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Toyota Sienna Brakes
My Sienna 2005 experience intermittent complete brake failure 3 times within 18,000 miles,the brake pedal goes to the floor and it does not slow down, so I coast until I stop. However, when I release the brake pedal and then reapply the brakes, it works fine. A non-Toyota mechanic thinks it's due to malfunction of ABS. The dealership is unable to finds error codes and brakes work fine when the Sienna is in their hands. I scared that the brakes will not work the next time I reapply the brakes.
Has anyone else experience similar problem or have suggestings?
Has anyone else experience similar problem or have suggestings?
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Comments
It could also be contaminated brake fluid, air in the system or a bad connection between the brake peddle and the master cylinder.
I've got a 2005 but have not experienced a problem with the brakes (only have 8200 miles though.)
all across the board. I have had the van in 3x's for brake
noises...grinding, squeaking, that even runs itself under
the center of the van. Each time they say the brakes are fine and lubricate it greatly. (one set of pads has been replaced, can't remember front or back) Within 5 days, it's all back. When coming up my drive, you almost get a rusty bed springs creaking as the van turns the hill. The kids hear it..it's crazy for a $40,000 tag. We are in the process of looking to buy a Sequoia because this thing has been in the shop more than my old crummy caravan. My list is long.
Can anyone suggest what to tell the Toyota service people to look for? I have read others saying replacing drums etc.
Jemini
A good place to ask about this is in our Owners Manuals topic in the Maintenance & Repair Forum. Click the link to read a post from another member who obtained a manual free from Toyota.
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Separate observation: The tires' valve stems are way too short. It's very challenging to air up the tires (two tires were 5 lbs shy of the recommended 35 lbs. The service rep suggested that I install extenders on them. Toyota should ship the vehicle with stems that are .5 to .34 inches longer.
I haven't aired mine up yet (dealer adjusted the pressure for me once though), but I think the valve stems are pretty standard, so maybe it's just the rim design.
Got that from a Tacoma forum when I owned one. I ended up not buying anything for my Tacoma, but did get a set of carpeted floor mats for an '01 Camry. I was on that site on Monday looking for wheel covers for my '06 Sienna, which I didn't find, so was digging around a bit. I saw Owners Manuals listed.
This site is a Toyota dealer in Michigan. I'm too tired to check right now, long story...
I ended up buying the wheel covers (Hub Caps?) for my CE on ebay.
never mind
If anyone needed a new Owners manual for an '02 Sienna, maybe at least I can save some face.
The stems seem to be standard, but the wheel covers prevent easy access to them with a standard 90-degree air tool. I just installed 1-inch stem extenders that solve the problem and let me avoid more scratched knuckles.
Is there a bleeder bolt at the ABS controller??
Went to 3 places:
Toyota dealer wanted to charge $500.00 said needed 2 pads 2 shoes and all resurfacing, plus needed wheel cylinders repaired.
Just brakes ripoff place don't go there: 2 pads 2 shoes and resurfacing, plus wanted to rebuild calipers repack bearings and some extra charges. Price quoted was $270.00 but read how they low ball you in and then trap you later with price increases to bring price up, so we left that place.
Standalone shop: Said just needed front pads and resurfacing of front rotor and rear brake adjust. I just went for the front: costs $139.00 will do rear brake adjust myself as it is easy.
Note: How they all found something different, when all I went in there for was for front pads and resurfacing.
Had the pads replaced at around 45,000 this is the first time I had resurface since new. Sienna has 98,000 miles have had little issue with brakes.
Also, for future, look for new Rotors instead of resurfacing.. sometimes you can buy new rotor for $20 at shops like Autozone. I was installing new rotors myself instead of resurfacing on my Caravan and I plan to do the same on Sienna. And Rotors are easy to install.
The fix it shops don't want to change the rotors as much as they used to. Because now they can turn the old rotors right on the car. It's a lot easier and faster for them. Yet they still charge a premium to do it. figures!
Well I cleaned the back brakes with break cleaner for $2.50 and adjusted them cost me nothing. Actually the back brakes did not need adjusting at all they were fine. I checked the shoes on the back breaks as the dealership said I needed new shoes. It looked like to me that I had plenty of shoe left, enough to last 2 more years at least.
The dealership was very persistant on getting my brakes done there. So much so he was going to take 10% off. But glad I didn't get it done there 139.00 is better for my wallet then 500.00. Also the dealer said I needed both wheel cylinders replaced as they "appear" to have a leak. I checked them while I had the drum off they were dry just brake dust on them.
If you are good with your hands you should be able to do the brake job But I would go to a discount auto or someplace that has a repair book for your model and look at the procedure. I have a book on mine. I can usually fix things but if the book makes it overly complicated I do not attempt it. Getting the rotor off can be an issue. I even used my car jack to unseat a stuck rotor once. It worked like a charm. Sure beat hitting it with a hammer (what I did for the first 30 minutes trying to get it off)
I have tried setting the emergency brake while moving slowly (as a friend suggested) with no effect.
Would the wheel cylinders need to be replaced as well? Do the lines need to be bled? (The lines weren't fooled with).
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated,
For painted items it has the rust all the way through, for instance, for a manufacturer to cover it.
T
Did they change the front and rear pads?
The rear pads could wear prematurely if she left the parking brake on by mistake, I suppose.
The fronts should last longer than 8 months unless she drives 10 times as much as normal.
You'll basically have a little extra wear on the rear brake pads.
Have the rear brakes inspected at your next oil change, I bet they'll be fine. This is a heavy van so the pads don't usually last that long anyway.
One other odd note - they technician cleaned & adjusted the brakes & the noise was gone for about a week, but now it's back. If it get's too annoying I may bite the bullet & replace them, but I'm almost at 100,000 miles so not sure I want to throw too much money into it.
Will find out tomorrow from the dealership.
Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any suggestions as to other possible causes? It seems that all of my Toyota problems have been big ticket items. I trust that the dealer did it's due diligence.....?
There are only two sensors unique to VSC, the stearing wheel rotational position sensor the the yaw sensor. There is a procedure, a driving procedure, for recalibrating both. Have the dealer do both with you along as a passenger and if that doesn't work you either have a failed, failing, VSC sensor.
The VSC system is designed to detect when the vehicle is not following the direction set by the position of the stearing wheel. So the VSC system either "thinks" the vehicle is turning when it shouldn't be or isn't turning when it should.