Rear Disc Brake Conversion

Looks…

 

Drums have no drag when properly setup. So drums are faster and get better mpgs.

 

While disk brakes offer some advantages over the drum set up, the rear drums offer all the rear stopping power the truck needs. The main advantage is servicing the disk brakes is cake compared to drums.

 

I agree. Drums are on this because they are cheaper. They are not on the Tundra. They are not on f150, f250, f350 trucks. They are not on Jeeps or new Broncos. So if they are better for truck use like towing, or better off-road, then why do other manufacturers use more expensive brakes? It is worth the upgrade to me just to not have to mess with drum brakes. I have them on some of my older trucks, and they will be changed out eventually as well.

 

Like many features on modern cars, they’re there because you can’t compete if you don’t have them.

drums work great in the rear, and you likely won’t ever have to “mess with them” at all.

 

Seems like a solution for a problem you are looking for.

Most of the military trucks and heaving haulers have drum brakes, even on the front axle.

Brake shoes are not much harder to change than pads. Most of the time the front brakes carry 60-70% of the stopping force anyway.

 

I'll swap if I ever have an issue with the drum performance in my application (DD). I'm not going to do it for no real return or just for looks.

 

Isn’t the conversion kit around $3k?

 

These things feel sooo much better than the stock drums!
(SOS Performance Kit)

 

What have you been doing that your rear brakes are worn? I have put over 200K on several Toyota trucks and never been close to needing to replace the shoes. There is a reason Toyota hasn't changed to discs on the rear. Drums work and last forever.

 

In what way do they feel better? How much of that is in your head? Rear brakes typically only do about 25% of your stopping and even that isn't a lot because of weight transfer.

 

Braking feels smoother, it is noticeable even with my "butt dyno". Ive had issues ever since I bought the truck new with the OE rear drums.

 

If they lasted forever then why did I go through 3 blown wheel cylinders and 4 rear drum sets in 98K miles? If you off-road your truck all the drums do is capture mud/sand/crap and use it to grind down the internals (Yes I washed the drums frequently after trips). They dont last...

 

I don't see the point $1,300 to $1,600. The performance gain can't be worth that much over the drums. I will agree that working on drum brakes is a bit more of a pain than disk. still thats a lot of coin.

 

I have rear disks on my first gen. Stopping power is not worth the hype nor losing the parking brake

 

Drums are so bad that they are standard on dump trucks and school buses.

Of course I would 'prefer' disc, because they are easier to service. And they do 'look' better if you have sexy wheels that allows them to peek through.

But for how the truck is used, drums work just fine for me. And while servicing is trickier, it's not hard. You just have to pay attention.

 

Everyone wants rear discs until they see the parking shoes for the first time. Worse yet when they get covered in axle oil.

 

Front brakes do about 70% of the stopping. I'd spend my money there and not worry about the drums.

 

Had a couple of Z cars with hat-in-rotor setups. Fortunately no axle seal leaks.

 

Has anyone done a before and after comparison of stopping distances with a rear disk set up? The thread about the basic big brake 4Runner swap had a comparison and showed an improvement with braking.... maybe not completely scientific results but results enough to show a difference. If someone here is doing a swap, will you please try to post some numbers... stopping distances from say 60 to zero over 3 to 5 stops. Before and after...