3rd gen 4Runner brake upgrade.

[Mr. Leary]

Does anyone have any detailed pics of 1st gen tundra front and rear brakes?

Does anyone have any detailed pics of 4th gen 4Runner front and rear brakes?

I am considering upgrading the brake system on my 1999 4Runner and would prefer to stick to toyota parts, but would be open to others, if they were good enough.

If there are any other common upgrades for this year model, please feel free to chime in... (I already know about the Monte Carlo rear, and am not very impressed).

The brakes on my 4Runner now work pretty well, but my truck is only getting heavier, and more brakes can't hurt. I have heard rumors of 1999 chevy truck brakes, but have not found solid info yet.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Pretty good write up HERE. The rear brakes probably won't help you much, so I'd leave those alone.

With that said, I have no complaints from my stock brakes on my Tacoma, nor from my past 4Runners. They all had blank rotors and good ceramic pads. I frequently go up and down canyons and have had no issues with fade or rotors warping.

 

[pray4surf]

One of the more common brake upgrades on these older tacos and 4runners is to swap in the Tundra calipers and rotors (fronts only). Even 4 Wheel Drive Toyota Owner mag did a writeup on these recently with side-by-side pics and everything.

You have two options for this... Either the 199mm calipers or the 231mm calipers - in either case, you would need 16" or bigger wheels/rims...

There are quite a few threads regarding this on many other Toyota forums (Yotatech, TTORA, etc.)

Here is one on TTORA
Tundra Brake Upgrade

Google is your friend
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=tacoma+tundra+brake+upgrade&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

As for the rears, IDK.... Many upgrade to discs in the rear. Though that hasn't interested me yet....

FYI - I went with the 199mm calipers from NAPA and rotors and pads from R1 Concepts with stainless steel brake lines from Wheeler's Off Road.

Hope this helps....

Rick

 

[Vermejo]

If you service the rear brakes at the time of the Tundra front conversion you should be good. The rears tend to pick up the slack of weakening front brakes and become overworked. Symptoms of this problem are often associated with “brake dive”. You will be hard pressed to find a better bolt–up drum than stock.

There is a good write up in the July/August issue of 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine detailing the Tundra brake conversion. Yotatech and Ultimate Yota both have good member write-ups on this subject.

I did the Tundra conversion this past summer with excellent results; the stopping power was substantially increased. I went with the larger 231mm rotors and larger calipers. The Tundra brake conversion is mostly “plug and play”- although wheel/caliper interference seems to be a problem with some. The interference plagues certain wheel/caliper combos. Careful grinder work will solve this problem. The brake dust shields will also need to be trimmed.

 

[Mr. Leary]

After reading, I am leaning towards the 199mm setup. The should just bold up, right? I would think Toyota would design them to mount on the same brackets for manufacturing efficiencies.

BTW, thanks for the quick responses. Front needs upgrading, and I was hoping for rear disc conversions as well, but if the consensus is the drums are great, I will stick with them.

 

[Vermejo]

After reading, I am leaning towards the 199mm setup. The should just bold up, right? I would think Toyota would design them to mount on the same brackets for manufacturing efficiencies.

The mounting holes are the same on both caliper models. I'd go with the big ones- that's just me. Either way, you may be grinding your wheels.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Just stick the buck teeth of those women from the truck stop between the pad and disc. I'm sure their use of meth gives their teeth a good balance between wear and grab.

Thats mean. Lord I apologize.

Your truck was what? 5400lbs?
My truck weighed in at 4100 on the CAT scales.

 

[Mr. Leary]

Just stick the buck teeth of those women from the truck stop between the pad and disc. I'm sure their use of meth gives their teeth a good balance between wear and grab.

Thats mean. Lord I apologize.

Your truck was what? 5400lbs?
My truck weighed in at 4100 on the CAT scales.

Yeah... did they hit on you too?

Truck weighed 5100 with all my stuff. Now down below 5000 again, but not for long (new rack, RTT, extra fuel).

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So if I buy some OEM tundra rims, they will clear the 231s without issues?

Those are a dime a dozen around here, what with everyone lifting and shoeing their trucks right off the lot.

 

[Cackalak Han]

IIRC, you should be able to fit them on your stock 16's with a bit of grinding. Even with Tundra wheels, I think you'll still have to grind away.

 

[Mr. Leary]

IIRC, you should be able to fit them on your stock 16's with a bit of grinding. Even with Tundra wheels, I think you'll still have to grind away.

Ok. I would just prefer not to grind 8 wheels if I can pick up another 8 for a couple hundred bucks. I fear I'm getting lazy on this one....

 

[Cackalak Han]

Gotcha. Which Tundra wheels are you talking about?

Also, according to this thread

http://yotatech.com/f2/wheel-fitment-tundra-brakes-182840/

your stock spare will not fit. Also seems like the steel 3rd gen wheels clear the 231 calipers.

 

[Mr. Leary]

My stock rims are the aluminum ones, and I have 2 sets.

I am pretty sure they will not fit, although they may be made to fit with lots of grinding.

I would prefer not to have to try rims out until I find one that fits... cuz' with my luck, the one that fits will be the most obnoxious, flashy hunks of junk available.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Well, this is why I was more inclined to stay stock. Even with the smaller Tacoma brakes (compared to 4Runners), I find it's adequate.

 

[Mr. Leary]

Well, this is why I was more inclined to stay stock. Even with the smaller Tacoma brakes (compared to 4Runners), I find it's adequate.

My truck is getting heavy as it is... and when I build my trailer, I will be pulling another 2k lbs. The trailer will have brakes, but I will still need more stopping power.

I guess I will be getting very chummy with my grinder!

 

[Cackalak Han]

Oh, if you'll be towing, then I would definitely do this. Good luck with it.