IS the Toyota Tundra brake problem very common?

[MEvang]

You would most likely benefit from a rear brake adjustment. I bet you don't use the parking brake much? It's best to set the parking brake at lest once a day this keeps the shoes adjusted as they should be.
If you do a manual adjustment be very careful not to over adjust.
Weather related brake squeals are normal on most vehicles and hardly avoidable. Just one of the pit falls of disc brakes.
Mike

[sooner4x4]

My 05 Double cab with 43,000 miles still has original brakes. They work great and the brake feel is good, just like when it was new. Driving is half city (with a lot of stop and go) and half highway.

My 06 Sienna just had a front brake job at 25,000 miles. While part of that is due to my wife's driving habits, the shop claims that the rear brakes were way out of adjustment such that they were providing virtually no stopping ability, which lead to the premature wear of the fronts. As part of the service, they cleaned and adjusted the rear brakes. Not sure if that was a load of BS or not, but it may be something to check on a vehicle that wears out front pads quickly.

[MEvang]

I may be wrong here but I was under the impression that the Sienna had rear disc brake?
But even it does have drums the amount that they can be out is usually minimal. The biggest thing is your pedal will be firmer and this make the brakes feel better to you.
I have never read any information on how much more wear a front disc brake can get if the rears are out of adjustment, so I would guess it's not enough to measure. Was it a good thing to have done? As long as they don't over adjusted, it can't hurt. And periodic cleaning is also good.
Mike

[t1704]

I just purchased an '01 limited 2WD and unfortunately, mine too is plagued with brake issues. I plan to install some brembo rotors, axxis pads and keep my fingers crossed that significantly slows the wear cycle.

[FiberodTundra]

I have recently had break problems with our '01 Tundra 4x4. Brake light has been on for a a while. Any time I would let off the brakes they would pop and squeal especially when parking the truck. I read somewhere that if the fluid level was low, it would turn the light on. So I filled up the tank and checked it out. Still on even after repeated pumping of the pedal. So I decided to remove the "strainer" from the resevoir and there is what looks like a float or plunger. It was stuck all the way at the bottom. Grabbed pair of needlenose and unseated it. Guess what, light is now off and no more popping or squeals. Guess level got real low and the sensor got stuck. Good luck to all.

[kaosv1]

2002 just before the brake TSB, but no issues whatsoever. No vibrations, no odd wear. I've always torqued my own lugs and always set the e-brake. I am not a HW king either and we have plenty of hills and turns. I also tow a boat....
I believe the higher incident rates are southern or hot weather trucks. I know northern trucks have had issues , but much less according to my local dealer.

Checked pads this past fall (oct) 27k pads look 2/3- 3/4 worn. I have a brand new set of pads I got really cheap so the comparison was easy.

My older brother owns a Dodge 2003 4x4 and the brakes have been a nightmare, my other brother owns a GMC same deal brake warping at 17k. I know plenty of domestic owners that have the same exact issues. I know some of their excuses were the rotors weren't up to spec. (no ****)

[Anthon]

Originally Posted by mitchr

I am with you on this one TUNDRAV8GERORGIA. I also belive the difference's people are having with wear depends on what kind of terrain you drive on and I am not talking about offroad but whether you have nice flat straight roads or hilly and curvy roads like I have to deal with all the time.

Mitch

couldn't agree more. I'm often take my car offroad so i decided to take new high performance brakes... i saved much after the upgrade, i don't need to change pads or whatever very thousands of miles...

[strongarmtundra]

Well, I bought my 2001 tundra in Oct 05 with 83,000 on it. With in two months I knew the brakes needed tobe changed. After I found this site and did the research on the TSB (03) it all made sense. I do not know how the one owner before me drove the truck. However, since the TSB (in Aug 06) I have had no problems out of the front of the truck. The truck did however, spend most of its life is FL, so maybe so heat and driving issues. BUt the older model TUndras (00-02) look great and feel good after you correct the issues that your truck has.

[gsxrsquid]

Pay attention to MEvang.

I bought my 2000 LTD 4x4 in 11/99. I have 144 thousand miles on it now. According to crybabies on this site I should have replaced my transmission and brakes and yada yada.

On one occasion I towed almost 15,000 pounds. I didn't take it out of OD. The transmission didn't fall out and the brakes didn't fail. I often tow a 10,000 trailer with tractor on it. For the first year or so I didn't even have electric brakes on the trailer, it was all tundra brakes. I replaced the pads and rotors with OEM at about 30-35 thousand miles. Rear brakes have never been touched. I recently checked them and the rotors are hardly worn and I have over 50% of the pads left. Pedal was going way low so I adjusted rear brakes and now it stops like a new truck. In the old days drum brakes adjusted themselves when you backed up. Toyota has decided to use the parking brake to adjust the drums. According to Yota when you press the pedal you should hear 6-9 clicks on the ratchet. If you have fewer than 6 you will probably be dragging shoes on drums and wearing them and warping drums. More than 9 and the rear brakes may no be engaging and your parking brake won't work. I live in Florida panhandle and it is flat. Haven't used parking brake in years. first time I tried it went to the floor. I spent about ten minutes in the drive way pumping the parking brake up and down until it brought the shoes into adjustment. The majority of the time if your front rotors warp it is wheel torque problems. drums are dragging shoes