Brake Upgrade: StopTech Rotors + TRD Performance Pads

That is very strange. Did you weigh your OEM rotor for comparison? Maybe your scale is off. Should be about a 1.6lb difference from OEM to StopTech Sports.

You got these part numbers, correct:


You can also measure the vein distance.
Measuring the outer edges of 2 adjacent veins:
OEM 26.9mm


StopTech 22.8mm

 

I haven't weighed my OE rotors yet, as they're still on the truck until I decide what to do. I thought the same thing about my scale possibly being off, but I have two other scales here at the shop that confirmed the weights.

Yes, I ordered and received those part numbers -

$202 126.44129CSL Brake Rotor

126.44129CSL and 126.44129CSR. However, while the box lists those exact numbers, along with a production date of 06/27/20, I noticed the rotors are stamped with '

$62 120.44129 Automotive Replacement Front Brake Rotor Fits Select 2003-2009 Toyota 4Runner, 2007-2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2005-2022 Toyota Tacoma

120.44129'. They are also made in China (are yours?), which is a bit disappointing but not necessarily a deal breaker.





My vanes are also closer in spacing than yours, but that could be because the vanes appear 'thinner' than yours, at least based on your photos.



My guess is production was shifted to China where corners are being cut... or there was a re-design.

Curious what you make of this.

 

The 120.44129 part number is the 'Premium' rotor series, it is the premium OEM replacement, the same weight as OEM and not the performance 'Sport' rotor. I didn't realize they used more veins on those, but as you point out the veins are thinner, hence your vein distance measurement being smaller and weight being the same as stock. It appears someone switched out the Sport rotors for the Premiums and possibly returned it thinking nobody would notice, or they were packaged incorrectly. You definitely did not get the part you bought though. More veins will cool better with more surface area, but they won't have the thermal capacity benefit. Regardless it is a lesser part than what you paid for.

All the StopTech rotors are made in China, even the BBK ones, with the exception of the advanced 2-piece directional Aero rotors.

 

I just got mine last week and they were maid in China too, with same production date. I did not notice what was stamped on them though. Hopefully they are not giving us less then we paid for. I was disappointed that with 37k on my taco the pistons were very rusted. I sprayed fluid film in them to protect a bit. Cleaned what I could. Lubed up rubbers and slid it together.

 

Hmm, I thought the slotted rotors were only available in the Sport (126.xxxxx) line though? These are obviously slotted, yet have the Ultra-Premium (120.xxxxx) part number!

It's as if the Sport rotors are simply Ultra-Premium rotors with slots and/or drilling added after the fact.

Interestingly, JasonLee's post #730 shows the same advertised weight for both the Sport and Ultra-Premium rotors.

 

Hmm, you are correct. I thought maybe one of the centric/power stop models might offer slotting on the Premium line, but that doesn't appear to be the case after checking their catalog. This smells like a cost cutting measure of using the Premium rotors, slotting them and selling them as the new Sports rather than using the unique casting to the Sport model.

Any chance you could pull a tire off and check for the part number stamp?

 

I will. Just not right now. My packages and dates are exactly the same.

 

It's been a few years since I purchased in bulk, but even the old Centric C-Tek rotors carried the 120 prefix. The premium rotors simply had the the black e-coat paint. Slots, holes, and cryo also carried the 120 stamp in the rotor.

 

Any findings?

 

I did this upgrade last year. Found my passenger side caliper had a frozen piston. I stupidly only replaced the frozen caliper and now I have what I think is another frozen piston- feels like the driver’s side now.

I’m hoping I’ll be able to use my rotors and pads when I replace BOTH calipers next weekend but am preparing to replace rotors and pads too. Ordered a pair of the cryo slotted rotors just in case I need them. I’ll post up pics and weights when they come in.

 

Sorry I’ll check I morning.

 

Here we go.

 

Looks like folks aren't getting what they paid for. That 120 part number is about half the price of the 126 part number. None of the common retailers show the 120 part as slotted though.

 

Thanks for taking the time to snap that pic, JMM7171.

Yea, based on all our findings, I'm thinking I'm gonna return these 'Sport' rotors and just order the Ultra Premium blank rotors (but with cryo treatment) at half the price.

I think we've discovered that the Sport rotors are nothing more than Ultra Premiums with slots and/or holes cut into them.

 

That is disappointing if that is the case, which it now appears to be. Be sure to measure the cooling fins again on the new ones, though I expect them to be the same.

 

I will inquire where I bought them. See if I can get money back or some explanation.

 

I agree with returning the rotors that you received as they are not what you paid for. I personally would not purchase again from a company that does the bait and switch like Stop Tech apparently did. It's your money though.

 

crashnburn80

always fantastic write ups

 

I’d bet they are not even aware of the change. If I hadn’t documented the weight and caliper measurements, it probably would have went completely unnoticed. Thanks to @matt2491 keen attention to detail and double checking my measurements and sharing his findings.

Unfortunately there are not many real performance options in the stock size rotor market. The StopTechs do still offer improved cooling over stock, just no longer greater thermal capacity, so I wouldn’t call it a bait and switch exactly. I’d bet this was a long coming change from APC’s buy out of the StopTech brand, looking for ways to cut cost and increase profit. Which sucks. Unfortunately it is still likely the best stock sized rotor available. DBA which also offers reengineered rotors doesn’t offer a Tacoma option, though they do for the larger rotor 4runners.

 

DBA makes the T2 and T3/4000 in the stock Tacoma flavor. I went with the T2 (part # DBA2716S) as I got a great deal on them at the time versus the T3. The T2s were a hair under 19lbs out of the box...which was a little disappointing as I'd seen that they were 21lbs. Maybe the T3 is heavier as they use a different alloy than the T2 but I can't say for sure.

I didn't measure the veins on the DBAs as the Kangaroo Paw design is quite different than straight or curved veins.

If the DBA 5000 series was available for 16" wheels I'd have been all over it!