Rear disc conversion for 2nd gen taco's

[06tacoma]

I am really intrested to see if any one knows of someone doing a rear disc conversion on the 2nd gen taco's. I have done this type of conversion on many other cars but i have never of heard of one for tacomas. So any information will be greatly appreciated

[Ldytaco05]

i'm looking at other taco sites and asking that same question. i'll post you the answer but in my opinion it can be done.

[06tacoma]

yeh i have been doing the same i have only found a conversion kit for the xrunner and also a write up on how to do it on older tacoms but whatever info you could get would be great

[sunruner19]

Originally Posted by 06tacoma

I am really intrested to see if any one knows of someone doing a rear disc conversion on the 2nd gen taco's. I have done this type of conversion on many other cars but i have never of heard of one for tacomas. So any information will be greatly appreciated

Toyota dealers are offering what they call a Big Brake Kit. I havent researched it yet as to what it entails at my dealership, just that its a dealer installed kit.

[bellphill]

I think the rear disc from the 05 thru 07 4runner should bolt on straight to the tacos rear hubs.i believe the problem would be connections to the abs system

[bellphill]

In jamaica we import a lot of jdm (japanese domestic market ) vehicles. We have toyota prados from 96 to present.the second generation Prado looks just like the Lexus 470 suv. These come with a really durable rear disc assembly and i am looking for a set to try on my taco as i think the brakes suck as is.
The 4runner from japan is called the surf and the rear end is the same as that on the prado, so if i get one off a surf iam good to go.

[Bfmco7]

Honestly I dont think there is a need for disc on the rear of the tacoma... It stops real as it is. Rear drum brakes last a lot longer and are just as efficient for this vehicle. just my opinion but I could think of a lot more after market things to buy

[nd]

Originally Posted by Bfmco7

Honestly I dont think there is a need for disc on the rear of the tacoma... It stops real as it is. Rear drum brakes last a lot longer and are just as efficient for this vehicle. just my opinion but I could think of a lot more after market things to buy

I aggree, there is nothing wrong with drum breaks. Stoping power is fine and they last longer than discs. The only problem i have with drum breaks is working on them. I will work on discs anytime but i wont touch drum breaks, for anything, i hate working on those things.

[Bfmco7]

Yeah I understand not wanting to work on them, they really are a pain, but, I still cant see sepnding at least a grand on swapping them out and then risk the chance of messing up your ABS system. With the right tools they really arent that bad to work on.

[nd]

Originally Posted by Bfmco7

Yeah I understand not wanting to work on them, they really are a pain, but, I still cant see sepnding at least a grand on swapping them out and then risk the chance of messing up your ABS system. With the right tools they really arent that bad to work on.

I agree, there is no real reason to spend any money to swap them out, espcially not just for the convenience of not having to work on them. If they ever need to be worked on, i'll let someone else do it, i only work on disc's. Although it does seem strange that someone like Toyota went with drums instead of discs. Not really sure why they would do that

[Bfmco7]

My theory would be that they are dependable... That is what toyota is known for it dependability. If its not broke dont fix it. the truck stops on a dime with drum brakes, they are dependable and will last twice as long as disc.. It makes perfect sense. We all know that Toyota hardly makes mistakes when it comes to vehicles..

[nd]

Originally Posted by Bfmco7

My theory would be that they are dependable... That is what toyota is known for it dependability. If its not broke dont fix it. the truck stops on a dime with drum brakes, they are dependable and will last twice as long as disc.. It makes perfect sense. We all know that Toyota hardly makes mistakes when it comes to vehicles..

I don't know about the dependability thing. i dont think they are any more dependable then disc brakes. They have been around longer but discs are so simple its hard to make 'em not dependable. maybe they're cheaper? i dont know how much they cost compared to a disc set up. I'm sure there's a reason. maybe Panama Red knows, he always seems to have the right answer, and if he doesn't know, he can just ask one of the other techs where he works. so how bout it Panama, why drums on the rear?

