1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

'02 brake problem at low speeds

Discussion in '3rd Gen 4Runners (1996-2002)' started by Odjur, Aug 16, 2021.

  1. Aug 16, 2021 at 2:24 PM
    #1
    Odjur

    #1
    Odjur [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2021
    Member:
    #22804
    Messages:
    24
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner
    At high speeds the brakes are fine, but at very low speed, i.e. right before stopping, the car brakes very suddenly and the whole car shakes. It kinda feels like when you drive on snow/ice and the brake booster kicks in.
    After driving for a bit it disappears and everything is normal... ???

    Any ideas?
     
    Odjur, Aug 16, 2021
    #1
  2. Aug 17, 2021 at 2:43 AM
    #2
    Toy4X4

    #2
    Toy4X4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2020
    Member:
    #15580
    Messages:
    8,035
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeff
    Vehicle:
    2020 Offroad Prem. 4-runner
    RevTek 3" front- 2" rear leveling, JBA uca's, LED interior lights, Cooper 275-70-17 AT3 LT
    Leaky vacuum line to the booster?
     
    Toy4X4, Aug 17, 2021
    #2
    canadian.bacon likes this.
  3. Aug 17, 2021 at 10:16 AM
    #3
    negusm

    #3
    negusm New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
    Member:
    #11745
    Messages:
    2,125
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner SR5 4WD
    what happens if you panic stop?
     
    negusm, Aug 17, 2021
    #3
  4. Aug 22, 2021 at 5:23 PM
    #4
    305

    #4
    305 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2020
    Member:
    #15700
    Messages:
    38
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    Gen 3 4runner
    Probably not related but mine did the same thing. I changed the front rotors, rebuilt the front calipers, flushed and bled the brake system and it stopped.
    Oh, I also reset the codes since my abs light was on.
     
    305, Aug 22, 2021
    #4
  5. Aug 22, 2021 at 6:17 PM
    #5
    SR5 Limited

    #5
    SR5 Limited New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2018
    Member:
    #7180
    Messages:
    13,707
    Vehicle:
    1996 SR5 Limited
    Needs inspection. My rear shoe had split. Didn’t seem to brake any different but caught it early.
     
    SR5 Limited, Aug 22, 2021
    #5
  6. Aug 23, 2021 at 6:50 PM
    #6
    BABYTOYODA

    #6
    BABYTOYODA New Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2021
    Member:
    #21616
    Messages:
    38
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2000 Limited
    upgrade to Tundra brakes
     
    BABYTOYODA, Aug 23, 2021
    #6
  7. Aug 24, 2021 at 8:08 AM
    #7
    305

    #7
    305 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2020
    Member:
    #15700
    Messages:
    38
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    Gen 3 4runner
    I've been thinking about upgrading to tundra or fj brakes. Am I correct in saying everything bolts right on to a 3rd gen 4runner?
     
    305, Aug 24, 2021
    #7
  8. Aug 24, 2021 at 8:12 AM
    #8
    BABYTOYODA

    #8
    BABYTOYODA New Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2021
    Member:
    #21616
    Messages:
    38
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2000 Limited
    BABYTOYODA, Aug 24, 2021
    #8
  9. Aug 26, 2021 at 4:41 PM
    #9
    Odjur

    #9
    Odjur [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2021
    Member:
    #22804
    Messages:
    24
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner
    Thanks for replies, haven't had time to look into it yet, but here's another strange thing that happened: when I braked at very low speed (when parking), the brakes just locked up, and even when I released the brake pedal the brakes were engaged. Gently pressed the gas and there was a bang and the brakes released. The brakes work fine at higher speeds, and the issue with low speeds always resolves after driving around for a bit.
     
    Odjur, Aug 26, 2021
    #9
  10. Aug 27, 2021 at 8:23 PM
    #10
    Odjur

    #10
    Odjur [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2021
    Member:
    #22804
    Messages:
    24
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner
    Weird update: just replaced the battery after it died, and the brake problem disappeared - along with the check engine light. Could it be this was all an electric problem?
     
    Odjur, Aug 27, 2021
    #10
  11. Aug 28, 2021 at 7:10 AM
    #11
    negusm

    #11
    negusm New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
    Member:
    #11745
    Messages:
    2,125
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner SR5 4WD
    What was the code? The evap code from the other thread?

    If you were at super low voltages I can see all sorts of weird things happeninh. Electrical health is always the first priority on modern cars. If you are running under 11v, gremlins pop up in the weirdest places.
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2021
    negusm, Aug 28, 2021
    #11
    PhantomTweak likes this.
  12. Aug 28, 2021 at 10:52 AM
    #12
    Odjur

    #12
    Odjur [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2021
    Member:
    #22804
    Messages:
    24
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner
    Yeah, the EVAP code was the only error code I could read. It seems that because the voltage was too low it was the break booster system that kicked in, that caused the abrupt braking... hopefully the problem will stay away now that the battery is new.
     
    Odjur, Aug 28, 2021
    #12
Register FREE to Reply!
To Top