Brake Upgrade: StopTech Rotors + TRD Performance Pads

I have the sports on order now but didn't know if they suck after reading the above. To many choices.

 

Well, I've had a chance to put a few miles on them since my original post about them. That whole setup was bought on closeout and they work okay, but I'd recommend you pick something else with more bite.

 

Time for front brakes. What’s a good rotor/pad combo for 16” wheels, stock calipers on a lifted truck with e-rated 33s that sees towing and off-road?

Ive got the following in my rock auto online shopping cart:

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$48 power stop Z36976 power stop Z36-976 front truck and tow brake pads for 2003-2009 GX470 | 2003-2009 toyota 4runner | 2007-2014 FJ cruiser | 2001-2007 sequoia | 2005-2022 tacoma [6 lug] | 2000-2006 tundra

power stop Z36976 carbon fiber ceramic pads
- power stop JBR1121SCR semi-coated rotors

$118 subtotal

not looking for a big brake kit that’s $$$ or requires 17” or larger wheels. If I ever do 35s, I’ll look into that along with rear disc brakes and the Tundra booster/MC upgrade.

 

Can't beat that price....unless you go with the JBR1121EVC rotors for $25.79 each..

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8923736&cc=3441741&pt=1896&jsn=415

 

Is everybody enjoying this brake upgrade? Any adjustments or regrets @crashnburn80 on your selections? I changed brake rotors and pads October of 2020 and went with power stop rotors and pads k37 z36 tow and haul kit I believe it was… I’ve been less than impressed with them since installing. Been getting vibrations while braking for the last couple months and I’m positive it’s warped rotors. I did the 60-0 break ins after install without completely stopping. Maybe I messed it up bc they’ve been horrible since install tbh.
I’d like to make a better selection this time without going full big brake kit and I’ll be changing rears as well

 

The Sports pads (same as TRD) are good, the Street pads are not.

I wouldn't go with cryo unless towing maybe. Most places won't turn a slotted rotor, so if you get grooves in the rotor then the rotor needs to be replaced negating the longer life expectancy advantages of the cryo. I wouldn't spend money on a BBK again either, the performance for the cost wasn't worth it in my opinion, even on a modified boosted truck.

I plan to repeat this exact setup on my 1st Gen when I get around to replacing the front brakes.

 

I tow and haul a 16 ft trailer loaded about 4500 lbs max about 2 times per month on average

 

Could be worth it in that case.

 

The power stops I put on about 40,000 miles ago were z36 tow and haul kit with carbon fiber and ceramic. Rotors came drilled and slotted. I’m definitely going with trd pads this time. Which Toyota rotors did you end up recommending if stuck with oem? The Tacoma or 4 runner? here is the exact kit I installed October 2020

 

I can't comment on how the pads compare. The TRD/ST Sports do tend to put off some dust. Drilled rotors are not an upgrade. You are removing material from the rotor that reduces the thermal mass and introducing stress points that can lead to cracking. No tow rotor should be stock size and drilled. The StopTech rotors have increased internal vein count over stock, giving improved cooling over stock, resulting in lower braking temps.

For rotor size I stayed stock. I would not recommend the larger 4runner brakes unless also willing to do the master cylinder upgrade, since those brakes require the 4runner calipers with larger fluid capacity needs.

 

Yeah these brakes have been horrible for my truck. Now I know the pads are about toast so I’m replacing whole system again once and for all hopefully. They advertise it as tow and haul kit and it comes with drilled and slotted. I honestly should’ve known better

 

I’m going to just go back 100% oem rotors with Trd pads. Definitely don’t wanna switch MC. Love everything about my truck besides the damn brakes lol appreciate all your knowledge @crashnburn80 lights tires and brakes have all been what I’ve followed in my build for the most part besides I went 255/80/17 Toyo OC AT3 x 2 sets now

 

The TRD pads fit the stock Tacoma caliper? I thought that was for the larger 4Runner brake upgrade.

Also, the OEM rotors are not coated. I’m replacing mine now and will go with OEM style coated ones so they don’t rust so quickly

 

The TRD pads fit the stock Tacoma caliper, yes. That is what is covered in the original post in this thread.

 

Are you sure about that? (I was tempted to ask if you were kidding...)

I don't change the air in my tires or my blinker fluid, either. And I've never greased my muffler bearing(s).

People that over maintain their vehicles are as destructive to them as people that don't do any maintenance.

 

Yes I am absolutely sure about that. If you look at a bottle of brake fluid it specs wet vs dry boiling point. Wet spec is 3.7% water absorption which is a 2 year absorption rate. You can see in the chart below that 3.7% absorption causes serious decay of brake fluid boiling temp which will cause far more rapid brake fade. If you haven't changed the fluid in 4 years and are at 7.4% absorption with a DOT3 fluid, you are not that much better off than just running water in your brake system instead of brake fluid. It will still obviously work fine around town and for light duty, but the braking system capacity has been massively depleted, over 4 years DOT3 has lost over 50% braking capacity.

 

Ah sorry somehow I thought this thread was about the 4Runner brake swap. So what is the stop tech equivalent part number since the TRD pads are discontinued? Didn’t see that on pg.1. Is it 309?

 

StopTech Part#: 309-09760
https://www.stage3motorsports.com/309-09760-16-22-tacoma-stoptech-sport-disc-brake-pad-set.html

 

Sorry, not buying the crazy. Your graph doesn't impress me because it doesn't mirror real world experience. But you do you and I'll just continue on driving my bought used vehicles for hundreds of thousands of miles with far less maintenance, and less replacement parts, and selling them running (and stopping) just fine when I've put a couple hundred thousand on them. I read these threads with all you OCD people, thinking you are doing something useful, wasting time and money, and all I can do is shake my head and wonder. But it's okay if it makes you happy and satisfies the fear of vehicle failure. I just think it's a waste and with fifty years of actively and intentionally testing my perspective what could I possibly know? You wouldn't believe the recommendations I've had and ignored and never had a breakdown that left me walking... ever. I don't buy used cars that have stacks of maintenance records or modifications because that paperwork tells me the vehicles are going to be lemons. I know there are people that do, and I've watched them carefully and listened to them swearing when their car breaks again and again as they throw parts at it and wonder why it's so untrustworthy. I've gone a hundred thousand miles on a serp belt that a tech advised be replaced, a hundred thousand on original brakes, never, ever changed brake fluid and don't believe capability reduces 50% over the life of the car much less in a couple of years. People are different... be well.

 

ignorance is bliss