2015/2016 New 3rd gen Tacoma Debut in Detriot

[DaveInDenver]

Parking brakes are still drums the rear disc has a drum built into it and your parking brake sits in the drum section of the disc. However I agree drums are not as easily delt with regarding maint. Even just a quick check for brake pad status ie health is not a simple take a peek effort.

Yeah, I know there's a mini drum parking brake inside the rotor. It's quite small and wouldn't have much surface area, so it's more a question of if you need to use the parking brake in an emergency I'm not sure how well they'd work. You're already down to something like 25% available braking being in the back to slow your forward momentum. That's one reason why they can get away with relatively small rear discs. But now if you're asking it to do the whole thing I wonder how well they'd work. On pavement it's probably not an impossible task.

But say off road you're using the parking brake alone to hold your truck fast, say at an obstacle or at a camping spot or something. Not sure I disagree with Toyota on this point.

 

[Finlay]

The Tacoma has had best in class braking performance - by a substantial margin - and I'm not seeing that it will be different for this new revision.

Disk brakes, drum brakes, Fred Flinstone brakes ? Don't matter - how good and reliable are they ? In the Tacoma, the drum brakes have been, evidently, very, very good. Why mess with success ?

 

[bkg]

It matters. Toyota just cheaped out. It's likely thus I the only Toyota left with drums, sans the uber wall cars.

 

[calicamper]

Yeah, I know there's a mini drum parking brake inside the rotor. It's quite small and wouldn't have much surface area, so it's more a question of if you need to use the parking brake in an emergency I'm not sure how well they'd work. You're already down to something like 25% available braking being in the back to slow your forward momentum. That's one reason why they can get away with relatively small rear discs. But now if you're asking it to do the whole thing I wonder how well they'd work. On pavement it's probably not an impossible task.

But say off road you're using the parking brake alone to hold your truck fast, say at an obstacle or at a camping spot or something. Not sure I disagree with Toyota on this point.

Pad size is also about wear life if our brakes were only large enough to generate the friction needed to hold or stop the car they would be WAY smaller. Not to mention most parking brake issues are user error not mechanical error. Not pulling em tight enough to hold the car, not releasing them and burning up the brake etc. The parking brake is ancient its a non issue unless the user doesn't use it right LOL. My mother loves the electronic parking brake in her new Subaru she could never pull her manual parking brake tight enough to hold the car. Same with my wife. In that case the E-parking brake is a big win though it comes with added chances of mechanical failure but that risk is far less than everyday having the car hardly held in place LOL.

I think heat is the primary issue with drum brakes and lets face it HEAT in brakes isn't a good thing and a truck like the Tacoma can be used in applications where hot brakes could easily be a common event. I think Toyota because the braking distance numbers look Ok figured thats one added cost they didn't need to update to a better performing brake. LOL

 

[Clutch]

It matters. Toyota just cheaped out. It's likely thus I the only Toyota left with drums, sans the uber wall cars.

Yeah, they dropped the ball on the drums. (and have a pretty lame excuse) 4Runner and Tundra have disks.

 

[calicamper]

Yeah, they dropped the ball on the drums. (and have a pretty lame excuse) 4Runner and Tundra have disks.

Those vehicles have more competition from other makers ;-)

Toyota is trying to run the fine line between getting serious about big improvements and hedging their bets that their truck is still the primary model of choice in the midsize game.

 

[bkg]

Yeah, they dropped the ball on the drums. (and have a pretty lame excuse) 4Runner and Tundra have disks.

4runner for almost 12 years, I think (03?). Tundra since 07. I know some (all?) Gen 1 sequoias as well... And fj/fzj back a long while... Toyota definitely has access to the parts.

 

[bkg]

Those vehicles have more competition from other makers ;-)

Toyota is trying to run the fine line between getting serious about big improvements and hedging their bets that their truck is still the primary model of choice in the midsize game.

I agree with you on this. Few people, it seems, are willing to admit Toyota is going to do only what it needs to do to keep selling at current volume - nothing more. And because the buying public is generally ignorant and woo'd by gadgets, no need to improve/correct things "under the skin" until forced to do so....

 

[calicamper]

As long as they have no competition they don't need too. Will GM compete with the Canyon/Colorado? Time will only tell.

 

[Clutch]

4runner for almost 12 years, I think (03?). Tundra since 07. I know some (all?) Gen 1 sequoias as well... And fj/fzj back a long while... Toyota definitely has access to the parts.

It is fricken bolt-on! Seems like Toyota has been playing "good enough" for too many years.

My '02 Trooper has 4 wheel disk....that whole parking brake debate...I dunno...the Troopers E-Brake feels better to me. Perhaps because the lever is in the proper spot....FINALLY the Taco has the e-brake lever in right spot. Seems like they went from bad placement (the dash) to worse (foot pedal....gawd I hate foot e-brakes)...


Can always buy a kit, should be done from the factory, though. I do have this crazy want to sling a 4Runner linked rear under a Taco though....could get your disks that way.

 

[bkg]

Guy in oz put a regular cab and box on Gen 2 4runner chassis... I want to do the same. But I can't think of any practical reason that i could ever use in attempting to convince the domesticated spousal unit.

 

[Clutch]

But I can't think of any practical reason that i could ever use in attempting to convince the domesticated spousal unit.

Ha! It is probably a good thing I am not a billionaire...would have all kinds a crazy projects. Wouldn't be a billionaire for long...

Hmmm...Taco on a 4Runner chassis, might be onto to something there.


Would you have a link to that build?

 

[bkg]

Ha! It is probably a good thing I am not a billionaire...would have all kinds a crazy projects. Wouldn't be a billionaire for long...

Hmmm...Taco on a 4Runner chassis, might be onto to something there.


Would you have a link to that build?

I'll have to search. 86.546% positive it's on PBB.***







*** - margine of error approximately 89.6786%

 

[Clutch]

I'll have to search. 86.546% positive it's on PBB.***







*** - margine of error approximately 89.6786%

Ha ha...think I found it...leaf sprung chassis though...if this is the right one?

 

[bkg]

Nope. This was a regular cab swap. Kept rear 4link with mild lift. Searching on my phone hasn't found much yet.

Edit: Also kept it IFS. I think it was a DD build.