Multi-purpose Taco build

[BogusBlake]

OK, so those Tundra brakes? Flippin' strong.

My wife helped me bleed 'em and I took off around the neighborhood. Right away, I could feel that they were stopping the truck faster. I kept bumping up the speed until I was comfortable stopping hard from 45mph. I checked the fittings and they were dry. Awesome!

I headed up the street to where it turns to dirt. I skidded the truck to see if the ABS still worked and of course it did. On the way back, I stopped hard from 60 mph three times in a row and did not feel any fade at all. I would have felt it after one with the Taco brakes. Checked for leaks, none.

Did some more hard stops and noticed that even when I do feel some fade (it takes a bunch of stops in a row), it only takes a few seconds for the brakes to recover and deliver full power again. I can't wait to see what they feel like with high performance pads in there!

 

[Grim Reaper]

Are the pistons larger in the bigger caliper or is it just a dimensional change to fit the larger rotor?

Does the Tundra run a master with a larger bore?

 

[Desertdude]

Nice work there - do you notice any different feeling in the steering due to the added size/wieght of the tundra parts?

I have been up in the pines cutting a bit of firewood and noticed while pulling the M101 full of wood the Tacoma took a bit longer to stop :REExeSquatsHL1:

 

[BogusBlake]

Are the pistons larger in the bigger caliper or is it just a dimensional change to fit the larger rotor?

I didn't measure, but if they're bigger, it's just by a little.

Does the Tundra run a master with a larger bore?

I don't know. I thought about getting a Tundra MC and booster and replacing the Taco stuff with it, but that was my backup plan if just the calipers and rotor swap didn't work as well as I hoped.

The Tundra pads have a little more surface area, but friction force is NOT related to area (force due to Friction = normal force x coefficient of kinnetic friction). The larger diameter of the rotors contributes alot to the power and the more metal (more thermal mass) is what allows them to last longer without fading.

do you notice any different feeling in the steering due to the added size/wieght of the tundra parts?

Not at all. They're not that much heavier. Also, the caliper is not rotating mass.

 

[Bergger]

Good choice. The Red Tops seem to last so much longer from my experience. The Optima Blue and Yellow tops just cant take the draw downs (and the Red isnt used for that anyways)




Very nice find Blake. What was the price?



Man, I need that too... Did you keep the part number of that unit? I am going to swap out all hoses and belts and the clutch fan for the arctic trip.

On, and those sliders are incredible :luxhello:

I've been thinking of putting the green clutch in as well. Where did you pick yours up and was the install very difficult?

 

[BogusBlake]

I've been thinking of putting the green (fan) clutch in as well. Where did you pick yours up and was the install very difficult?

I got it at Precision Toyota and my mechanic installed it for free during a routine service visit. I assume it wasn't hard since he didn't charge me for it.

I've replace the one on my '85 and it was a 10 minute job.

 

[Scott Brady]

OK, so those Tundra brakes? Flippin' strong.

This is awesome Blake. I need to do this conversion for my pig...

Please let us know how the TRD pads work out.

Oh, and would you mind listing the part numbers you have used so far?

Thanks :victory:

 

[BogusBlake]

Oh, and would you mind listing the part numbers you have used so far?

I don't have the actual Toyota part numbers, but here's a list of the parts I used:

1 pair of 231mm calipers with pads (Factory, Toyota)
1 pair of Rotors (Aftermarket, Brembo)

All parts from 2005 Tundra SR5 Access Cab, 2 or 4wd.

 

[Mlachica]

Outstanding Information!!! And of course, great work!

:Mechanic:

 

[p1michaud]

Stopping power

Attached are pictures of the Tacoma brake caliper and rotor (on the left) compared with the Tundra parts. The Tundra caliper is way bigger, the rotor is around an inch larger in diameter, and much thicker.

Very nice work.
I believe that you have the 16" wheels. I'm currious if this mod would work with someone who has 15" wheels?
Sounds like a pretty easy swap except for the banjo bolt.
Very nice R&D work! :Mechanic:

Cheers :beer:,
P

 

[BogusBlake]

I'm currious if this mod would work with someone who has 15" wheels?

It will not work with 15" wheels. In fact, stock Taco brakes won't fit in 15" wheels. 6-lug Tacos from 01-04 all came with 16" wheels.

*edit to fix year*

 

[p1michaud]

Not sure

It will not work with 15" wheels. In fact, stock Taco brakes won't fit in 15" wheels. 6-lug Tacos from 99-04 all came with 16" wheels.

I've got a 1999 Tacoma with 15" wheels. I think that the 16" wheels came from 2001 to 2004.
Cheers,
P

 

[BogusBlake]

I saw Jeremy's bed bar / hi-lift mount and got jealous, so I buit one this morning. I mounted it to the truck with stainless steel hardware. I put on two tabs for lights in the future.

 

[BogusBlake]

I was working on my buggy and while rooting around in my stash of switches, I found the rear deck light switch I saved when deconstructing the dash of my '85. I thought to myself- that looks like it's about the size of those blanks by the power outlets in the Taco...

I popped off that panel and the switch fits in there like it's meant to! I'm planning on putting an amber light (to be switched with a set of driving lights) on the drivers side of my bed bar and a lower power, diffuse white light on the passenger side. This switch will be perfect for that one!


This discovery got me thinking that if Toyota used the same size switches for that many years, there's probably all kinds of factory switches to be had at the junkyard. I'm going to check that out next time I'm there.

 

[Desertdude]

you got skillz dood :bowdown: