brakes overheating

I did a trail a few weeks ago and few parts were pretty steep downhill. I put it in 4lo and used low gear, but still had to use the brakes. After a while I could smell my brakes burning up. I've heard people talk about slotted rotors and a bunch of other stuff with different vehicles. Is there anything that can be done to the Taco to slow it down from overheating so fast?

 

bump?

 

Slotted rotors, ebc pads, go slower.

 

lol yes I tried going slower. I was crawling for most of it. But is it common for guys with Tacoma's with slot the rotors? I just haven't seen it that much.

 

..

 

It isn't real common, but they were developed to keep brakes cooler, so if you have the dough, give it a shot.

 

Change your brake fluid to some Super Blue DOT4 or Motul RB600 DOT4. Get better pads, some quality slotted rotors. DBAUSA.com, Stoptech.com. Possibly even upgrade the lines if you are really going for the whole deal. Goodwrich or Stoptech lines.

 

Slots only help by allowing gasses (vaporized water from rain/trail water), and water out fom under the pads. It does nothing for cooling. Cross-drilling, and the vents which are already on your rotors do very little cooling during low speed manuvers.
Quality brake fluid will help avoid boiling of the fluid, and subsequent loss of braking. Brake line upgrades will only help with pedal feel. Neither will help in cooling.

 

Hmm interesting. I never knew that. I just upgraded my brake lines to extended because of my lift. But I have an 09, so I thought I could only use DOT3?

 

If the new style rotor has a better internal fin/vent design than OEM, it will still help dissipate a little better than OEM, even in slow speeds. We talking a small amount though. Just remember that you get what you pay for. Skytower is correct completely with what he said though. And, slots won't cool as well as cross-drilled, but if you get drilled, you better get a nice brand name set. The cheapies tend fo crack way to soon after inital install.

Don't know why a 09+ can't use a DOT 4 fluid? If there is a definitive reason, then please share. Otherwise, DOT 4 will have a higher boiling point which will aid in keeping the brakes more constant in the higher heats than DOT 3. Effectively it takes more heat to get to brake fade. The nicer brands have designed their DOT 4 fo work specifically with ABS, so if that is what you are referring to, then that should ease the mind.

 

Low Range and First Gear should have you rolling downhill real slow... did you really need to brake at all, other than to stop? I have done a lot of steep downhill four wheeling and using A-TRAC and DAC (brake created locker-like traction and Downhill Assist Control) and have not smelled the brakes or had them fade on me... lucky perhaps?

Here is DAC explained by Toyota:

"The DAC system assists engine braking to help improve directional control during descent on steep or slippery surfaces. When in 4WD low range and with DAC activated, if any one wheel accelerates beyond or below a two-to-four MPH low-speed setting, the DAC system will control the brakes to help ensure the vehicle continues in a straight position when going down a hill. The DAC system is automatically de-activated if the driver depresses the brake pedal, accelerator pedal, or the DAC button.

The active wheel speed sensors enable the operation of the DAC system by determining current road conditions. The system designed to determine current driver operation through an accelerator pedal angle sensor, master cylinder pressure sensor, and the setting of the L4 position switch. DAC next determines its target vehicle speed of two-to-four MPH based on road surface and vehicle driving conditions. When the vehicle accelerates during descent, allowing the vehicle speed to exceed the predetermined speed, DAC is activated. The DAC system will calculate the required brake hydraulic pressure for each wheel, allowing each individual wheel to meet the target vehicle speed."

 

Yeah I've heard of DAC & A-TRAC but I have neither. It was just steep and I had to pick my lines while going down hill