2010 Toyota Tacoma squishy weak brakes

[liberty2701]

Considering the age. Try stainless braided brake lines. They won’t expand like rubber does.

There's new rubber lines installed.

 

[drtyler]

Does your truck have the LSPV (load sensing proportioning valve) on the rear axle? These have a bleeder valve on them that must be bled to make sure all air is out of the rear system.

 

[Devo242]

Interesting idea on the brake drum diameter. They are Toyota OE pads and shoes. I think that has been missed by some.

Noted, but I do want to call out the number of different configurations for the Taco which could have been mixed up along the way to you.

I know I am suggesting something which may be a bit of a stretch, but given how thoroughly you have gone through everything so far it could be worth double checking part numbers on what was ordered, fulfilled, and on your receipt to rule out parts error.

 

[liberty2701]

Does your truck have the LSPV (load sensing proportioning valve) on the rear axle? These have a bleeder valve on them that must be bled to make sure all air is out of the rear system.

No

 

[ARB1977]

There's new rubber lines installed.

Back when I had my 2002 Tacoma braided lines made a huge difference. Granted it wasn’t abs.

 

[The Critic]

I’ve never thought the pedal feel was good after a brake bleed with a power bleeder. Whether it be a BG machine, a mighty vac system, a pressurized tank that seals on the master cylinder reservoir….whether it had been for maintenance or for a repair…never mattered to my foot. I’ve always felt it came out soft.

Brake fluid can get aerated. I have found that anything more than 15psi (ish) can sometimes result in a softer pedal.

Also, I have found that brake fluid can easily become aerated and the air does not really dissipate for a long time. Here’s an example:

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

Brake fluid can get aerated. I have found that anything more than 15psi (ish) can sometimes result in a softer pedal.

Also, I have found that brake fluid can easily become aerated and the air does not really dissipate for a long time. Here’s an example:

View attachment 304681

Been too long since I’ve been out of a dealership so I don’t remember what our BG machines operated at.

The tanks we use at my shop now are pressurized as much as the tech chooses to. I believe we use low pressure in them as well, 20 or less, and they have a spot to bleed right at the outlet as well as at the connection to master reservoir…but I just choose not to use them. We only have a dot 3 and dot 5 setup. I’ve been working on the Mercedes and Rams in our fleet that take dot 4 and dot 4 plus, so I just buddy bleed…and really always have since a couple poor pedals after using the machines we have.

 

[The Critic]

Been too long since I’ve been out of a dealership so I don’t remember what our BG machines operated at.

The tanks we use at my shop now are pressurized as much as the tech chooses to. I believe we use low pressure in them as well, 20 or less, and they have a spot to bleed right at the outlet as well as at the connection to master reservoir…but I just choose not to use them. We only have a dot 3 and dot 5 setup. I’ve been working on the Mercedes and Rams in our fleet that take dot 4 and dot 4 plus, so I just buddy bleed…and really always have since a couple poor pedals after using the machines we have.

If it’s a Branick pressure bleeder system, I have experienced this issue before - the fluid gets aerated. You may need a new diaphragm.

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

If it’s a Branick pressure bleeder system, I have experienced this issue before - the fluid gets aerated. You may need a new diaphragm.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they did. They’re old, look like a propane tank but shorter.

Just googled that name and that is what ours look like. I can make them give a good pedal if I de-pressurize them, push the diaphragm to the bottom, completely fill, pressurize and bleed the tank. Shouldn’t have to do that till it’s empty, but maybe it needs a diaphragm like you suggest.

 

[liberty2701]

I would like to report back. The fix was switching to stop tech steel braided brake lines. Please remember I replaced the original brake lines prior with new rubber ones. The steel ones were the remedy.