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2002 Toyota Highlander

Question: Brakes stick or pedal goes to floor

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2002HiMN, 3.0L V6, Minneapolis, MN, February 06, 2010, 05:48
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 Rookie

Just this week (Feb in MN) my brake pedal started to be highly sensitive at start up (from garage or parking spot) - a light touch would "slam on" the brakes. As soon as I started driving the brakes went back to normal. I thought this might be slush or dirt clogging things momentarily. Then yesterday, leaving a parking garage, my brakes did the "slam on" thing and THEN when initially driving the brake pedal went to the floor (scary) when braking for two stop signs. Then -- everything went back to normal again while driving! I know I need to get this car to the shop -- what is this and what should I expect? I haven't found this issue anywhere on the internet. Thank you.

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  • Answer #1

    patrick mannion from Greg Solow's Engine Room, February 06, 2010, 08:30
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    Brakes being a safety issue you should get it checked out as soon as possible for piece of mind. It sounds like you may have a brake master cylinder problem is the pedal goes to the floor. A "hard brake pedal" is usually lack of brake booster assist the driver has to apply more pressure to the brake pedal to get the car to stop but the pedal feels really firm. A brake pedal that "sinks" or "goes to the floor" is usually a master cylinder problem. A "grabbing brake" is usually brake disc or drum/lining contamination.

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    2002HiMN, February 06, 2010, 16:13
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    Thank you for the response. I had this at the shop today. It still had its original brakes. The problem turned out to be that a front brake pad that had come off of its backing and then broken in two and was moving around in the space. I think I also had calipers adjusted. So not the master cylinder this time. I had the front brake pads (ceramic) and rotors replaced. thanks!

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  • Answer #2

    Visitor, December 26, 2010, 09:06

    you car might have a lik in one of the calipires

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