New brake calipers drag on rim

I hope you for everyone's sake you only work on your own vehicles...

Wait... did you really just use ROFLMFAO.... gtfo

 

Is it possible these are Tundra calipers?

 

So I get that the wheels aren't made for a Tacoma and ultimately are responsible for the caliper hitting them. What I don't get is how the previous calipers cleared the same wheels if the new calipers are just direct replacements?

 

OMG GTFO UGTBK
If your afraid of a little file on a big beefy caliper that's your problem.
Most calipers have so much extra material you could grind off a pound and save weight.
Have you ever cut one apart and seen what is going on? I have.

 

This was my real question. How has it been okay for 265,000 miles so far? The part numbers have been checked and checked, so I think it must just be the newer casting has a couple of mil more going on.

 

I appreciate you MrFixIt.

 

Okay, guys: updates!

(And a reminder: I am actually a woman... yes, a woman with a Tacoma who works on it as much as she is able AND talks to you guys! Odd on here, I know, but there are a few of us about.)

Brakes are working great. I feel absolutely fine about having used a SOFT disc on a grinder to finesse these calipers a bit. I had a grinder, whereas I don't actually own any files yet. It's looking and driving totally fine. I've maybe driven the truck 50 miles since I did the work. (Holding off because my tires were in BAAAAAAD shape til today thanks to tired suspension and pushing Defenders past their 70k rating...) The only weird thing I've noticed now is a slight grinding noise in very, very tight left turns.

-That noise was NOT there before this work, so I don't *think* it's a bearing (and both fronts have been replaced on this truck since I bought it).
-And it really doesn't sound like a CV noise... plus, again, it wasn't there before.
-I don't *think* it is just brake break-in... any of that stuff has quieted down already

Anyone have any thoughts?
-I need to go back in and check if my dust shield might be bent?
-What else might be rubbing only in a tight left turn? (and the noise seems like it's coming from the front left wheel)
-I'll go ahead a rattle around the wheels when I get the truck back from the tire place tonight, but hopefully they would spot a nasty bearing.

I swear I love this truck and the engine is so great, but when it's this much stuff at one time it makes you think about getting a newer one... It's been an expensive month between tires, brakes, and Bilsteins, and I may not be done yet, it seems.

 

You say the part numbers were checked and checked.. Do the numbers on the caliper match the box?

Are your wheel bearings wearing out?

If you barely have clearance when sitting still I wouldn't be surprised if the wheels are deflecting just enough to touch the caliper when turning. I would take a Permanent marker and fill in the spots that rubbed previously so you can see any new rub marks. It can be removed with alcohol later if it looks bad.

 

That's a great idea re the deflection/permanent marker. I haven't noticed any additional scrub marks, but will have a look and try the marker, too. Thanks!

I'll double-check the bearings again tonight or tomorrow, but they have been done once before, and I don't ride this truck that hard.

 

IMHO.....

The wheels and the calipers are a mismatch. Use 4runner wheels with 4 runner calipers or use Tacoma wheels with Tacoma calipers.

The structure of the wheel has been compromised with the groove cut into the back side of the "spokes". This is a high load area that now has a load concentration from the grooves. I'm sure a failure won't occur immediately. But with fatigue, weather, corrosion (yes, aluminum does corrode) a "spoke" will eventually crack. Die castings don't crack like steel, they crack in a brittle manner.

It doesn't really matter what worked before......it isn't working now with the current set up. The set up has been bastardized to not contact.

The rub you are getting in a LH turn is not likely from the wheel making contact with the caliper. It is likely the tire making contact with a suspension part. If your wheel is making contact with the caliper, then you have a serious issue with deflection of the wheel.

Good Luck. Hope you find a solid solution without using a grinder to force a fit.

 

I hear you on the cast aluminum deterioration. It's literally just scored, not gouged deeply, but I will definitely keep an eye on it because I'm honestly not a fan of damaged parts of any sort (grinder activity included)... and I'll keep an eye out on Craigslist for some ACTUAL Tacoma wheels. I kind of hate the person who put these 4Runner wheels on here, and I can't believe I didn't realize it until all of this crap started. What a dumb "upgrade."

 

Even a "score" can be a load/stress concentration point.

You can help ease the concentration by rounding and blending the "score" to eliminate any sharp corners. Think eliminate square shape corners. Inside sharp corners are the worst.

 

Like scoring glass to snap it... I see.

This is good advice, Knute. Thanks!

 

As an engineer in product development......stress concentration leading to a failure is a known situation.

Too many times, die castings have failed because the tool maker didn't round the corners as specified. A real bugger to sort out.

Just trying to help improve your situation.

 

It's a pretty common swap, I haven't heard many if any issues with calipers rubbing.

 

IMO, after carefully looking at your cailper before and after pictures, it looks to me like the calipers are new aftermarket calipers vs. OEM rebuilds. If this is true, the actual shape of the caliper might differ from OEM castings.

 

If it were me I would get another set(brand), Rockauto.com, NAPA, etc. I would not keep running those calipers you got.

 

I appreciate you too. Happy St Patrick's Day.

 

Just throwing this out there that it looks like the rotors were changed also. Although unlikely, if the rotor hat is slightly thinner, the wheel will be closer to the caliper. Just something to chew on

 

Yep, allllll new brake components, so everything is new and fatter! These are OEM rotors.

Finally got my noise to go away today. Re-checked clearance on the right caliper as I was hunting for bearing issues (none), and I also bent around a couple of spots on dust shields. Things are finally settling down!