need more braking

I've got a 2021 sr5 disc front, drums rear. I need more breaking power when towing my 2,500 freedom with brakes. They don't seem to hold up going down these Colorado passes. I was wondering if I should covert the drums to disc. Is this a viable option and will it help my braking?

 

Do you have drilled and slotted rotors on the front? Drilled and slotted rotors might provide better heat dissipation. Faster cooling should lead to less brake fade. I am happy with PowerStop but I don’t tow anything heavy.

$182 Power Stop Brake Kit For 2007-2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2005-2022 Toyota Tacoma 6 Lug, 2003-2009 4Runner 12.56" Rotors - Front Carbon-Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads & Drilled Slotted Rotors Replacement, K137

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Stop-K...1373683b9b3c19261b6bdeb&qid=1750782543&sr=8-3

 

Welcome to TW..

 

Yes, drilled and slotted. The first trip after they were installed, they worked fine. After that they started to shimmy and fade.

 

Have you tried downshifting and utilizing engine braking? Or just cooking your brakes only?

 

I’m a Colorado native and learned to drive in the mountains. The first thing I was taught was to utilize the engine for braking (downshifting). For most the passes this works but not all.

 

Don't use drilled rotors especially for heavy use case. Holes decrease thermal mass and originally was good for old pads which released gases, this is not happening much for modern pads. Also holes are just stress points for integrity of the rotor.

If you think you need more braking power you can go with bigger size rotors or more powerful master cylinder. Search for tacoma factory big brake upgrade, I think some 4runners has bigger brakes and you can use all Toyota stuff for this. Or just choose aftermarket big brake upgrade but not with holes. Slots are fine. Rear brakes has small impact, focus on the front first.

 

Drum to disc isn’t going to help. If you want to improve actual stopping power, upgrade to the brakes off of a 4Runner and go with 17” wheels. 03-09 13WH brakes will fit in Tacoma 17’s, 10-24 14WA brakes won’t work in most Tacoma wheels, and need a 4Runner wheel most of the time.

 

Are you confident your trailer brakes are working? My little teardrop is only 1800 pounds but there’s no question when those brakes come on it can slow me to a stop without even using my truck brakes on level, and I never feel overwhelmed going down passes. I usually put it in third on steep grades though so maybe that’s the biggest thing.

 

Yep. Go Slow and pull over when you have 5+ vehicles behind you.

Have you correctly adjusted the trailer brakes and what controller are you using?

What is failing, "doesn't seem to hold going down"?

 

Towing my '05 Jayco 10y (1800+lbs) with my Redarc trailer brake controller is seamless and not using the Tacoma brakes much.

Yep, S3 for the auto and good to go!

 

You might try the power brake d-line kit

https://mainlineoverland.com/products/powerbrake-d-line-rotor-pad-kit

 

No, I'm not confident my trailer brakes are working. I have prodigy P2 and have gone through the manual's instructions many times. I'm just not sure if they're fully working. The camper is a fleetwood freedom.

 

I adjust my controller to slow the truck when applied. If your trailer has brakes then those brakes stop the trailer at a minimum. I towed at the maximum 6,500lb with no problems. The Redarc controller has a great reputation on this forum.

 

start from this, don't need to touch Tacoma brakes until then

 

There is your first step, double check mounting, etc https://youtu.be/MOIHZnLp2cE
https://www.tekonsha.com/product/90885_trailer-brake-control-proportional#product-faq-content

Do the trailer brakes lock up when you move the slider all the way over?

absolutely

 

Don't bother with the drum conversion. Front brakes do most of the work. Some pads with bite and better rotors will help a bunch. Changing the brake fluid to a dot 3/4 with a higher boiling point will help too.

 

This! It's amazing most people overlook this detail, bleed your brakes! I've tracked several cars over the years, the people who don't bleed their brakes, even in a track situation, is incredible. I always had good luck with Motul brake fluids. I learned of Motul racing motorcycles. Watched a guy pissing on his rear caliper trying to get it cooled during a difficult enduro early in my career.

 

Definitely start with making sure the trailer brakes work properly.

 

There were about 50 cars stuck behind two separate 20-ish foot wood and sheet metal box campers on 285 yesterday. They just kept passing the mandatory pull over if you have 5 cars behind zones… so annoying.