purpose truck and tow a boat that weighs about 3000 pounds. The truck will not be driven in city traffic and it will not be driven more than 7000 miles per year. Whatever truck I buy, I want to keep for years and years. This will be my first truck, and I have always heard good things about the Toyota. Frankly, I was a bit surprised to see all the grumblings about the Tundra that I have seen.

Has this problem been fixed for good? If I were to pony up the money for a 2004 - can I expect the same problems or has Toyota finally got a grip on the problem?

Also, does anybody know why Toyota put drum brakes on the back of this? My 2000 Accord LX has drum rear brakes and it stops fine, but I was just curious why they use drum brakes while all the others use disk.

toyotafool · #4 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 11:07 AM

Well I don't have a lot of experience but I will try to relay what little I have..
I bought my 2000 in sept of 1999 with 8 miles on it..I don't know where that high miles came from but I will try to live with it... occasionally out of the blue there is a shudder when breaking.. has been all along.. eventually I did notice that when it occurred I noticed that the brake pedal was a little lower on application than previous... I learned that the rear brakes are adjusted by applying the parking brake so I learned to do that a time or two when I thought about it and the problem was mostly nonexistant...If you search the magazines that wrote up the TUNDRA when it first came out you will find that it's brakes outperformed ALL other trucks... rear brakes account for only 30% of braking force..drum brakes normally last MUCH longer than disks with fewer needed repairs and better reliability... if they are kept adjusted..I am now due for new pads on the front (less than 3/16 remaining) and I have to forgoe the TSB recommended repair and just replace the pads..They worked fine so far and now that I nearly have the Truck broken in they will probably do fine again...I LOVE MY TRUCK THE WAY IT IS.. the expense of upgrading brakes that I am happy with does not feel like good use of moneyto me. BTW mine is a 2000 access cab 4X2 Limited without leather withARE cab high topper and 101,xxx miles... still get compliments on it regularly...no one beleives it is that old or that high milage... I try to explain that is NOT high milage... my previous 4 TOYOTAs went much further than that before replacing the front pads, but this one is much heavier so I will cope... I am running Micheline LTX M/S presently... they wear much better than the original Dunlop tires but not as quiet.. more road surface noise in the cab...over all wouldn't be noticed in the BIG 3 trucks but the TUNDRA is soooo quiet it is noticable..I wouldn't think you would go wrong with the truck but I haven't seen that particular one. If it is half as good as mine you better be SURE

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzz

I had my mind made up to buy a 2000 Tundra Limited 4x4 that I have found recently. It has right at 36,000 miles. Just yesterday I found this site and others that discuss the problems existing with the Tundra's brakes. The owner of the vehicle claims there have been no problems with the brakes, but how do I know? The price is pretty good, but not exceptional.

After hearing all the problems with the 2000 models brakes and the fact the vehicle is just out of warranty - should I keep looking for a 2001 or 2002 model instead? I would hate to pay all the money for it, and then have to turn around and put big money in the brakes.

I want this truck mostly to just be a general purpose truck and tow a boat that weighs about 3000 pounds. The truck will not be driven in city traffic and it will not be driven more than 7000 miles per year. Whatever truck I buy, I want to keep for years and years. This will be my first truck, and I have always heard good things about the Toyota. Frankly, I was a bit surprised to see all the grumblings about the Tundra that I have seen.

Has this problem been fixed for good? If I were to pony up the money for a 2004 - can I expect the same problems or has Toyota finally got a grip on the problem?

Also, does anybody know why Toyota put drum brakes on the back of this? My 2000 Accord LX has drum rear brakes and it stops fine, but I was just curious why they use drum brakes while all the others use disk.

toyotafool · #5 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 11:10 AM

it appears there is a keystroke that sends the post and I must have found it... didn't even get to proofread.... anyway be sure you like it because you will have to live with it a LONG time before you wear it out..
JOHN

Yellbird · #6 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 02:05 PM

I have the 2000 and have been more than happy with it. I did have the TSB done but as someone else posted you could always get the rotors from Wheelers. For the few hundred it may cost you it would still be a lot cheaper than spending the money for an 04. Remember a new truck is only new for a short time.

DevinSixtySeven · #7 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 02:11 PM

got a 2000, never had a problem til i busted something in one of the drums, at that point the front had to take over and of course it went sour

...but that's one of those exceptional cases. i put over 30K on the truck the first year i had it (!), on the original brakes, without a problem (well, til something broke in the back, but hey...ish happens)--they probably would have lasted far beyond the 60K or so when i changed them, if not for the fouled drum. since then, i swapped to wheeler's rotors as a preemptive fix/upgrade because i could...absolutely love the truck, and spend probably waaaay too much time messing with it

.

