During my long commutes home or to work, my GX does not feel like it rolls nearly as freely as it once did. It feels almost like there is a brake engaged that is creating drag. My gas mileage has really sucked more-so than normal too.

There is no grinding or pulsing when the peddle isn't engaged. There is some intermittent pulsing (not in the steering wheel) when I brake which leads me to believe that one of the back calipers is locking up, the pulsing comes and goes. Had this problem last summer, ruined a rotor, so my shop replaced the caliper hardware kit which seemed to solve the problem.

The other night after a long ride home I took the rotor temps with a temp gun to see if there were any temp variances between the rotors on each axle. The driver's side left had a temp 20 degrees higher than the passenger side 165 vs 140ish, which leads me to believe that either a piston on the driver's side is sticking in an engaged fashion or a piston is stuck open on the passenger side. However, considering I feel this 'resistance' it leads me to believe there is a piston sticking in the engaged position.

One interesting thing to note, I have shifted the car into neutral at slower speeds a couple of times to see if the driving 'resistance' was less pronounced and felt like it freed up a bit, although I suppose the natural resistance from the trans/diff could be exaggerated if a caliper was sticking.

150k miles. GX has newish calipers and front rotors on the front axle, replaced rotors and pads early 2016. One of the newish calipers was replaced in 2016 because it too started to stick. Newish rotors on the rear, replaced summer 2016, w/original calipers. Drivers caliper received a new hardware kit due to sticking caliper.

Leaning towards a sticking ebrake caliper or drivers brake caliper.

I am about at my wit's end with the brakes on this truck. Just non-stop issues during my 11 yrs of ownership - it's getting very old.

Anyone else experience this sensation while driving? Thoughts?

 

I should add, that a few times I have jammed on the brakes intentionally with the intent of listening or feeling anything out of the norm. There is no pulling like I used have when my driver's front caliper would stick. However, I do hear a slight "clank" from the driver's caliper and there is a slight squeal which I think is coming from the driver's front, but not 100%, could also be the back driver's. In either case these noises are only coming from one wheel.

 

Had that happened to me when I had 07 4 Runner and it was a seized caliper Front Drivers Side. Jack it up on the JackStands and see if wheels are rotating freely when Transmission is in Neutral also the little 4wd lever in N.

 

Agree. Put it on a lift or jackstands (NOT the factory jack that came with the vehicle) and see if the wheels turn freely.

Also check: tire pressure, wheel alignment.

Chip H.

 

Measure the temp of each wheel with an infrared thermometer and look for significant differences at each wheel. Or just use your hand . I had the same issue and itt was a sticking caliper. I didnt notice any pulling either fwiw.

 

Seized front calipers are a very common issue on these trucks (and 4th gen 4Runners), that's where I'd start looking.

 

You need to clean Mass air flow sensor, throttle body and buy a can of BG44K to clean the entire fuel system. You will see the results. Good luck bud !

 

As suspected from taking the rotor temps, the back left caliper was sticking. Cause was some corrosion on the pin slide. My indy pulled it cleaned up and greased it real good, now I'm back in business, well until the next caliper seizes up.