Scary Tacoma brakes

[keikoroo]

Hi guys,
I've recently purchased a '98 Tacoma reg cab 2.4 with 50k miles on it from a friend of mine (so I know the mileage is legit). The truck is in really good shape except the brakes leaves a lot to be desired.
In the morning when the brakes are cold, I can stand on the brake peddle with both feet and the truck will not lock up. The only way I can describe the braking is Lethargic and this truck does not have anti-lock.
As the brakes warm up from stop and go traffic, it seems to improve the braking distance but the rear still doesn't lock.
I have tried adjusting the rear to make sure the rear pads are right next to the drum but has not improved the situation.
There is no air in the system because pumping the brake does not improve the situation.
I am trying to determine if this is normal, so if any of you have a similar year Tacoma please feel free to advice.
Thanks,

 

[fsusteve]

brake booster? if the master cylinder had a leak it will sometimes take out the booster...do you have a hard pedal but it just doesn't stop?

 

[keikoroo]

Hi fsusteve,
The pedal is not all that hard, in fact, I would call it spongy but it doesn't go all the way down to the floor no matter how hard I try. I will check the MC for leaks.
If the booster isn't working, don't the pedal get real hard?
Is there a way to check if the booster is working properly?
Thanks,

 

[Brake Weight]

I'd buy a few qts of new fluid and flush the system anyway. I flushed mine around the 100k mark and the fluid at the calipers and drums was nasty. It stops waaaaaay better now.

 

[fsusteve]

check your brake lines, if they're swollen or cracked you could be losing pressure there.

 

[keikoroo]

Thanks guys, I'll check the soft lines and flush the brakes and see if that'll do the trick.

 

[Duane]

I would remove the front calipers and clean things up to make sure it all moves freely. Not sure on a 98 taco but calipers I thought were to float on the mounting bolt to get equal pressure on both sides of the rotor.
Might try applying the brake pedal and hold it..then go around and see if the front pistons are all coming out or if any are sticking
Does it pull to one side when you get on the brakes hard?

 

[keikoroo]

Duane,
The truck does not pull when I brake hard, it stop very straight. The main problem is when the brake is cold, I can stand on the brake pedal with both feet and the truck will COAST to a gentle stop; in an emergency or panic stop, I can see I can be in a lot of trouble.
But once the brake warms up, the braking improves.
Maybe I should change pad compounds to see if it'll improve cold braking?
Thanks for all the advice so far.

 

[Duane]

I wouldn't think different pad material would help that much.
My newer sequoia is less than impressive to me as well.

One can test the pressure coming out of the master cylinder as there should be a spec for that.

Most of the braking should come from the front. I suppose the rotors could be glazed up making them tougher to get some stopping grip on them but that seems unlikely

My next move for myself even is to make sure my calipers are moving freely and then I would get someone to step on the brakes and monitor each caliper assembly to see what is happening.
Our 3rd gen 4runners had a problem when cold with providing boost vacuum pressure through the check valve into the booster. This would show up as an extremely hard pedal that travelled very little with almost no braking.Pumping the brakes 3 times or so would usually get it to free up and then work normally. Sounds like your booster is ok, just no stopping power. (sort of like my sequoia)
I also want to drive another vehicle just like my own to see if my brakes are normal or not.
Does your fluid look clean and is the level in the reservoir at normal?

 

[keikoroo]

The color of the brake fluid is on the dark side and I think I'll flush the system this weekend and see if that'll help with the braking. Will report back.
Thanks,

 

[ken_79-fj40]

If the fluid is dark change it out. But my dad's 98 tacoma without ABS will lock up all 4 tires no problem. So will my 05 now that i've put a switch inline with the ABS fuse to shut off the system. I can't stand Toyota's ABS systems.

 

[keikoroo]

Ok guys,
I change the brake fluid and bled the brakes and it seems to improved the braking by a small margin: Anytime I spend a lot of money or time on my car, it seems to make it feel like it drives better-probably psychological.
While under the truck at the rear I notice there is a valve with two brake lines in and a line out to the rear axle and split to the rear brakes. At the time I didn't know what it was but have since googled it and found it to be the LSPV.
So I'll have to go back and bleed that and see it that'll improve the braking and report back.