[Panama Red]

One of the really good reasons for having rear drums is when you are "wheeling" and throwing up a lot of mud, you can "coat" a exposed disk brake a lot faster than an enclosed drum brake. I have also read that a number of other trucks in the past (American types included) went from rear drums to disks and back to drums for this reason. Currently of the 2007 mini/med sized trucks, Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Chevy, GM and Dodge all have front disks and rear drums. Only Nissan has the front & rear disks.

Also since about 90% of your braking is done by your front brakes and we have 4 wheel ABS, Toyota may have figured that we did not need rear disks. And finally, it's cheaper to have rear drums versus rear disks (which may ultimately be Toyota's real reason).

[reid]

I would not spend the money on discs for the back. Most people on this site have put on larger wheels or definately larger tires on their truck. With more tire/wheel on your truck you are increasing the rotational mass of the wheel. It is often overlooked, but always recomended that you upgrade to larger discs when you add ratational mass to your car/ truck.

Save you money on the discs for the back and upgrade to larger discs for the front you will see far better braking this way.

[Panama Red]

By the way, here is a company than makes a rear drum to disk conversion for the Taco, but doing it may not be that easy: http://sosperf.com/tundra%20_double_stnd_brake.htm

reid:
Just make sure that you have the correct proportioning valve when you change brake sizes, or you may actually stop furthur than with factory brakes since all you braking effort will go to the front brakes and very little or none to the rear brakes.

[reid]

Panama Red.
Ya I have not done it to my truck, I dont have a problem with the brakes so I probably never will. But if you know brakes it is a far better solution than rear discs. Sounds like you know what you are talking about.

[nd]

Originally Posted by Panama Red

One of the really good reasons for having rear drums is when you are "wheeling" and throwing up a lot of mud, you can "coat" a exposed disk brake a lot faster than an enclosed drum brake. I have also read that a number of other trucks in the past (American types included) went from rear drums to disks and back to drums for this reason. Currently of the 2007 mini/med sized trucks, Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Chevy, GM and Dodge all have front disks and rear drums. Only Nissan has the front & rear disks.

Also since about 90% of your braking is done by your front brakes and we have 4 wheel ABS, Toyota may have figured that we did not need rear disks. And finally, it's cheaper to have rear drums versus rear disks (which may ultimately be Toyota's real reason).

Thanks for the response PR, i can always count on you when i have no idea whats going on The off-roading makes alot of sense, i wouldnt have thought of that. I'm perfectly cool having drums. The only time i would insist on 4 disc is if i was doing some performance racing or something like that. currently i have no complaints with the stopping power of my truck.

[littleschipper]

Check out the big rigs, they all use drum brakes instead of disks. The main reason is drum brakes have more contact area than a disk brake, hence more stopping power. Look at the surface area of two drum brake shoes and then look at the surface aera of two disc brake pads. The primary advantage of disk brakes, as I understand it, is that they disipate heat faster.

[Mudbug]

Originally Posted by littleschipper

Check out the big rigs, they all use drum brakes instead of disks. The main reason is drum brakes have more contact area than a disk brake, hence more stopping power. Look at the surface area of two drum brake shoes and then look at the surface aera of two disc brake pads. The primary advantage of disk brakes, as I understand it, is that they disipate heat faster.

Discs still stop better on 18 wheelers adn some owner operators actually have them. The reason they don't all do it....ok you ever priced a front disk for your toyota? Times that by about ten. Thats why big rigs don't all have disc brakes.

[Bfmco7]

Originally Posted by Mudbug

Discs still stop better on 18 wheelers adn some owner operators actually have them. The reason they don't all do it....ok you ever priced a front disk for your toyota? Times that by about ten. Thats why big rigs don't all have disc brakes.

EXACTLY!!!! discs stop a whole lot better but they are more expensiva and also wear a lot faster. Tractor Trailers owners wouldnt be able to afford it...