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To Rotor or Not to Rotor?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by miniceptor86, Mar 8, 2013.

  1. Mar 8, 2013 at 3:02 PM
    #1
    miniceptor86

    miniceptor86 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Time to replace the brakes on BluTaco. I've looked and looked and I am still in a quandary as to what to do. I've always at least turned the rotors on my 4 wheel vehicles but just threw a new set of pads on the bikes. The can of worms I'm opening up for discussion is should the rotors be replaced or turned or just install new pads if there doesn't seem to be any damage or abnormal wear?
     
  2. Mar 8, 2013 at 3:04 PM
    #2
    Large

    Large Red

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    Just turn the rotors and replace pads. Rotors should last a while depending on your driving habits.
     
  3. Mar 8, 2013 at 3:04 PM
    #3
    EDJY

    EDJY Well-Known Member

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    Every time I have my rotors turned they end up warping a few thousand miles later. I would see how much wear is on the rotor or if they are currently warped. If it looks to be in pretty good shape I would just do a pad slap.
     
  4. Mar 8, 2013 at 3:14 PM
    #4
    2000GTacoma

    2000GTacoma Well-Known Member

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    x2 I am going to put a set of brembos on my truck. I have a 1st gen not sure of it is the same rotor or not. I can get a set for less than $100 shipped to the house.
     
  5. Mar 8, 2013 at 3:20 PM
    #5
    tacomarandy

    tacomarandy Well-Known Member

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    If the rotors aren't warped---pad slap, grease the sliders.

    If not---new rotors are the way to go. I know people say to never do a pad slap, but I've done it many times with zero problems.
     
  6. Mar 8, 2013 at 3:23 PM
    #6
    Bhwang

    Bhwang Well-Known Member

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    Working on it. Never Ending :)
    Just did my pads for the first time with EBC Green Stuff pads, love them and the rotors looked fine, still smooth and the EBC pads have so much bite its great.
     
  7. Mar 8, 2013 at 3:30 PM
    #7
    monkeyface

    monkeyface Douchebag, or just douche if we're friends

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    To me replacing brakes in my garage versus at a shop is a conundrum. The can of worms for me is since I like to replace my own pads, I'd still have to take the truck to a shop to resurface the rotors/drums (which I like to have done at each pad change, and bleed out the brake fluid). The trouble is, can you trust a shop like BrakesPlus or whoever to actually do what you ask them to do? And I like a premium shoe like Hawk, not whatever cheapo BrakesPlus or whoever puts in there.

    I'm lucky, my neighbor works at a shop where he can do it all, and I trust him to do all the work to my specifications without a bunch of bullshit.
     
  8. Mar 8, 2013 at 3:40 PM
    #8
    miniceptor86

    miniceptor86 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the quick replies. No warpage, and with just a quick look the surface and I don't see any deep furrows and not much of a ridge on the outer edge.

    Pads it shall be. What's the consensus on the best for towing?
     
  9. Mar 8, 2013 at 5:53 PM
    #9
    lj973gm

    lj973gm Sold it, dont miss it yet.

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    If you are towing I would not be messing around with old rotors, but that is just me. For a plain jane driver I am ok with a pad slap.


    Look at Hawk or EBC for pads they do offer a towing pad but I would have to be towing a good amount to go with a towing pad over their regular pads which are typically more aggressive than stock.
     
  10. Mar 8, 2013 at 6:13 PM
    #10
    monkeyface

    monkeyface Douchebag, or just douche if we're friends

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    I don't even know if the stock pads are ceramic or not. Ceramic seems to be the way to go for the discs, dunno what on the drums.
     
  11. Mar 9, 2013 at 3:47 AM
    #11
    miniceptor86

    miniceptor86 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    By saying "towing a lot" do you mean time or weight and why not tow pads for the light load or occasional towing application?
     
  12. Mar 9, 2013 at 5:49 AM
    #12
    lj973gm

    lj973gm Sold it, dont miss it yet.

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    Tow pads tend to be louder with possible squeel at points while braking and more dusting.

    Towing to me that stresses our truck is 50% of the time towing with greater than 3K pounds.
     
  13. Mar 9, 2013 at 6:40 AM
    #13
    miniceptor86

    miniceptor86 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    TRD sport exhaust and cold air intake, nerf and bull bar, RideRide, ProEFX towing mirrors, BakFlip F1 trifold tonneau
    Dusting I don't mind, squealing I would mind. I pull around 5K pounds occasionally.
     

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