Brake pedal feels weird and makes weird noise.

My 2023 4Runner is only 4 months old and makes a weird noise when braking and the pedal feels soft. I took it to Toyota and they said that the car is fine.

 

Yep…. Mine is new and makes the same noise. I did a lil research and that squeaky squishy noise is perfectly normal. And I thought it felt soft as well but had to remember I was no longer driving my Audi S3 with 4 wheel disc brakes. You’ll get accustomed to it and come to love the hydraulic steering and stuff, especially on bumpy roads.

 

Feel and sound it makes is normal. When braking is needed, I feel mine stops very well. I was concerned about the noise early on, but don't even notice it any more.

 

i only feel and hear that when i step on the brake to do a cold start, after that it feels normal to me.

 

The 4runner is old school, but it’s not like it’s on drum brakes or anything like that. It has four wheel disc brakes just like your Audi. And it has four pot front calipers to boot! Hydraulic steering over bumpy roads? Are 4runners the last vehicles with hyd steering?

OP said his pedal feels soft. Assuming he means it always feels soft while driving, that’s not normal. Mine doesn’t feel soft, and it never has. A soft pedal can mean air in the lines, which is a problem.

 

Point taken, I guess I worded that wrong. Both of my Audi’s could stop on a dime (large brakes and calipers), I always referred to the breaking of my Lexus and 4Runner as much softer. But yes if your lines need to be bled or moisture has gotten into the brake fluid you should get it addressed. So if by soft your pedal is going down before you get any break action then get another opinion from a different mechanic.

 

im also coming out of a Audi a4. I think it’s because compared to the Audis specifically we feel that it is softer. Although I loved driving my Audi, I certainly didn’t love the maintenance.

 

When we bought this truck last fall the brakes made noise like descriptions above, rotors were in like new condition though so put on a set of Akebono ProACT ceramic pads which are the quietest I've used.
https://akebonobrakes.com/

 

Audi's have the most abrupt braking progression of any car I've driven. An A4 and 4Runner are probably on opposite ends of the spectrum for brake feel and that's compounding your concern.

 

I just thought of something: Find someone else w/ a 5th gen and ask if they will let you drive it around the block. (Let them know why). If it feels comparable… enough said. If there is a big difference then take yours back in for service.