Brakes

I'm curious what other Tacoma owners(1st generation) trust the most for reliable brakes, rotors, and calipers. I'm trying to get the best bang for my buck so to speak.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

reliability is dependent on how you drive. you can buy auto-store brakes, drive normally, and get many miles out of them. my stock lasted over 40k (IIRC). If you drive it like you stole it then you shorten the life-span of any brake. If you want "top-quality" so-to-speak there are a quite a few (Powerstop, EBC, Brembo, etc)

 

I am currently running Brembo blank rotors with Duralast Gold pads. Before was Duralast Gold rotors with Duralast Gold pads. Honestly, I cannot tell the difference. So next rotor will be the Duralast cause its easy and in town.

 

I was at the junkyard today and happened across some front pads with prolly 75% life left. I picked them up for $5. Mine are shot so I think I'll put these in and run them until I need more. They're super easy to change

 

You can always do the 13wl tundra brake upgrade

 

What is a 13wl tundra brake upgrade?

 

Putting tundra calipers on the tacoma. Bigger calipers and rotors. However, only certain rims work.

 

It's so pretty

 

Are people who do the Tundra brake mod hauling or towing alot? I use ceramic pads and my Tacoma stops on a dime...in fact people who drive my truck for the first time usually throw themselfs to the dash when stopping for the first time

 

I did it because with all the extra weight from front and rear bumpers made the brake not as great.

 

^

usually people complain about the brakes but they've added hundreds of pounds. so the Tundra upgrade is worth it for stopping power with less risk of warpage on the rotors

 

So which years of tundra will interchange?

 

Not only that but with 33s or larger and any extra weight, the brake fade is downright scary with stock components

 

I believe 2001 - 2006, there are two sizes for the brakes, if you can get the bigger set otherwise the smaller set are still better than tacoma's setup.

Toyota upsized the rotors on the Tundra because they were having the same issue, underpowered brakes leading to lots of warpage.

 

In my book, Wagner and Raybestos are the best bang for the buck on brake components...did a four wheel brake job with rotors on my daughter Honda in June, four wheel brake job on the Wrangler JK last month, with rotors, and a front brake job on the Subaru WRX. The drilled and slotted CENTRIX rotors lasted a WEEK before warping on the WRX, replaced by drop shipped Wagner direct from Federal Mogul.

Howard

 

I did the Tundra brake upgrade with S13WL calipers. Bought them from Advance Auto for under 100ea after core charge. I bought genuine Toyota pads and rotors though because the pads were non-camfered and the OEM rotors are generally higher quality than aftermarket ones.
There are numerous threads about the swap on forums; I used that I linked to from the 'DIY links' sticky thread. That thread convinced me to purchase said OEM pads/rotors and to use the S13WL calipers (not the smaller S13WE). If you're dropping the coin on Tundra brakes, you should also do stainless lines too (the increased caliper size can cause the rubber lines to flex and give the brakes a 'spongy' feel, supposedly). The lines from Wheeler's installed easily and removes the need to drill any banjo bolts. I don't have the receipts in front of me so I can't give you a cost, but it wasn't much more than a standard complete brake job.
I am very happy with the brakes. 1.5 years and 20k miles later they still feel great. The pads are holding up very well and show very little wear. I worry less about stopping power with the added weight of an ARB bumper, winch, bed rack, and rear bumper. Definitely paint the calipers if you get them new though. Mine are covered in surface rust now and I wish I had done it.

 

That's why I would recommend the Napa Eclipse calipers, they're pre-coated. They're black though so they aren't flashy.

 

That's a good idea. I'll paint mine black in the future.

 

I am doing a lift and 285's this week so I ordered the EBC Stage III kit to upgrade brakes.

 

I bought a set of brake shoes and they did not come with the pin for the tensioning device mechanism. They came with the parking brake post, but not the other? Has anyone purchased a set in which they are already installed? I don't mind installing them myself, but I at least need them to be included with the brake shoes.