Wicked brakes for 16" wheels

Here's a little project I'm working on that might help out those that wish to retain 16" wheels on their Taco, yet truly increase braking capabilities. While eventually things will be upsized on my ride (17" wheels), seeing what the stock calipers can do in the stock location is a nice logical step in building out. It also keeps costs down.

As mentioned, the caliper will remain stock, by that I mean in the original mounting position with the original size 45.5mm diameter pistons. So we can neither increase brake torque through a larger diameter rotor disc, or clamping force through larger pistons. Both are ways that can improve what the system is capable of, but are not necessarily required to do so. That leaves us with managing the heat in a more efficient way.

The rotor is the main, but not the only, component to be changed here. It needs to be increased in mass and be of a better design that more quickly releases the energy that the mass absorbs. More iron mass is akin to a larger reservoir, extra room for what ever is being stored, in the case of a reservoir, more water. Eventually though, the reservoir will reach the extra capacity, and will need to be drained more quickly. That is where the increased surface area and more airflow of a better design will come in. Going wider and improving the vane design is the answer.

As luck would have it, I had some rotors on the shelf from a previously owned vehicle that may fit the bill. All they needed, at least for prototyping, was a little design/measuring, and a trip to the machine shop. It measures 321mm in diameter, and 32mm wide. The stock rotor is 319 x 28. The 321 has curved directional vanes that number 55 in total, vs 45 stock. Each vane is 3" long, with every other one being split down the middle. The stock vanes are straight and 1.7" in length. Rotor weight increases by more than 3 lbs to a total weight of over 21lbs, the stock rotor is a bit under 18lbs. Most of the this additional weight is in the rotor ring and vanes. The walls of the rotor grow from roughly 6.5mm stock, to 7.5mm. The air channels between the vanes grow 2mm in width. There are other tricks in the rotor to help with flow, one is a guide that cast in on the ID that helps steer the air into the rotor.

So here we have the prototype rotor. The ugliest part is machining the new six lug pattern in... I'm sure that scares many folks... they are really only there for the studs to pass through, the rotor is centered on the hub by the bore, and clamped between it and the wheel. Ideally, one of the manufacturers will sell a batch prior to drilling the pattern... or drill it for us? Next post will the pads and then the caliper.

 

Reserved

 

Interesting

 

I did the EBC vented with dimples and channels and they stop pretty darn good with the EBC green stuff pads...a little excessive on the brake dust though. Curious to know how well the ones you show will stop compared to stock.

 

Nice setup.

 

Brake upgrades seem to be pretty popular. Subbed.

 

How do you use the truck that creates a problem for the OE brakes that upgraded pads and fluid aren't enough of a 'fix'?

Mountain towing?

 

While some tweaks to the caliper and pads may(?) give this system a little more torque over stock, they will pretty much feel the same, everything else being equal. What they will definetly do, and what we are chasing, is a cooler running system... it will take more to overheat these as they have greater storage and a greater ability to more quickly remove energy from that storage.

I do the live in the mountains, add larger tires, towing, eventually more power... take your pick.. extra brake capacity is always welcome.

 

Sub'd. Interested to see the outcome of this.

 

I’ve had the same setup on my S2000 for maybe 8-9 years and they have held up awesome. And they stop much better.

 

Until I can find a better way to integrate these rotors with the Tacoma 6 lug hub, the 16" kit is moving back a few spots on the project priority list. Moving up in line is the 17" kit, which should prove to be bit more impressive.

 

What is the minimum thickness of the thicker rotor?

 

Likely 30mm, but I'll need to verify.

 

The thicker rotor uses thinner pads, to keep the piston stroke the same.

Very popular upgrade with 1980's VWs that came with the solid 9.4" rotors is installing the Rabbit GTI 9.4" vented rotor and thinner pads.

 

Lol, I remember that upgrade, had many VWs... still own one of em'.

In this case, thinner pads won't cut it. The caliper needs to be spaced out.

 

Where'd ya get the ebc? Its not on their site.

 

Perhaps here?
https://www.autoanything.com/brakes/ebc-sport-rotors

 

Amazon

 

Your link only goes to generic Amazon. Which specific part #'s did you order for the rotors and green stuff pads?