Tundra Brake Problems

[robbob2112]

With a 2001 Tundra limted I went through break problems.... hopefully they are cured.

1. 8000 miles, dealer replaced pads and shoes turned rotors and drums

2. 22000 miles, replaced pads and rotors myself

3. 35000 miles dealer performed multiple TSBs and replaced all wheel componets of break system.. dealer said original caliper was mis-designed and the pistons were off-center and that the pad was to small.

4. 48000 miles, break pads again on the front and had rotors turned

5. 54000 miles, replaced rotors again!, this time with cryo-frozen slotted rotors... 5 times as hard and slots for better cooling/breaking... still stuck with toyota pads as there are _no_ after market pads that fit the "after TSB" calipers... place I bought the rotors from says raybestos is coming out with some "soon" and the style will be D976 for those of you with the same problem.

6. at 59000 miles and none of the previous signs have re-appeared yet... those being excessive break dust on the front, grabbing like the rotors are warped or anything like that... so hopefully they are fixed for good.

Previous truck was a full size dodge and I went about 35000 miles per set of pads and 70000 before having rotors turned, so I know it isn't all just living in the mountains and the way I drive.

[fireman]

I have a 2000 4-Runner with (what seems to be) the same vibration problem. It started at about 25k miles, the dealership said "we can't reproduce it." I took the serviceman for a drive, got it to happen, and was told "its the ABS, its supposed to do that." I didn't realize the ABS causes the dashboard to shake violently....

Other times its happened, I was told it was a figment of my imagination. After a short time, I stopped bringing it in for the shaking, and compensated with my braking.

The truck now has 87k miles, still shakes every few days, and I still have that inkling feeling that it may not be a figment of my imagination. Could the Tundra brake vibrations be spread across different models?

[mdmax]

I have a 2001 Tundra 4x4 Access Cab. My truck is still under warranty with only 29,000 miles. The front brakes vibrate when going down hill or towing my boat. I took my truck to the dealer today and they did a test drive of less than one mile and said there is no problem, and treated me very very bad. Is there anything that can be done ??

[Finally Informed]

I had to post here because I want everyone with a Toyota Tundra to be informed also. Toyota is very aware of the problems that people are having with their brakes on the Tundras, in fact in September of 2003 they issued a "Technical Service Bulletin" to all their dealerships letting them know that basically the brake system is faulty and should be fixed no questions asked (if under warranty). They haven't issued a recall but maybe if enough people filed complaints with the National Safety commission (they already have over 300 complaints) they'll have to. The only catch to Toyota fixing them for nothing is you're truck has to still be under Warranty (3 years or 36,000 miles), so if your still within warranty I would suggest getting your truck in ASAP!!! Otherwise the cost could run you up to $2,000 :ffs: . My truck is at Toyota at this very moment and I'm 6 months out of my warranty and 4000 miles over. But, hmmmm let's see I bought my truck in 2000 and Toyota didn't figure the issue out until 9/2003, by the time they figured it out I was already out of warranty period, GO FIGURE. Please tell everyone you know who owns a Tundra to please look into it before it's too late.

PS. I did have the same exact problem on my 1998 4 runner and they couldn't figure it out then either. They told me that the Rotors were warped because of excess heat from the pistons. Again, pretty frustrating!

[tyta4fun]

I too have the vibration problem.  I urge everyone to post to the  www.nhtsa.dot.gov website. 

I have 52k miles on the truck and I am the second owner.  I have finally convinced the dealer to call Toyota and Toyota is footing the bill for the parts.  I will have to pay labor of $470 to solve the problem.  Normal cost is $1700.

I will do this, then mount a campaign to get this problem issued as a recall.  Once it is a recall, we should all be refunded any money that we have spent on brake repairs.  The more people who post their problem, the quicker we will get the recall.

Here is a list of 81 complaint numbers.  I went through these manually and these all mention vibration in the braking system.

566414 722135* 725801* 733474 739412 741099 742504 747783 747799 747802

747812 747815 747856 747859 747957 748143 748274 749042 749623 750085

751434 751551 751920 752164 752286 752739 752954 753085 753123 753140

753149 753155 753161 758565 761583 761833 763426 764214 764502 764958

767217 767230 767230 767332 767551 767755 767802 768683 785848 876163

877876 878199 879056 889900 890452 891102 894413 895595 898132 8001404

8001405 8004531 8012641 8015166 8015336 8015783 8019793 8020132

8023285 8023731 9003696 9005100 10008294 10008537 10008997 10014041

10016493 10017735 10018348 10018539 10018678 10020562

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I have to add another complaint about brakes. I have an 2003 tundra ltd 4x4 and i have been to the dealer 3 or 4 times for brake vibrations. It initially started at 4000 miles. Diagnosis rear drums warped. machined drums and fixed the problem until 10000. warped discs, replaced calipers and discs fixed the problem. 17000 miles vibration again. replaced the drums with heavy duty replacements. I have 28000 now and so far so good and this was all covered under warrenty with no problem, but I am starting to feel a little vibration again.

[tyta4fun]

I have to add another complaint about brakes. I have an 2003 tundra ltd 4x4 and i have been to the dealer 3 or 4 times for brake vibrations. It initially started at 4000 miles. Diagnosis rear drums warped. They machined the drums and fixed the problem until 10000. Diagnosis warped front discs, replaced calipers and discs with heavy duty i think and fixed the problem. 17000 miles vibration again. replaced the drums with heavy duty replacements. I have 28000 now and so far so good and this was all covered under warrenty with no problem, but I am starting to feel a little vibration again. I thought i had a lemon. Toyota never told me about a TSB. I,ve had to hassle with the dealer on multiple occasions to get the issue resolved and all along they knew it was a problem. Not happy with them. I have to add that i am very easy on the brakes and toyota should do something about this situation. I love the truck, but i dont think we should have to baby the brakes to make them last.