Practically installed an entire new brake system still have squishy brakes

I purchased a 2010 Toyota Tundra 195k on it. I knew it had break issues and I had the dealer put that they would fix it in the contract unfortunately they have not but that is a different issue.
Everybody thought from what I said it sounded like the brake booster was bad and this was confirmed after taking it to Toyota for a diagnostic. It was later reconfirmed that the actual sensor in the booster was faulty. It was replaced along with the master cylinder because the master cylinder between the brake booster and the master was leaking and the mechanic felt that this previously replaced master cylinder was defective.
The brakes still felt squishy and pretty non-responsive. The mechanic that did it said the only way they'll get better is by doing the brakes and rotors as they had to chisel out the old pads from the old calipers. Yes replaced the front calipers.

My brakes still feel very squishy after getting that work done. They said that the current pads had plenty of life left in them but that they were warped. I Had all brakes and rotors replaced.

After having the brakes and rotors replaced it still feels squishy. I push down around 2in before the grab starts to happen and it's not very snappy. I'm wondering if the bleeding was done properly. One of the mechanics said he bled the hell out of it. Or if they used a faulty non-OEM booster because it still feels the same.

I will say the brakes are not bedded in yet but I have done some good aggressive braking on them and can feel them starting to grab better but it still feels squishy out the top. It does seem to feel better now when I pump the brake so that does lead me to believe possible air in the line.

The mechanic did put a line-lock on and the brakes felt as my friend's second-gen Tundra feels. Now if I can only get my brakes feeling that way. Would love some input thanks for any help

 

The ABS unit has been known to trap air in the system after certain repairs or conditions. If your mechanic has access to techstream (probably not unless he has dealership tools) it can be cycled via the OBDII. If not, the layman’s way to cycle the ABS is to find an empty gravel road and hammer down on the brakes from a moderate speed to get the ABS to engage. Obviously you want to do this in a safe manner but I have seen several folks post with similar issues, who were able able to remedy that initial soft pedal this way.

Since your rotors pads and calipers were all replaced (right? ALL of them..?) I would also look at the runner brake lines by each caliper. If your calipers were in such bad shape as you describe, the rubber lines may have degraded quite a bit as well. Stainless braided lines are available from the likes of Stop Tech or various off road retailers for a reasonable price. I would suggest replacing those soft lines (there are six of them), bleeding the brakes, and cycling the ABS (maybe make the dealer do it since it appears they haven’t participated much) - perhaps not in that order but you may need to bleed them a time or two more after cycling the ABS.

 

Yep, all calipers all rotors all pads and I believe just replaced the hoses not upgraded. I live on a dirt road, lucky for me I'll get this tried out by Friday and let you know how it goes!

 

Talked to the shop this morning. They do use a OBD2 ABS bleeding tool but it's not the Toyota specific one. They said they were searching the forums after I left yesterday and found that the two inch depression I'm feeling on my pedal seems kind of normal for tundras. It's a 2010 they installed a Cardone brake booster. Any thoughts?

Brake booster, Cardone
Master cylinder, OEF
Front calipers, OEF
Front pads, Akebono
Front rotors, Akebono
Front hardware, OEF
Rear pads Import Direct
Rear rotors, Brake Best Select

 

Bump. I have a 2008 and its the same "squishy" feeling. Would love to hear if any one else has this issue or has dealt with and what they were able to do.

 

If you apply constant pressure to the brake peddle, does the peddle sink to the floorboards? The pedal should be rock solid... to me it sounds like air in the brake lines.

 

My 2008 DC had squishy brakes when I inherited it so I didn't know if it has always been that way. It was very low miles. I put new rotors and pads on (cleaning the slide pins and lubing the pins and sliding parts), and pumped fresh brake fluid through all four corners. Still squishy, but technically work fine as the truck stops fine.... just need more leg pressure than other vehicles.
I used Toyota Tech Stream to blead the brakes including the ABS. During the procedure I could hear the ABS module working away. Did it twice, but still a bit squishy. I have accepted it is what it is as it stops fine and I can easily apply enough brakes to engage the ABS on pavement. I did a lot of searching and it seems fairly common. Lots of people have replaced the master cylinder and brake booster, and new lines. Rarely does it seem to help.

 

That's a bit of a bummer - sounds like this is just normal for the 2nd gen Toyotas? I would like to get some more snappy feeling brakes. I mean I am used to them now but you can certainly tell the difference when driving a car or another truck. Eh good post to get some intel on this. thanks.

 

Look into braided lines.

 

These are nice to have but likely won’t fix your problem. Dealer put a hodge podge of brake parts on there and likely didn’t do all of the bleeding appropriately. Bench bleed the master prior to install, bleed the ABS with techstream etc. There is some pedal travel in all gens of tundras at the top that I’ve driven (currently own a 2000 and a 2019) but not 2” and soft brakes when setup properly.

 

Everything I would've checked/changed was listed except for braided lines, so it's worth the mention. But agreed that they're just squishy systems up top. Thought the same after I rebuilt mine and bled a few times thinking I screwed up. Braided lines won't fix it but they should make the brakes feel snappier assuming his are properly bled.

 

Comparing my 2007 Tundra to my wife’s 2016 Honda Pilot there is definitely more brake travel and a bit softer not enough to think it’s unsafe. I brought it up to a Toyota mechanic who did my work when I lived in Arizona and asked him about the brake feel that I thought it was softer he said it’s normal for a Tundra he had worked for dealerships for 20+ years before opening his own shop