Brake Upgrade: StopTech Rotors + TRD Performance Pads

DBA makes the T2 and T3/4000 in the stock Tacoma flavor. I went with the T2 (part # DBA2716S) as I got a great deal on them at the time versus the T3. The T2s were a hair under 19lbs out of the box...which was a little disappointing as I'd seen that they were 21lbs. Maybe the T3 is heavier as they use a different alloy than the T2 but I can't say for sure.

I didn't measure the veins on the DBAs as the Kangaroo Paw design is quite different than straight or curved veins.

If the DBA 5000 series was available for 16" wheels I'd have been all over it!

 

I love my DBA T2, never going back to stock. Already looking at DBA for my DD Evo X

 

FYI stoptech stated that the 120 is what they make the slotted rotors from. In an email I received from them today

 

Question is was that always the case? One of two things happened.

1) The 126 Sport was streamlined with the 120 Premium, reducing the Sport weight to be equivalent to stock.
2) The Sport was always made from the 120 Premium, and the 120 Premium used to be heavier than stock but was reduced in weight to be equivalent to stock thereby also making the Sport weight equivalent to stock.

In the end it doesn’t really matter, end result is the same.

 

It would be really interesting to know if the T3 was heavier.

 

Just wanting to know thoughts around DBA's range of rotors.

I am in Aus and these seem to be the best of the bunch - and (mostly) locally made as well. They offer the 'Street Series' T2 which is made in China, and offers directional slotting and their improved venting system (Kangaroo Paw Ventilation). Then you move to the 4000 series which is made in Australia from a different 'High-carbon alloy' called XG150 when compared to the Street Series. These also add Thermo-Graphic paint marks. They are offered in a standard blank Heavy Duty option or an option called T3 which has additional slots from the T2.

They also make a couple of sets of pads, and I would be looking at their XP pads.

Any thoughts around these various options? I am thinking the T3 H/D with the XP pads would be a substantial upgrade, but not sure if the slotting (T3) is a worthwhile addition.

Link for rotor details: https://www.dba.com.au/products/products-disc-rotors/disc-rotors-overview/

And link for pads: https://www.dba.com.au/products/pads/xtreme-performance/

 

I am VERY impressed and satisfied with my DBA T2 rotors

 

The T3's slots are slightly different than the T2. They claim the T3 slot design is quieter but who really knows. The T3 also goes through a "Thermal Stability Profiling (TSP)" process which I assume is similar to cryogenic but when I was researching the rotors I couldn't verify what it actually was.

If the T3 is significantly heavier than the T2 I would have gone with those. Since both versions were listed at the same weight and I couldn't get a definitive answer to what TSP was I opted to save some bucks and get the T2s. At the time there was about a $50 difference in price. I don't have any regrets so far.

 

DBA is the only other stock sized rotor I am aware of that is truly redesigned, and not just an OEM style blank with slots/holes. It would be interesting to see if there were weight differences between the T2 and T3. The 'Kangaroo paw' design is also interesting, I'd love to see some CFD plots on the cooling dynamics compared to traditional rotor veins.

 

@crashnburn80 what do you make of these numbers on my rotors?

 

Man I have no idea. Those are StopTech and not one of their other brands?

 

Yeah they are stop tech. I bought them off of auto anything and they came in all the proper packaging that the cyros are suppose to come in. So they are the cyros sport rotors then? Just to clarify. Those were there only imprintings on the rotors themselves. @crashnburn80

 

@matt2491 , do you know the part# for the Ultra Premium blank rotors (with cyro)? Thanks.

 

Also, 2 1/2 years after the OP's post and it appears there are still no TRD high-performance pads for 3rd-gen? Strange.

 

Right?!


Well, I ordered TRD pads listed in op, and they do fit my Turd gen. They brake well even with all the extra weight. Only drawback I see is rather heavy dust

 

I'm not sure what to make of the numbers, the Cryos have the white painted Cryo make on the rotor hat, or at least they did when I got mine. Your spacing indicates you have the performance rotors, just the 'updated' ones with thinner veins and stock weight.

The TRD performance pads are confirmed to fit 3rd Gen as indicated above. Not sure why Toyota hasn't updated their parts catalog to reflect that.

 

Yeah mine had the white painted imprinting on the rotor hat. I’ll probably just ride these out and upgrade to those DBA rotors in the future. I was thinking about stop techs BBK but idk anymore They seeming kinda sketch now. Wilwood is an option

 

Turned my stock rotors on a lathe to get rid of pulsation.

Came back after a month.
I wonder if upgrading to these will fix and prevent that,

or if 5th gen 4Runner "14WA" bigger brake calipers are also needed (~318mm Tacoma --> 338mm T4R)

 

Did you replace your pads at the same time as turning the rotors? Unless you have a heavy rig in the mountains, the stock setup should should do fine in resisting 'warping' or pad deposits on a quality stock sized setup, without the need to go to a larger brake size.

Love the E30 and E34.

 

scuffed up the pads pretty good to refresh them before throwing it back together
then warped again
stock size, stock weight, no armor

I really don't know why Toyota put a 318mm front brake on a 4,000lb Tacoma
Audi's weighing like 3300lbs have been coming with larger, ie 321mm, 345mm, etc. and probably bigger rotors
with smaller lighter tires/wheels

had a buddy with a 4runner say the same thing (3rd gen); that their brakes are also undersized and warp-prone, so he upgraded to bigger Tundra calipers to fix that

even if on a mountain it's stick-shift so the engine braking should reduce some of the stress on brakes if going down hill in 4th with feet off the pedals