1990 4Runner 4WD 2.4L 22RE 5-speed Front-left brake was squealing. Checked pads and inner pad was worn through at the top only due to stuck piston. Replaced both front calipers and pads and left-front line (16" section). Bled brakes and tested. Pressing the pedal provides some braking but then the pedal goes to the floor (or near) and gets hard (bottoming out I presume) and I'm left with the brake I've used up in the inital press of the pedal. I've bled the brakes 2x with same results. Once the resivoir got pretty low and may have let air into the rear but I'm not sure. I bled the rear but the LR bleeder was plugged and no fluid came out. Could this be the problem? I'm worse off now it seems than before I started. I also checked vacuum, leaks, tried backing up to adjust self-adjusters. The tires will not even come close locking up. If I had to stop quick it forget it. Any ideas? TIA for any help.
Replaced front pads/calipers, now hardly any brakes
Aug 25, 2003
2 Replies
It still sounds like you have air in the system. There is a pattern to bleed brakes, usually farthest first. Make sure the reservoir is always full and you may need a couple of guys to do it right. Had the same problem when I decided to install braided steel brake lines.
Got it figured out. I replaced the master cylinder ($50) just in case. But on the LF caliper I placed a 1/4"-20 bolt through where the caliper pin goes because the pin was so rusted and a piece of wire was stuck in the hole where the wire goes through the pin. I broke 3 bits trying to drill that wire out. Anyway, the bolt wouldn't let the inner pad expand against the rotor and was pushing at only the top, which toasted the new pad. I threw the old pad in and ground the old pin enough to slide it in so I could make it to the parts store. With the caliper/pads functioning correctly the brakes are fine. thanks for the help!
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