Disc brakes

Noticed that a person where I work that drives a 2009 Tundra has disc brakes on the back. Why has Toyota chosen to not put them on the Tacomas?

 

Most likely cost. The proportion of braking from to rear on a truck, operated a lower speeds and less dramatic maneuvers, works just fine with the drums...

 

I've wondered the same thing. My last truck had 4 wheel discs and seemed to stop quicker than the Tacoma. I'm surprised it wasn't even offered as an option on the sport or TRD packages.

 

Drums actually provide the same braking power as discs they just don't dissapate heat as well as discs. Under normal driving conditions...especially with rear brakes you never really NEED disc brakes. They look cool but they're cheaper which is probably why toyota put them on the tacoma.

 

You know...I always thought that would be the reason even though I just can't understand why cost for drums would be less.

Just look at the number of parts on a drum setup...and how much more complicated (difficult) assembly is with all those springs and clips and special tools needed. I just couldn't figure it...

Also, to add to benefits for disks is that they are much better when swamped in water.

 

ah man another 1 of these threads...lol

honestly i highly doubt its a money issue seeing as the toyota sells way more tacomas than fj cruisers and rav4's combined....and both the fj cruiser and rav4 have rear disc brakes...

the fj cruiser uses the same lug pattern and dana as the tacoma...hasn't been around for 20+ years and when toyota released the fj gave the fj more versatile setup then the tacomas have...manual transfer case, rear disc brakes, and rubber matting throughout the entire vehicle...just to name a few...

so while toyota has stepped up to the plate in some areas on other vehicles they let the tacoma stay mediocre...end of rant i could go on and on and on about toyotas flaws with the tacoma...

 

I haven't researched this..but that being said, has anyone swapped the FJ rear discs to the tacoma?

 

well if you think about it, the FJ only has one basic suspension type, while the tacoma has two, with two different rear axles. and im pretty sure toyota would want all the tacomas to share the same basic features, regarding brakes and such.

 

but that class also consists of crap like the ranger and the colorado lol...

 

both of which are heavier than the taco too...wtf was dodge thinking? when did they get rid of the rear discs?

anyway a rear disc conversion, besides looks, would really only help with the brake fade...it's been done before with negligible effects on the actual stopping distance

 

$$$$$$ Is the only legitimate reason IMO. However, drum brakes in the rear do the job and they usually don't need to be replaced as often. I've had several cars with 4 wheel disc brakes and the front pads seem to always outlast the rear.

 

The front brakes do most of the work. When I traded in my '02 I was still on the original rear drums and shoes. My mechanic checked and said I had plenty of life left in them. The front brakes I had done a couple years back.

 

full drums in the rear make for better parking brake.

 

Give it time..... probably the same reason why tacomas don't have a lot of things. I mean... really? They don't even have power seats!!

 

The cost is not the difference between drum and disk. Drums are usually more expensive. The cost is re-engineering the truck to use the disks. Tundra was already going through that process.

Remember, Toyota can't just make a swap of parts like you and me in our garages, they have to prove through rigorous testing that proves everything works properly or they have to spend millions in recalls!

I would expect to see rear disks on the next generation.

 

Drums are cheaper to manufacturer and the rears only do about 35% of the braking anyhow.

Be happy you have rear drums, trust me.
If you ever worked on vehicle with rear discs, you will be happy you have drums.

Not all, but many vehicles with rear discs have problems with rust because the brakes are not used as much in the rear. I've had to replace rotors on trucks with 15,000 miles in the rear because of rust. On a Silverado, the price of the job is usually around $500 or so for the customer; and that's if they don't need calipers.

If the rear drums are duo-servo type, then they actually have close to the same braking power as front discs because of the self-energized design. Usually foreign cars use leading/trailing designs, which do not offer this benifit. I havn't taken my rear drums off yet, but I plan on doing so next week, so I am not sure what the Tacoma is equipped with.

Anyhow, in the long run, I am happy with my rear drum brakes. If they are adjusted every 7500 miles, they should work well.

 

I haveta disagree...haveing worked on both drums and disks I'll pick disk anytime. Best-to-best disks are so easy it's a crime that shops charge for anything more than the pads and wheel rotation.

Even at their worst disks are easier: I far prefer loosening and torquing bolts to wrestling with all those da*n springs. I'm very happy to hear how much service life people get from the rear drums on the Tacoma.

Also: looking at the manual for an '06 Tacoma it looks like these aren't duo-servo drums.