My 1997 4 runner has great brakes- only problem is the pedal seems to grab low to the floor. This is how the 4 runner has been since I acquired it. when ever I replace the pads and adjust the rear drum brakes, I get the same results. Most mechanics I ask about this say this is normal. I want to know if any of you who oen 4 runners have this same style of brakes. My taco brakes grab up high but they are not ani-lock brakes as in my 4 runner. The taco's brakes seem more "firm" but the 4 runner grabs with the pedal closer to the floor but they work fine. thanks

 

Double check adjustment of the rear brakes...e-brake lever should click 5-6 times

If that doesn't work check to see if your axle seals are leaking. That could give you a bad pedal feel too. Ask me how I know. I've been double-pumping my pedal for the last few weeks because I'm waiting on my rear locker to get regeared and I'm gonna do it all together. lol.

 

rear axle seal failed and i replaced it and the rear brakes are adjusted perfectly- 5-6 as you described! and remember this has been the situation for the past 8 years......

 

I'm in the same boat. I heard a guy who tightened his wheel bearings and that worked. I haven't tried it yet though. I'm still waiting on some other parts before I get it up and running and worried about the breaks. My friends 99 is the same way too.

 

ABS brakes tend to operate in more of an off/on way, while non-ABS have a long continual gradient. It took me a while after first getting my 4Runner to adjust to the difference; there is a lot of dead space at the top when applying my brakes. Now when I get in another car it tends to make me stomp on them too hard.

 

air in the lines, bad master, mal-adjusted pedal... Could be any of them.

 

mine is the same way and have bled them a few times but the only real solution to the problem is to get stainless braided brakes lines from the hard line on the body to the hard line on the caliper the reason that it feels this way is because when u apply the brakes the rubber hoses expand somewhat and that is the variance that you feel if you were to switch to stainless braided lines then it would feel much better