1spiffyTRD · #8 (**permalink**) 10-08-2003, 06:37 PM

I have 36k on my mine but I bought it with 31k. My brakes suck! Do you recommend getting the wheelers discs? Will it make my brakes like new? what will?

DCTundraGA · #9 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 07:06 AM

I wouldn't advise getting a 2000 Tundra. It was the first year of production and there were several typical first year defects. Whatever year you get, make sure it has the brake TSB upgrade.

My .02

skymtb · #10 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 07:45 AM

I have a 2000 Tundra 4x4 Limited TRD that I bought in 3/03, at that time it had 32k. I am now at 47k and absolutely love the truck. I have had no problems with the brakes and I pull a 3500 lb boat. The only time I thought that I was having trouble with the brakes, ended up being caused by the stock BFG tires. Once I replaced them I have had no more problems.

I think it is a great truck and wouldn't hesitate to do it all over again, it is also a little more luxurious than my 84 Landcruiser.

HTH

nymand1 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzz

I had my mind made up to buy a 2000 Tundra Limited 4x4 that I have found recently. It has right at 36,000 miles. Just yesterday I found this site and others that discuss the problems existing with the Tundra's brakes. The owner of the vehicle claims there have been no problems with the brakes, but how do I know? The price is pretty good, but not exceptional.

I'd also be worried about the exhaust manifolds. I have a 2000 Tundra Limited 4x4 with 40,000 mi on her and needing a LH exhaust manifold. It is appalling my truck now needs an $800 fix for a truck just out of 3/36 warranty. Now I have truck payments AND a big repair bill. I'm definately going to call and write Toyota Corporate as this is unacceptable.

Do a search on exhaust manifold and learn how many have had this problem.

nhparrot · #12 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzz

I had my mind made up to buy a 2000 Tundra Limited 4x4 that I have found recently. It has right at 36,000 miles. Just yesterday I found this site and others that discuss the problems existing with the Tundra's brakes. The owner of the vehicle claims there have been no problems with the brakes, but how do I know? The price is pretty good, but not exceptional.

After hearing all the problems with the 2000 models brakes and the fact the vehicle is just out of warranty - should I keep looking for a 2001 or 2002 model instead? I would hate to pay all the money for it, and then have to turn around and put big money in the brakes.

I want this truck mostly to just be a general purpose truck and tow a boat that weighs about 3000 pounds. The truck will not be driven in city traffic and it will not be driven more than 7000 miles per year. Whatever truck I buy, I want to keep for years and years. This will be my first truck, and I have always heard good things about the Toyota. Frankly, I was a bit surprised to see all the grumblings about the Tundra that I have seen.

Has this problem been fixed for good? If I were to pony up the money for a 2004 - can I expect the same problems or has Toyota finally got a grip on the problem?

Also, does anybody know why Toyota put drum brakes on the back of this? My 2000 Accord LX has drum rear brakes and it stops fine, but I was just curious why they use drum brakes while all the others use disk.

Is the vehicle a private sale or from a dealer - Toyota or other? Is there a maintenance history available on the vehicle? Have anY TSB's been performed?

KLS · #13 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nymand1

I'd also be worried about the exhaust manifolds. I have a 2000 Tundra Limited 4x4 with 40,000 mi on her and needing a LH exhaust manifold. It is appalling my truck now needs an $800 fix for a truck just out of 3/36 warranty.

Why change the exhaust manifold? Is it a safety problem?...passing emission testing problem?...not a performance or fuel mileage problem.

I'd let it tick.
Ken

toyotafool · #14 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 12:14 PM

oops.. I forgot to mention the manifolds... they have been ticking on cold mornings for the first 30-45 seconds since she was new... I just ignore it.. presently My parking is in the basement of my apartment building and when I pull out (up) the drive with stone on both sides and the windows down it is very noticable... if I let it warm up for at least one minute before pulling out it makes not a sound... for a long time no one knew the source of the tick... valve train was the most comon diagnosis... if it gets worse during the second hundred thousand I will put on a pair of headers... good excuse anyway... but as for now.. no way.. I did consider the "first year" question when I bought her but it has not been a problem... the listed problems have been on later models also and if you get a 2000 you get a steel throttle body cover instead of plastic...lol
and a throttle cable instead of drive by wire..

Buzz · #15 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhparrot

Is the vehicle a private sale or from a dealer - Toyota or other? Is there a maintenance history available on the vehicle? Have anY TSB's been performed?

This would be a private sale. Some service records are available but not all. This guy has no idea about TSB's - so chances are NONE have been done. It's just out of warranty, so it sounds like this one is a "pass".

It's a shame though, because it is a slick looking truck at an attractive price. Not many Tundras fit into the price range of what I want to spend. I am starting to think I may have to look elsewhere