How Do You Feel About Your Brakes?

Hello Everyone,

How does everyone view the braking capabilities of the 3rd gen? What's your opinion?

Personally speaking, I really don't have the confidence that I'd like to have. I have that typical uneasiness and shuddering when i'm braking on uneven surfaces. The ABS hates it. I lost 7lbs of weight per corner with my new wheels, and I still surprisingly chirp my 255/75 AT tires going downhill with firm braking sometimes. Does that 2nd gen taco-to-tundra brake caliper swap also work on these 3rd gens since the brake components are the same? Does the taco community believe that stainless brake lines are a noticeable help? Are people swapping their pads?

Any help or insight would be a nice. Thank you.

 

I've found them to be great in my opinion. I'm coming from a big ol CrewMax Tundra though where you really had to push hard to get it to stop, even after I replaced my brakes at 85k. This Tacoma requires much less pressure, it was kind of weird driving it for the first time. It's the opposite of my Tundra, the gas pedal on that thing was super sensitive and required hardly any pressure to get going where the Tacoma's requires a lot more. It's kind of like driving in ECT mode all the time but even more sensitive. I think they changed it later on, but mine was an '09.

I have noticed though if I'm braking over a small bump the ABS loves to kick in and make some noise for that half second which didn't happen in my old truck. I pretty much just brake then stop braking while there's a bump, then apply them again since I go over one 2-4x a day getting on the highway by work because the road crew that expanded the onramp turn lane did a terrible job.

On even surfaces it's quite smooth. The highway offramp to by my house is fairly steep downhill and going from 70-0 is quite smooth and doesn't take a ton of pressure.

Not a lot of help, but I find it to be just fine for me. It's not a sports car, but it doesn't weigh the same as one either.

 

They've slowed and/or stopped me every time I've wanted to slow down and/or stop.

 

My TRD Offroad has extremely good brakes but they use a different assist than the standard truck.

 

the brakes are a lot better on the 16 than the 12, not as touchy.

 

Mine are great. No issues.

G.

 

Perfect. Feel a bit better than my 2011 I traded in.

 

I like them. Seem about right as far as sensitivity goes.

 

Has anyone noticed a little clicking noise when you first depress the brake pedal?

 

honestly they seem a bit weak feeling. When i am pushing the pedal with normal pressure coming to a stop it feels like its not gripping perfect and feels like it has tiny little slips going on unless i press harder but if i do that it is a more abrupt stop.

 

Yes, I notice that every now and then... I'm not sure if it's the brake switch or the pedal arm sticking to the rubber stop. !! Not a big deal, but have noticed it.

 

Evidence that you have more brake bite than tire grip. Which is what you want, and let the ABS do it's thing.

Only reason to upsize brakes is to give more surface to reduce/prevent overheating. This could come from many things, like towing, heavy grade driving, or a lousy driver. Even racers use the smallest components they can to provide adequate braking, less unsprung weight.

Have no idea about the 'community', but in my experience they are good for 2-3 things. 1) if the rubber lines are expanding under braking because they are soft and in need of replacement 2) if the vehicle is subject to road debris banging the lines, some level of extra protection is offered, 3) sometimes they can help overheating brakes to not boil the fluid as rapidly. Remember, they aren't really SS lines. They are a flexible tubing covered with an SS sheath.

Swapping pads to help solve certain problems can be a great way to improve braking. Just be sure the right pad to solve the specific problem is picked. Almost any performance pad will wear faster and create more dust. Just the compromise that comes with the territory.

On other marquees in a performance environment, I've done all these things. Upsized brakes, upgraded pads, added SS lines, added speed bleeders, changed rotor styles, upgraded proportioning valves to add more rear braking, etc.

In all, the single biggest improvements I found (for me in that environment) were pads with more initial bite, proper bedding in of new pads/rotors (which very few people ever do), reasonably fresh brake fluid that is well bled.

 

No complaints here on mine, but on my previous Silverado that was lifted and had huge wheels and tires on it once I replaced my lines with SS brake lines and bled the brakes it stoped has as good as my previous s2000 that stopped on a dime. Also you can adjust brake drums to have a little more resistant but shouldn't be needed as your truck is so new.

On another note, I don't mean the thread jack but has anyone experienced when you have to suddenly hit the brakes the nose of your truck dips down significantly. Never had it happen on previous cars/trucks wondering if it's my shocks since I have the SR5 with regular toyota shocks

 

I have that issue on my 2013. I took the wheel off to take a look and it looks like the pads have some play inside the caliper. I don't think it's a huge issue. Just more annoying than anything.

 

Much better than my 08 Taco! And it was a single cab.

 

It works just fine. It has Linear feel, smooth and predictable stops. I have no problems with it except the rear drums.

 

When I step on the brake peddle the truck stops. That's all I care about.

 

Brakes are predictable and linear, no problems at all.

 

Brakes seem good, better than in my '01 Taco, not as good as in my '12 4Runner (which has some kind of assist that makes it REALLY stop when you want it to.)

 

Soft springs for compliant ride.

Springs are the primary control for ride height, squat and dive (you're describing dive)

The shocks control the motion/reaction of the spring to make that smooth.