Prado Grande Brake Shudder

[mypradogrande Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mypradogrande]

Hi Guys,

I've had my Prado Grande for about 6 months and I'd noticed quite a break shudder under load, going down hill, slowing down from a high speed. My Parents have the GXL model, the breaks are very responsive and no shudder what so ever. I find you have to put your foot right into the pedal to really get the car to pull up as apposed to the GXL. I'd previously driven 2 other Grandes prior to the purchase of mine and found the breaking problem was the same on both of them. I've just had the front discs and breaks replaced, had the back checked and was all ok. The shudder still seems to be very much the same, Has anyone had this experience. I am guessing the break setup will be different on the grande to the GXL due to traction control and all the electronic Gizmo's

Thanks,
Jesse

[SWR Banned Find all posts View Profile Close SWR]

Gday mypradogrande

When fitting new disc rotors to a vehicle it is imperative that the wheel hub is cleaned spotless before fitting the new disc rotors!.... If this is not done it can result in the disc rotor to not sit square on the wheel hub and this in-turn would cause disc run-out. (Disc run-out is when the caliper piston is pushed back on the high spot of the the disc then when the low spot is taken up it hits the high spot again and causes the disc pads to grab the disc) This in turn would cause a pulse at the brake pedal which in turn would create hot spots on the disc rotor which in turn would result in a spongy brake pedal with delayed braking as the ABS tries to compensate the grabbing effect.

This in turn would be the brake judder and delayed braking. (If you have just had new rotors fitted). Air in the brake lines would cause a spongy pedal with the car pulling over to one side, the vehicle would dive to the left or right when under heavy braking if air in the system. Also if you can feel the judder in the steering wheel it would more than likely be the front brakes, If can feel the judder through the body of the vehicle then it would be the rear brakes.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

In other words, get someone else to have a look at your brakes.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

My vote is on rear discs being a little warped as well. I replaced my fronts with new rotors and pads and still had a seat of the pants vibration. Rear discs needed machining. Wasn't obvious before the front was done but very obvious after.

Easy fix just make sure you or whoever does it backs off the park brake shoes before they remove the discs for machining.

BTW my 120 is a GX but with the option packs so it too has TC, etc etc.

[mypradogrande Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mypradogrande]

Thanks guys,

Think it's best I get it checked out then, seems there is a lot of variations that could cause this issue

Really appreciate everyones input

Cheers

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

the grandes do appear to suffer from a very vague pedal feel and as you say that appears to be because of the tc system . other things to check is that prado's suffer from caliper piston seizures on a regular basis on earlier 120 models , that have been through water . now they use a different seal around the pistons . good luck