100 series rear brakes and mud

yep mud chews out brakes reeel quick just ask any minesite mechanic. Not restricted to 100 series. I tis why i just shake my head when i see posts of people getting excited that it is raining and they are going mud playing (brakes are only one thing mud stuffs up)

What's a downport?

Hi Andrew ,

Last July we got caught in a downpour of 2 inches in 24 hours in the Pilbara . The track was a series of interconnected mud holes as we battled to reach higher ground. My 100TD's rear pads and discs were 5000 klm old at that point . In 10 klm they were buggered - metal on metal .

There was nothing left of the pads and the discs were chewed up . We had to clamp off the rear brake line and then bleed off the fluid at the rear brakes , because they kept binding up , even when I was not braking . I got the pads replaced in Pt Hedland and the discs replaced when I returned to Sydney .

They must be a really crap design because there was five other cars with us and none had the same problem ( no other 100's but two Prados and a Troopy so it's not a Toyota problem , it's a 100 Series problem )

I carry a spare set of rear pads now .

Cheers ,

Willie .

Hi all, I work up in the mines and yes if it rains 100s rear brakes are the first to wear out. its because of the rim ofset it leaves the calliper fulley exposed to the mud from the front wheel. We replace rear pads at just over half worn, the vehicles get a safty check every month but if it rains they will go from half worn to steel in two days or so. On the tray backs and pc the calliper is more coverd by the rim (talking split rims).

Steve

gawd first its snapping front diffs now its chewing disc pad s out with a bit of mud ,was /is looking at buying a base model(only one i can find without carpet)but the more i scan the net the more probs i find with the 100 series stevo the mine have any problems with the diffs

Andrew, have a 100 series standard diesel and have been through lots of mud and water. in 80,000k's I have had no issues with the rear discs or pads. I replaced the pads about 40,000k's ago. I have the ROH Trak 2 (white 8 spoke) rims on and wonder if this makes any difference? It may let them clean out easier. The only thing I do have dramas with is the handbrake (the one on the car, not the one in the passanger seat) it needs to be adjusted regularly as the shoes wear quickley with the dust and mud that builds up in there.

Have had no issues with diff either, and it gets heaps!

Mick

According to the newsletter, a number of vehicles suffered the same problem, but that there were a few more 100s than anything else. That may well be because 100s were more numerous in this particular group; don't know. Anyway, I have to stress that the muddy conditions were extreme, and the road surface was gritty red mud (Cober to Louth). Steering had no effect whatsoever, and it was just a case of trying to keep the front wheels on one side of the road crown and the rears on the other, so it wasn't just a muddy road. We also had some damage to the tailgate when I opened it as I didn't realise that the mud blast from the road forced the alloy tread on the Kaymar carrier up an inch or two, cutting the clearance to the opened tailgate. The article also mentioned that 80's brakes were susceptible as well.

To my mind, and correct me if I'm wrong, if the disc caliper is on the front side of the disc, grit will collect more readilly than if the disc is on the rear side of the disc. Gravity would take care of that to some extent. The article also mentions that Toyota have a fix that most dealers don't even know about, so it seems to be a fairly isolated problem in spedific conditions. I'll try to post the link again. Actually, there is another link that is a bit of a follow up on this; interesting reading along the lines of what I was thinking. I might chase up Toyota to see if anyone knows about the fix.

Andrew

Hi Andrew,
Last July my group had similar problems. We had 9 vehicles in my group and 6 of us all suffered with rear brake damage from mud and water on the Birdsville Track. It was not restricted to Toyota's. There were 2 80 series, 2 Pajero's 1 Disco and 1 Rodeo. When we had them all repaired in Alices Springs. Paul from Country Diesel said that rear brake damage was a problem with all rear disc vehicles. When we were waiting at Mungerannie 3 vehicles turned up. all with metal to metal on their rear disco (they were 2 new Patrols and 1 Range Rover)

One of the 80 series in my group had just fitted new pads to his Toyota the day before we left and he could not beleive it when he heard that great sound of metal to metal

Regards

Stephen

Andrew ,

I have just spoke to the head of servicing at Traction 4 ARB Northside (Sydney ) .

He says that since 4WDs got ABS braking , rear brakes have only lasted about half the distance they used to . He says the problem is made worse on the 100 Series because they have electric pump brakes instead of booster , so that more pressure can be applied .

Apparently the two earlier model Prados with me on the trip had normal booster brakes and less biass towards the rear brakes . He reckons this rear bias , the pump system , together with the mud on the discs and pads is what causes the very quick demise of the rear brakes on the 100 .

I am a mechanical clutz , so I hope I have relayed accurately what he told me .

Cheers ,

Willie .