Rear Brake Bias? Premature wear? Issue? Or normal?

[Tacohunter2024]

I had my first annual state inspection in November of 2025, they told me my rear brakes just barely passed. I had 40k miles on it at the time, so I thought maybe it was time, but thought it was odd the rear brakes were going before the front. It was the dealership, so I just filed it away as them getting greedy but knowing I would need to address it.

I just had tires put on today at 47k miles, and they told me the rear brakes were almost done. Is the rear wearing so much faster than the front odd to anyone else? I'm not going to pretend to be a mechanic, so I tried to do a little research. I'm just learning about rear brake bias, do we know if thats something engineered into these trucks? Or might I have a proportion valve issue? (if they even have such a thing ) Or is this just normal?

It's too cold to try to do these myself, so I'll probably bite the bullet and let the dealer do it. Especially considering there's an electronic parking brake involved that I'm very unfamiliar with. I'm just wondering if I might have a problem.

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[LincolnSixAlpha]

Interesting that you're blowing through them so fast! Per your comments, we all know that vehicles are more biased towards the front, so yea, why aren't you blowing through the fronts first.

Kinda makes me wonder if the electronic parking brakes have something to do with that premature wear, although I'm trying to process, in my mind, just how so. Anyhow I've not checked mine.

I moved out west from the east coast, and I've noticed that brakes here do not wear nearly as quick as my 40 + years in Pennsylvania. I mean my Silverado (previous truck) had over 65k on the front brakes and still didn't need changed. No brake warpage out here too it seems (no puddles to splash hot brakes in, I guess?!?)

Anyhow, I'm curious what's going on with your tacoma. I'll have to take a peek at my pads this weekend out of curiosity.

 

[Tacohunter2024]

With the weather we're having so far this year, I'm not long for the Northeast either. That's one of the reasons for my high miles, I get out of here as often as I can .
That's interesting what you mentioned about brake wear in gentler climates. I hadn't really thought of that, but it makes sense.

 

[Sner]

It’s all normal on modern vehicles. While it’s true that brakes are biased to the front, modern ADAS systems operate rear brakes.

stability control, radar cruise, traction control, lane keep assist etc all working together. as an example, suppose you wander out of your lane, and the ADAS system operates to pull you back into your lane, it will apply brakes, and turn the steering wheel. Which brakes does it apply? It could operate any brakes, but generally manufacturers program to operate the rear brakes. Same with radar cruise, to slow you down as you are coming up to another vehicle, generally rear brakes would be applied first over the fronts. The reason manufacturers do this is because it’s less ”jarring” to the driver. It’s why when your radar cruis is operating, as you come up to another slow operating vehicle, the system slarts to slow you down and you don't even feel it happening. The reason you don't feel it happening is because the rear brakes are applied first, then as you get close to the vehilce and more brakeing is needed the fronts are applied. Manufacturers apply rear brakes first in many situations to improve the feel and not alarm the driver.

In the end we need to rethink our rear brakes on modern vehicles, they are opearting far more often than the theory of how they are biased. Modern vehicle computers are operating the rear brakes only at many different times for many different reasons. As such brakes in the rear will now alomost wear at the same rate as the front brakes will. Theoretically if you were to turn off all the driver assistance programs on a modern car, the rear brakes would last twice as long as the fronts as they have in years past.

Hope it helps.

 

[M40A1]

It’s all normal on modern vehicles. While it’s true that brakes are biased to the front, modern ADAS systems operate rear brakes.

stability control, radar cruise, traction control, lane keep assist etc all working together. as an example, suppose you wander out of your lane, and the ADAS system operates to pull you back into your lane, it will apply brakes, and turn the steering wheel. Which brakes does it apply? It could operate any brakes, but generally manufacturers program to operate the rear brakes. Same with radar cruise, to slow you down as you are coming up to another vehicle, generally rear brakes would be applied first over the fronts. The reason manufacturers do this is because it’s less ”jarring” to the driver. It’s why when your radar cruis is operating, as you come up to another slow operating vehicle, the system slarts to slow you down and you don't even feel it happening. The reason you don't feel it happening is because the rear brakes are applied first, then as you get close to the vehilce and more brakeing is needed the fronts are applied. Manufacturers apply rear brakes first in many situations to improve the feel and not alarm the driver.

In the end we need to rethink our rear brakes on modern vehicles, they are opearting far more often than the theory of how they are biased. Modern vehicle computers are operating the rear brakes only at many different times for many different reasons. As such brakes in the rear will now alomost wear at the same rate as the front brakes will. Theoretically if you were to turn off all the driver assistance programs on a modern car, the rear brakes would last twice as long as the fronts as they have in years past.

Hope it helps.

Appreciate this knowledge, I never knew this was how modern braking systems are working today. Now I know why rear pads are so small and the reason they wear much faster than they used too. Mucho Gracias, Senor!

 

[Norsk]

I have to replace mine soon after I get back from my Vermont Trip. When I had my truck yearly emission/safety inspection at independent ship, the mechanic told me that the rear brake pads need to be replaced. I was in shock and wondering why is it happening?

I did some thinking. I use lot of ACC during my commute and road trip, and I decided to not to use the ACC and use old school cruise control for this road trip to Vermont. I believe that the ACC may have play big role in wearing out brake pads because it slow down when it detects incoming car in the front. I notice it does use the rear brake more than the front. just a penny of thought.

Interesting, I noticed I got 17.5-18 mpg with old school cruise control during my road trip to Vermont. I am running 285 tires with lightweight RRW Wheels. With ACC, I was getting 15.-15.4 mpg.

