2nd Gen DIY Big Brake KIt -OEM parts- Part #'s provided (INSTALLED)

@iwashmycar Glad you decided to finish reading the first post

 

Haha. yeah. I didnt delete it quick enough!

 

I just picked up new MK-6 wheels 17x9s, Toyo 285x75-17 and GX470 rotors and calipers. Here's some photos !!!! Calipers fit fine....

 

Hi again... I'm looking now as well into an affordable rear caliper upgrade and I've come across some ideas that may work. I'm thinking of using stock 18mm Four runner rotors and 19.5mm Ford Explorer calipers with parking brake lever incorporated. Now for the fun part. As a machinist, I will make a 1.5mm brake pad shim, caliper bracket and any adapter/extension needed to attach the parking brake cable. Here's a stock pic of the Explorer calipers. Any thoughts on this ?

 

Nice write up I will be doing this soon!!! Thank you for the info!!!

 

why not just use the SOS 5th gen 4runner kit?

 

5th Gen 4 runner setup is still working out great. I did have to rebuild one caliper due to crap seals in the reman caliper but aside from that working great.

I would suggest to anyone getting the remans to lubricate the pistons and pins. I am guessing some lack of that on the calipers led to the need of a rebuild. Only did passenger side but will get to the drivers side soon enough.

Works well on 285's and hope its decent on a 35 setup next year. its not a crazy upgrade but you will get 10-15% improvement at least based on my tests. Also I am running stock pads, nothing fancy there. I did go with new lines, slotted stoptech rotors and a upgraded race brake fluid.

 

I sourced all of mine off eBay. Snagged a pair of calipers and completely rebuilt them for cheaper than remans. Sanded and painted all fancy lol
Stop tech slotted rotors and EBD Green pads with SS lines. Worth it man

 

yah if you can score a pair its super easy to rebuild. Next I will prob toss in some EBC pads in there. its nice with the stock pads so looking forward for some more improvement, especially now that the rig is a lot heavier.

 

Because 1, I don’t have that much cash and 2 I want a better parking brake grip to hold me on steep hills. Plus I can machine/fab all necessary parts and not have a million little pieces inside the PB drum that can break, bind, rust.

 

Just a question for those of you that have done either the 4th or 5th gen T4R brake upgrade. After doing alot of research and trying to decide on what rotors and pads I want to use I started to notice something. The pads are all the same between the 2nd gen Tacoma's and the 4th and 5th gen 4Runner's. So the only real increase is the caliper piston size and rotor size. So the question is, is this really a worthy brake upgrade for the money you spent? I am at a point where I am not sure if the upgrade is worth it when the pad size is still the same. Was hoping for a longer pad, even by 10mm would be good. And the fact that you will no longer be able to use 16's or any factory tacoma wheel kinda sucks. Not that that is a realbig deal, but I have 9 factory 16's and a set of 16x8 Konig Countersteer off-roads in the original bronze that I won't be able use anymore.

 

I notice the upgrade in braking power, plus no more warped rotors, which is the main reason I upgraded. Worth it if you plan to replace your front brakes in my opinion. I’m also lifted so any increase in braking is worth it for me lol

 

I noticed the same when shopping for parts. eBay had a 15% off code the other day, so I went ahead and ordered everything. The main issue I see with my truck is that the rotors seem to warp easily. I think the larger and thicker rotors will help minimize warpage due to better heat dissipation. The larger pistoned calipers should also increase braking power. I agree that since the pad size is the same, you wont get the same benefit as a BBK, but a proper BBK is more money. I'm going to try this route and see how it goes.

 

Thank you for the feed back. I was just hesitant to spend this amount of money on this and then realize it did nothing for my braking power and still wish I had just waited to get a BBK or do a rear disc conversion. What brake calipers, 4th or 5th gen, and what pads and rotors did you use?

I don't seem to warp my rotors as much as I just don't have any bite and they start to fade if I use them and not the engine to keep me from going to fast coming down hills in the mountains with my camper. I try to use my gears as much as possible but sometimes they are some long hills and I use the gears and the brakes. And the main thing that I think is killing my brakes is just plain old dirt, mud and sand. I just took my wheels off to inspect my brakes tonight cause it felt and sounded like I was trying to stop with rocks in my brakes rolling around or I was metal to metal and had a stuck caliper. Nope, just dirt and sand packed into every cooling fin and I think coming out of the crossdrilled holes. That makes two sets of crossdrilled rotors that I have done that too. At least this set was not concrete yet and I could get them cleaned out. Next set will not be crossed drilled. Want to try the DBA 4000 T3 slotted but really debating on going to just Brembo blanks. Depending on what some more research yields. Thank you for the response and boost on!

 

What i used is on the previous page, post 213
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ovided-installed.443656/page-11#post-19124216

 

Well nearly 2 years passed (and approx 22k miles) and brakes were/are still better than the day I bought it. No more warped rotor issues since.

Just sold the truck last week..it was time. I’ll miss her...

Glad to see others benefiting from this thread, as I have benefited from the efforts of SO many other members here over the years.

Thank you TW.

 

Thanks for all the legwork on the OP and good luck with your next venture! The mod worked like a champ and was well worth the money while already having to change the front wheel bearing/hubs.

 

What about all the different brands on calipers?

Is getting a used set on eBay and rebuilding better than buying a remanufactored pair from Rockauto? Best brands - ACDelco, Raybestos, Beck/Arnley, A-1 CARDONE, Centric? Any of those to avoid?

Also do these calipers come assembled or do I also need to buy pistons/rebuild kit?

 

If you

If you buy reman no, they’re assembled.
There’s no difference between buying remans or buying used and rebuilding. I rebuilt used calipers on eBay. Piece of mind maybe?
I came out a little cheaper than remans, but it took time and effort too. So it evens out honestly

 

Subbed seeing as a second set of OEM rotors are warped and I have a sticky caliper that squeaks in reverse every morning...