Thoughts on brake maintenance?

It's time for me to replace the pads for the first time on my 21 taco. I've typically replaced the pads myself on my other cars. I'm debating with myself this time. We need to watch our budget and changing the pads myself is cheaper. But I also don't have tons of spare time. A local shop quoted me $280 (or was it $210?) to change pads and machine the rotors.

If I do it myself what pads do y'all like?

 

I went with PowerStop because I had a braking vibration on my OEM brakes. Got 15K miles on PowerStop and very happy.

$192 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/dp/B005FKS28C?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

If you've never gotten metal to metal the rotors don't need to be turned or replaced. I'm going to hit 250,000 miles next week and still have the factory rotors on my 2007. They have been turned and I'll need them replaced at around 300,000 miles for my next brake job.

I had a guy who did all of my work at reasonable prices. Last time he charged me $50 and I furnished the pads. Seems like I paid about $50 for them. He has retired now and I'm looking for another shop I can trust.

 

How many miles do you got on that 21?

 

Just under 60K.

 

I got 30k miles on power stop kit and so far so good

 

I haven't done that but there is a little bit of a drag when I break, as though part of the rotor is wider than the rest.

 

hardest part is taking the tire off, pick some Rock auto pads and be done with it in 20 minutes

 

4 piston calipers on the Tacoma, so no slides or anything to deal with.
Pad slap is extremely easy, but you need to be careful compressing the pistons.
$25 for quality pads, so if you're not getting any rotor pulsation you could get off cheap this round.
If you live in the rust belt, make sure to buy the hardware kit with new pins... Sometimes the ends get mushroomed during removal if they're stuck.

If you're going to do rotors too, I've had really good luck with this Raybestos Element3 kit on many different vehicles including Tacoma:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10479460&cc=3445493&pt=13824&jsn=478

 

I will add on, putting them back on. i am 79 and it is a pain in the ass, years ago i would have never thought twice.

 

I’ve machined these rotors. They will warp, it’s not worth the time or the money to machine these rotors. I’m saying this and in my case I did my own work, I wasn’t paying someone else, I would honestly feel cheated if I paid someone for it. You’ve got this Chris. Get on rockauto and get a kit and slap it together. These trucks are pretty easy to work on. Or you can get it from any other distributor. You’re going to come close to the $200 they’re quoting you, but you’re going to get 1. New rotors 2. Better quality parts than the economy shit they’re putting on 3. You’ll do a better job doing the work.

I charge $80 to do disc brakes on the front most cars, and on average a customers’ bill is around $370. Point is, they are going to be skimping on this. Definitely not worth it.

you’re going to need a 21mm for the lugs, 17mm for the caliper bolts, a 12mm for the brake line and a caliper compressor. That’s it.

 

I hear you brother... You got me by a decade or two and a half.. I did a rotation the other month ( due for another) and with E load 32"s... I felt it the next day. I drop my old 2nd gen Pelfreybuilt skid plate on every oil change too... a real PIA

 

That's good to know. I hate slides. Makes me think harder about doing them myself.

Awesome. Thanks for the detailed info. So you're saying if you were in my place you'd definitely also replace the rotors?

 

If your rotors aren't chewed up why wouldn't you just slap some $25 pads on? If time and $$ are an issue

 

I'm not positive they aren't warped a bit. But I've heard other people describing my symptoms (feeling some pulsing that slows down as the truck slows down when braking) that said they changed their pads and it went away. I haven't got lots of spare time, nor spare money. Just trying to figure out which I'd rather spend.

 

I was forced to slap pads on a chewed up rotor once, when I was away from my home, after a caliper piston got stuck.. drive several hundred miles before I replaced the rotor. I reused the pads and they were fine..

 

For me it was getting the tire back on. Somehow have to lift it to center the studs then put the lug nuts on.
I still do my oil changes and yes remove the skid plate. takes this old fart about 45 minutes to complete.
At my age if i attempted the rotors i would end up in a big "Goat Rope"
That's an old fart sane, LOL

 

replacing them would be ideal. I d rather reuse them than to cut them.

 

I have used Wagner pads for many years, Rock Auto has good prices.

 

Akebano, although I used EBC green on my GX recently.

If you can do it yourself, why not? Especially if you're short on cash and have experience doing it?

Can't imagine it taking more than an hour unless you're that pressed on time and can't spare it.