Rear disc brake conversion

I have a second gen that I converted to discs. If I could go back I wouldn’t have done it. If you value having an emergency break strong enough to hold on an average hill, then I highly recommend you to stay with your drums.

 

I had a few cars with drums in the rear and only thing I did is blowing dust every other year.

 

Folks they are brakes not breaks lol. Also, especially in cold climates, the huge advantage is that the components are insulated from the salt/sand. Rear disc brakes rust before the pads go bogus most of the time.

 

My 2005 Wrangler Rubicon had factory rear disks while most others had drums. I don’t buy the idea drums are better off road.

 

A while back a Toyota engineer mentions “why” Tacoma has drum brakes. My 2001 Toyota Camry has 4-wheel disc brakes which I still have.

He mentions it has been proven to be good for there Tacoma trucks. I believe because it was cheaper for Toyota Tacomas to save money . Now Toyota mentions the newer Tacomas will all have rear “disc brakes”.

Toyota loves to go cheap! Today they need to catch-up, because everyone else today is building a better 4x4. And offering. More.

I hate my drum brakes, drums brakes collects water , mud, sand, dust, etc. The faulty rear lock-ups…that I had, Toyota could not find the problem. I replace my E- cables and it solve 90% of the faulty rear brakes lock ups. Just that heavy rains still causes this problem. All at my expense too. 4 times to Toyota shops.

To get this aftermarket Disc brakes (Hawaii) I already estimated, I will need to spend almost $3,000 +
And I am still making monthly payments. Not going to do this.

Toyota going backwards…just a gut feeling….

 

Thats what I thought, as well.

 

Now thats what im talking about!

 

I thought the trd pro suspension was good. Am I wrong?

 

I cant pretend it doesn't exist. I drive a manual 22 OR. It's too ingrained into me.

 

who needs a parking brake when you can just leave it in first?

 

I've parked on hills so steep that the truck would slowly roll backwards, even in gear. These qere some steep driveways. Luckily, I don't have to go to thise houses anymore, but still. It was crazy to experience the first time.

 

Im talking 30⁰ incline steep. Asphalt driveway. Had to use 4x4 to go up the driveway. This was in my gen 3 explorer. Driveway was extremely hard to walk up.

 

Hand brakes … I am surprised how many people do not use this feature. It became a habit over 40+ years .
Sad to see how many people injury or kill because they thought they were in park. The amount of children that die too, by not setting the hand brakes.

 

Drums have reputation of trapping water and not working once wet. If you never ford a stream then you may never have that as a problem, if do ford a stream then assume your drums will be at reduced capacity for a few miles. Disc brakes squeegee the water off and are a better choice if this is the only consideration.

 

Best to do your own research on drums vs disc brakes in the rear wheels.

DRUM brakes are usually cheaper , holds better as a parking brake. In emergency braking - drums do a better job in locking the wheels. Drums are usually smaller & lighter. Also drums are refer to as “old technology”.

Disc brakes is consider a more high performance brakes. Has great stopping abilities & better in heat dissipation. Collect less dust. Better in slowing the car/ truck. Disc brakes sometimes need a additional braking to be use for “parking”.

True front brakes do most of the work.

My experience on the dirt & muddy , water foraging roads, the drum brakes is a failure ,because of the lock-ups I still get once and awhile. Replacing the E- cables reduce the problem 90+%.

Drums will always be use because it is cheaper for manufacturers cost. Disc brake cost more.
The new 2024 Tacoma trucks will start having 4-wheel disc brakes ( future up-grades)

 

It does what it's supposed to do. But it's mostly 2nd gen warmed over.....a design pinned in 2003

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEEgINoP2-o

 

I converted my truck to rear discs but I went for the StopTech bbk. The difference is as drastic as is imaginable. I decided to upgrade after I had a scare with a blind hill cress to stopped traffic. I personally always felt Toyota in general has sub par brake performance, the Tacoma (b/c it’s a pickup) has always been on the bad end of the spectrum also. Brake power, braking distance, feel, confidence… all drastically improved. What I notice most is that as oppose to having the truck massively nose dive when I brake aggressively, I feel the truck hunker down and scrub off speed in a much more composed way. The 4 piston rear brakes handle a lot more braking duty. I obviously can’t speak for everyone’s circumstances, but for me, the stoptech kit was worth every penny. It’s already saved me from a near collision. If you can stomach the price, I’d say don’t even think twice.

 

One thing is rarely mention is the ABS system. Disc or drums, nice to have this ABS system especially when you need to brake hard.
I also like the automatic braking is engage after going 25 miles per hour. My daughter was following another car, she has a 2019 TRD OR, when the car in front had brake all of a sudden , her Tacoma automatically put on the brakes preventing a rear end collision . The Tacoma reacted faster then her. She call me to tell me how this safety feature is a blessing.

Also I found it easy for DIY to replace disc brakes vs drums. I still have all my brakes tools ( drums brakes) from the 70’s , including honing out the brake cylinders.
My Dad had me take apart the motor in my 1966 Barrcuda. Thought me how to grind each valve by hand. I didn’t realize I could have taken the heads to a machine shop. I was still in high school. LOL…

 

Does the Stop Tech BBK work with the factory hand brakes?
The specs and everything in this kit looks awesome.