Advice on Brake Actuator Failure Repair/replacement

Any Toyota techs out there? Both my front brakes locked over the weekend. Dropped it off at a reputable local shop. They just called me and said the brake actuator is shot. Needs replacing. ~$3500, with 36 month, 36,000 mile warranty.

It’s a 2014 Tacoma Sport, v6 DCSB. What’s involved if I attempted a DIY replacement?

 

If your truck uses the hydraulic booster, it’s more expensive.
But not $3,500 expensive……

I’d have to look up service info, but I feel like you could do it on your own.

 

See this link.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/brake-master-cylinder-options.705292/#post-25020491
Let me know what one you have.

I can then look up info, and possibly send it your way should you want to do it yourself…..

 

Is it the ABS modulator valve you're talking about? Those run close to $1,000 in itself. Still would not add up to a $3500 bill...

 

It’s the vacuum booster. Replaced it last year with a “Sequoia” from StopTech.

‘

 

Then yours should be easy……
It’s mounted on the passenger side fender.
The thing with all the brake lines going in and out of it.

The worst part will be bleeding the brakes.

 

I’ve bled brakes before. The issue is if there is air in the actuator. Excuse for my limited understanding. Do the brakes work if there is air in the actuator? I don’t need ABS to limp to a shop who can purge the air out of the actuator.

 

They won’t work good.
You’ll have a mushy pedal.

You will probably get them good enough to limp to a shop, if that’s what you are looking for.
Or you could order a “cheap” scan tool from Amazon with ABS bleed function for the same/less cost than a shop would charge.

 

I can’t figure out how the shop is getting $3,500 worth of “work”.
Almost makes me wonder if there is more than the actuator they are wanting to replace?

 

‘They are telling me it’s the one box. The 36/36 warranties is what I’m paying for.

 

My mind is blown…….

Avg price form the dealerships online is almost $900.00 for the actuator
What kind of labor are they charging?

Remove & Replace Actuator -
Fluid Flush
Bleed Brakes

Even if you add the labor up separately, they’d have to be charging almost $400 an hour labor.

WTF is going on????

 

It’s that side of town. McMansions sprouted everywhere. I live in the other side of town (the old section), they won’t let me play with their kids.

 

I understand that statement completely.
I don’t have enough money to even think about going to that side of town.
Probably why I don’t get out much……

 

Thank you for the input. I’m going to do the work myself.

 

The manual is pretty straight forward.
Disconnect lines, replace actuator, connect lines, plug actuator back in, reconnect battery and Bleed brakes

 

Update: Got the truck back from the shop.
Diagnosis cost me $102.76 assuming they are correct it’s a bargain price.
Towing from the shop to the house $110.00 even.
New OEM Part# 44050-04182 $882.00 delivered.
I can find used on eBay and others for ~$150-$250 but went new.
The price of dot 3/4 brake fluid has gone up.