 

[Tacohunter2024]

I have to replace mine soon after I get back from my Vermont Trip. When I had my truck yearly emission/safety inspection at independent ship, the mechanic told me that the rear brake pads need to be replaced. I was in shock and wondering why is it happening?

I did some thinking. I use lot of ACC during my commute and road trip, and I decided to not to use the ACC and use old school cruise control for this road trip to Vermont. I believe that the ACC may have play big role in wearing out brake pads because it slow down when it detects incoming car in the front. I notice it does use the rear brake more than the front. just a penny of thought.

Interesting, I noticed I got 17.5-18 mpg with old school cruise control during my road trip to Vermont. I am running 285 tires with lightweight RRW Wheels. With ACC, I was getting 15.-15.4 mpg.

That is interesting, not glad you have to replace your brakes but I am glad it isn't just me. Just an FYI/ help troubleshooting: I used Carista to turn off my seat belt alarm when I first bought the truck. I frequently do not wear my seatbelt (there's a backstory I wont get into) and while I've turned off the alarm, it won't allow me to use cruise control without the seatbelt. So I never use ACC or regular cruise. I think you're safe to use it, but the mpgs are interesting too.

 

[Norsk]

That is interesting, not glad you have to replace your brakes but I am glad it isn't just me. Just an FYI/ help troubleshooting: I used Carista to turn off my seat belt alarm when I first bought the truck. I frequently do not wear my seatbelt (there's a backstory I wont get into) and while I've turned off the alarm, it won't allow me to use cruise control without the seatbelt. So I never use ACC or regular cruise. I think you're safe to use it, but the mpgs are interesting too.

I hope more people are complaining to Toyota about this and hopefully they will figure out the troubleshoot to fix the rear brake pad wearing out fast.

 

[Tacohunter2024]

It’s all normal on modern vehicles. While it’s true that brakes are biased to the front, modern ADAS systems operate rear brakes.

stability control, radar cruise, traction control, lane keep assist etc all working together. as an example, suppose you wander out of your lane, and the ADAS system operates to pull you back into your lane, it will apply brakes, and turn the steering wheel. Which brakes does it apply? It could operate any brakes, but generally manufacturers program to operate the rear brakes. Same with radar cruise, to slow you down as you are coming up to another vehicle, generally rear brakes would be applied first over the fronts. The reason manufacturers do this is because it’s less ”jarring” to the driver. It’s why when your radar cruis is operating, as you come up to another slow operating vehicle, the system slarts to slow you down and you don't even feel it happening. The reason you don't feel it happening is because the rear brakes are applied first, then as you get close to the vehilce and more brakeing is needed the fronts are applied. Manufacturers apply rear brakes first in many situations to improve the feel and not alarm the driver.

In the end we need to rethink our rear brakes on modern vehicles, they are opearting far more often than the theory of how they are biased. Modern vehicle computers are operating the rear brakes only at many different times for many different reasons. As such brakes in the rear will now alomost wear at the same rate as the front brakes will. Theoretically if you were to turn off all the driver assistance programs on a modern car, the rear brakes would last twice as long as the fronts as they have in years past.

Hope it helps.

This is very interesting. I turned off my seatbelt alarm when I first bought the truck and never wear my seatbelt. While I dont have to listen to the alarm, the truck won't let me use ACC or regular cruise.

I DEFINITELY use Traction Control; it's one of the reasons I just bought new tires, the tires would slip on everything. I have Lane Keep Assist off though, in a previous vehicle I had that fight me a couple times while trying to make emergency maneuvers and turn it off asap ever since.

I'm just mentioning my use in case someone else is reading this and it helps them troubleshoot. I appreciate all of the knowledge you shared very helpful. For me it sounds like it's probably somewhere between Traction Control, Stability Control and the truck's brains deciding to use the rear brakes when I hit the pedal.

 

[Yotota]

This is very interesting. I turned off my seatbelt alarm when I first bought the truck and never wear my seatbelt.

Um ... What? Why?

 

[Tacohunter2024]

I hope more people are complaining to Toyota about this and hopefully they will figure out the troubleshoot to fix the rear brake pad wearing out fast.

I think my concern was a little heightened because that rear brake hose recall we had to bring it in for seemed odd.

Um ... What? Why?

Haha, I can't imagine being such a control freak/wanna-be know it all that I would ask another grown man that question. Yikes

 

[Yotota]

Haha, I can't imagine being such a control freak/wanna-be know it all that I would ask another grown man that question. Yikes

Whoa there. You made the comment, I asked for clarification because that's how conversations work.

 

[Tacohunter2024]

The conversation was about brakes. You decided to focus on something irrelevant to you, so you could be judgemental and rude. Go kick your dog, yell at kids in your neighborhood, or whatever you people do.

 

[Yotota]

The conversation was about brakes. You decided to focus on something irrelevant to you, so you could be judgemental and rude. Go kick your dog, yell at kids in your neighborhood, or whatever you people do.

 

[Lando]

It’s all normal on modern vehicles….

In the end we need to rethink our rear brakes on modern vehicles, they are opearting far more often than the theory of how they are biased. Modern vehicle computers are operating the rear brakes only at many different times for many different reasons. As such brakes in the rear will now alomost wear at the same rate as the front brakes will. Theoretically if you were to turn off all the driver assistance programs on a modern car, the rear brakes would last twice as long as the fronts as they have in years past.

Hope it helps.

All true and well stated. To this I’d add that rear brake pads are usually smaller than front ones and have less material to wear through - with the added demands on them they are being used up while fronts are still good.

@Tacohunter all normal, my rear brakes were at 65% and front at 90% at my service last week. 17k miles / 27k km.

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