Rear disc brakes?

I've been surfing around this forum a lot, but haven't seen anything on rear disc brakes. Brake performance is my biggest complaint with my new to me Tacoma. I can't believe they're still using rear drums on these trucks!

When I built my '88 4Runner I used the 5th gen 4Runner rear brakes... disc with drum parking brake. Front Range Off Road makes a kit to bolt them onto the older 8" rear axle housing and have a full-float setup too. I have far better brake control on my old 4Runner than this new Tacoma.

How similar are the rear axles between the current 4Runner and Tacoma? If the main difference is just the suspension, I'd be very tempted to swap one in. It'd be a quick project to cut off the old suspension and weld on some leaf spring perches.

 

Your rear brakes do barely any of the work. Have you tried upgraded pads and rotors up front? I'd be stunned if you could find a front braking setup that wouldn't outbrake any normal tire. Shit, OEM can do it (lock up ABS).

People have this weird idea that bigger rotors and calipers get you more braking. They don't (well, marginally). They get you more thermal capacity for repeated braking. Pads (and rotor material composition) are what get you bite. On my 2003 WRX it took Michelin Pilot Super Sports, an ultra-high performance summer tire, to get tires that my OEM calipers with Hawk HPS pads and DBA slotted rotors couldn't outbrake, and that was only on smooth, freshly paved tarmac.

 

There's a bolt-on kit here: https://sosperformance.com/products...sion-with-parking-brake-fits-2005-2015-tacoma

Found: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/meso-customs-quicksand-build-thread.502771/page-87#post-22824541

 

You've probably already seen them, but:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/has-anyone-retrofitted-disc-brakes-in-the-rear.535798/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-rear-disc-brakes.487979/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rear-disc-brakes.627512/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/does-the-2020-tacoma-have-rear-disc-brakes.652430/

 

This^

Our trucks are very light in the rear, so adding "better" disc brakes in the rear wouldn't really help any. Also like my guy above said, most of the braking comes from the front. Consider upgrading the fronts before you look at rears.

 

I am curious, how has your brake system let you down "re: my biggest complaint"? Were you towing? Other than the fact that they are rear drums, my brakes work great.

 

Upgraded fronts as well as disc rears with the stoptech kit from SOSPerformance. This truck stops on a dime now. Rear conversion is expensive, it’s definitely not the “brake per dollar” return as the fronts. But With my large tires I wanted as much brake as I can get, plus I gotta match.

 

Pad or rotor upgrades aren't going to help... I'm definitely not talking stopping distance. Pedal feel and smoothness are my biggest complaints.

 

Upgraded MC and proportional valve will help with that

 

Are you on 4 pot or 6 pot up front?

 

Drums brakes are more efficient than disc brakes is one of the reasons as to why Toyota still uses them.

 

Drum brakes are self energizing and up until they overheat could potentially brake better than rotors. They don't cool off nearly as quick as rotors do so repeated braking will make them fade faster.

 

I did the upgrade about 4ishidk years ago on my '16 when they first came out with the rear disc conversion. The "feel" was improved marginally, and what do you mean by smoothness? I can't say for certain as it's been so long, but the stock setup wasn't bad. Been going strong since I got em

 

6POT front, 4POT rear

 

No complaints about higher speed braking. Slower speeds, 30 or less, I find them very inconsistent. With a consistent pedal application, I don't feel like I get a consistent result from the brakes. Sometimes they're smooth and what I expect, other times they're very grabby. So far I'm blaming the drums.

I'm a very laid back driver in my pickups. Not a speeder, not hard on my brakes. So heat in the brakes is unlikely to be a factor.

Thanks for the links, I'll check 'em out. That one for the $2000+ brake kit blows my mind. Gotta be a cheaper solution.

 

Fair enough

 

OP haven't you heard? Drums are in again. 4th gen will have 4 wheel drums.

 

After my 2007 ranger with drums in the back, i was very pleased with braking performance of the taco. You had to mash the brake pedal on the ranger to stop quickly, was scary at times.

The brakes on my taco always felt smooth and consistent, hopefully they last. The only thing i would tow is a 16 ft aluminum boat so all good. No complaints over here. Just my .02

 

Do you have stock OR suspension? When I test drove one I hated how the front end dove and made me press the brake pedal harder than I wanted. Half the reason I got the PRO.