Why doesn't the Tacoma come with all around Disc brakes?

This seriously needs to be done... Read my list of upgrades I have and it only makes my stopping ability even worse (100% stock Tacoma's ability to stop is bad as well)

 

Nice... I'll have to look in to that next time I get more money But I'm also not sure if I want to put more money in to my truck...

 

Cmon man!! i've read that a lot of times in the site.....

 

HA HA, Me too

 

LOL, there is only one advantage to drums over disks. The only advantage is cost. Brake fade is worse on drums then on disks. To answer the original posters question. Taco's don't have 4 wheel disk brakes because it's cheaper. This was almost a deal breaker for me when I got my Taco. Over half of the stopping power is from the front breaks. But when you're hauling 1000 lbs of dirt in your bed, it would be nice to have that extra stopping power. Drums suck ass, I'm surprised that drums would be on any truck our size.

 

Whats even worse is that he F-ing Nissian Frontier comes with all round discs.. How was Nissan able to do it and Toyota was not?

 

plus one

 

Yep, that's why I said it was almost a deal breaker for me. All trucks nowadays should have 4 wheel disk breaks. You can't have this much power in a vehicle with compromised stopping power. Sure when you have an empty bed, it's plenty good. But this is a FKN truck, people haul shit in their bed, I haul 800-1000 lbs of dirt and rock in my bed all the FKN time. I think toyota wanted to build a showboat truck.

 

Maybe the 2009 should come with rear discs.... If any one at Toyota is reading this you need rear discs and a V8 model!!! But i'll settle for just the rear discs... But it must be standard and not optional.

Thank You

 

Toyota knows how we feel, they feel they can't make the truck any more expensive and still compete with the Frontier. So they leave it off. It would be nice if there was an option.

 

Since most people aren’t hauling that much weight it’s not necessary to have a lot of stopping power in the rear. Same with the softer rear springs. I like the non-bouncy ride as the most weight I usually carry in the bed is my dog who weights in at 55lbs. The other hauling duties are my mountain bikes in summer and my skis in winter. I suspect I’m a typical mid-size truck user. I think if I was going to regularly haul a load I would have got a full size Chevy (I know it’s almost heresy, but I love the way they look). However, maybe with a tow package Toyota could offer disk brakes and a stiffer rear suspension. I doubt it will happen until the next generation comes out though.

 

I'd have to agree that the rear drum brakes on the Tacoma are bad news. They're a safety hazard, in my opinion. The stopping distance of my Tacoma feels like it's from the 1970s. I shudder at the notion of having a fully loaded Taco trying to stop in an emergency; it might not happen because of those penny-pinching rear drum brakes. When I first felt them I was like, "you've got to be kidding me."

It's surprising Toyota would take such a risk; with people's lives and with their corporate reputation. The rear drum brakes are the one thing I always mention to people when we talk Tacomas and they want the pros and cons. I want them to be fully informed if they buy a Taco.

 

Big Rigs use air brakes, Chris

 

That’s ridiculous. Rear drums are not a safety hazard on a truck. Most of the stopping power comes from the front discs. And yes if you have a big load the stopping distance will increase. If you want a vehicle that stops on a dime you should be driving a sports car not a truck.

BTW my mother-in-law tested out the rear drums on my father-in-law’s new Tacoma about ten years ago. No antilock’s back then. Anyway, she locked up the rears in the rain and plowed into a moving van and then got rear ended by a Mustang. 9k damage on a new 13k truck.

 

I also read / seen somewhere, I think it was Motortrend They tested the Tacoma and 'Hated' the breaks...

 

So drums are Bad or Good?

 

That's going WAY too far. They are not a safety hazard in any way, shape, or form. I would rather have discs but they aren't THAT bad.

Bottom line, you knew what you were buying before you bought the truck (or should have). No reason to complain about it after the fact.

 

Not ridiculous. My considered opinion. I do drive a sports car. A BMW 335i and the stopping power is awesome. That's why I notice the poor performance of the Tacoma's braking power. If the technology exists for better stopping it should be used, in my opinion.

I used to drive a GMC for an old job in the 80s, and it had better stopping power loaded.

Regarding safety: I'm referring to driving habits vis-a-vis poor brakes. The math is there; it factors out as: Poor brakes w/mediocre-to-poor driving skills = safety hazard, IMHO.