My 2006 Tacoma brake upgrade (EDITED!!)

I was hoping you weren't too far into tearing it apart before you realized it was the wrong part. At least you got it all figured out. Looks awesome! I would highly recommend bench bleeding the MC if you haven't done so. After that, I used my motiv power bleeder to bleed off the whole system.

 

Thanks for the heads up... i learned a little about our brakes now but a little late! Nobody had the right parts in stock so I went this route. I blead the brakes and took it up and down my street last night when I finished and they feel way nice
Edit: I hope guys don't make the same mistake and get a double inverted 12mx1 by 10mx1 inverted coupler! I heard hoses and fitings here in Sacramento CA might have that stuff but I needed to finish last night and it was 6pm when I realized that

 

Hmmmmmmmmm.....

I’ve already done the 5th Gen T4R caliper/rotor/backing plate conversion on my truck. I noticed some improvement in braking performance but the pedal does still require a fair amount of pressure (and downward movement) before the braking starts. I was hoping the larger calipers would fix that issue as I’ve always hated how far the Tacoma pedal has to be pressed before the brakes are applied. And to top it all off, I had a hell of a time bleeding the system after the upgrade and it wasn’t until I installed speed bleeders on all four corners that I finally got the remaining air out of the lines. But now, you’ve got me wondering if upgrading the master and booster will give me what I was wanting out of the brake upgrade...

If I were to do this, what exactly do I need other than the Tundra/Sequoia master and booster @DG92071? I can’t weld, so extending the actuator rod would have to be done with a coupler and extension. Anything other than that and the computer for bleeding the ABS system (again)?

 

I'm positive the huge increase in braking performance is from the dual diaphragm Tundra brake booster.
Parts required pertaining to your question:
1. Brake booster actuating rod extension.
2. 2 Short brake lines in the previously mentioned size.

I'll eventually offer a kit for sale for this mod but right now I'm way too busy to get to it. The brake booster's actuating rod extension can be safely achieved in several different ways including from flat bar stock with 3 holes in it and be bent accordingly.

 

Before anyone goes and orders all the above parts, check your Taco MC line sizes. Don't be like me......on a related note, I have a full set of the above parts for sale, ready to install, if anyone wants to buy them.
After all the parts came in, I went to install everything, only to find that my 2011 4x4 Sport has M12 lines to start with.
That discovery, with the expectation and preparation for M10 lines, opened up a Pandora's box of headache. In the end, I just replaced the entire pair of lines between the MC and the ABS pump. There may have been a curse word or twenty, and possible projectile wrenches in the process.

Some tips from recent experience:
1. Check your line and fitting sizes before ordering parts. See above.
2. Make sure the check valve is included when you get the booster. If this is missing, you're either looking at spending $85 for a factory one (yes, you read that right: $85!), or will be on the hunt for a check valve out of a high-end German car at your local you-pick yard (I'm using a MBZ valve, but BMW uses the exact same manufacturer and part number).
3. Gently but firmly pull the low fluid sensor wires. You can splice and extension, but there is enough wire to stretch it.
4. Good luck finding a threaded rod coupler in stock at any brick-&-mortar. If you've got a welder, just weld the two pedal brackets together. It doesn't have to be pretty, just straight.

 

So I gotta say, this upgrade is the single biggest improvement I've had for my brakes.
I've done the T4R bbk upgrade, I've run Porterfield R4S compound since new, I've changed every part at or near the wheels. And it was the Tundra MC+booster that finally gave me brakes that act like they should. No more pumping the pedal every time I need to stop -- a hard habit to break, especially since I've been doing it for years.

Even before I had a shop bleed the ABS pump, I could feel an insane difference. My Taco literally felt like a completely different vehicle. After the shop bled the ABS pump, I can now actually slam my nose into the steering wheel on the first press, and I can engage my ABS pump for the first time. I shit you not, I didn't even know my ABS pump worked.

My setup, that finally works:
2012 Tundra MC+vac booster
2016 T4R calipers+rotors
Porterfield R4S compound front & rear
SS flex lines at wheels front & rear
ATE Typ-200 fluid
Stock ABS pump
Stock drum brakes (except Porterfield compound)

Now my 6,200# (empty) truck will not only stop, but stop like a damn race car. It only took 8 years to get there......

 

You’re killing me smalls...

I’ve been very satisfied with my 5th Gen T4R front calipers and rotors thus far, even on factory pads. I’ve never felt like I needed to pump my brakes to get them to engage and I’ve heard (and felt) the ABS kick on more than once... however, the amount of pedal travel required to engage the brakes has always disappointed me.

And even though I still need to replace my seized rear hard lines (have new lines, brackets and hardware sitting in my office right now) so I can finally get my stainless flex lines installed, I really don’t want to mess with the brakes anymore, especially after all the trouble I had bleeding the system last time. But... if this Tundra MC upgrade really can fix the “soft” pedal feel my 09 Sport has had since I bought it, I may have to start piecing together the parts and consider this upgrade.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I'll be doing my buddy's 2010 sport next week and will double check the fittings. I'll probably hunt for some m12 hardware just in case. They seem to be non-existent.

 

My (banned) friend made this post. While he's banned he's lurking.

ALWAYS use Loctite on caliper to knuckle bolts. Toyota does and you should to. Here's a pic he sent me

Destroyed the wheel too.




I'll install the Tundra stuff to mine too when I have the coin.

 

ALWAYS USE LOCTITE ON CALIPER TO KNUCKLE BOLTS.

This booster and master cylinder will work on all 2005-2020 Tacomas trucks that don't have ATRAC.

I'm really happy you finally got brakes that you like. I'm ecstatic with my Tacoma's brakes!

Thanks for that brother. There ain't no feeling like unintentionally doing donuts in your truck driving down the street! Thank God I wasn't driving fast yet and that the roads were wet!

 

I don't think it'll work with trd offroad trucks. They have electronic boosters and I believe the ABS module is built in the MC.

 

I looked at a 2016 Tacoma TRD Offroad and the booster looked the same but I didn't have much time to look at it because it was pouring rain at the time so I could have missed that it had electronics.

 

Wait a minute, I believe ATRAC monitors wheel speed and applies the brakes to any wheel that it thinks is slipping, so since there's only 2 brake lines on the master cylinder of a TRD Offroad how does that work? Is there electric motors with hydraulic pumps at each wheel or???

 

I could be mistaken but I'm pretty sure TRD OR has 4 lines to the MC. At least it does on my buddy's 2015.

 

This is the monstrosity that @chank is referring to. Believe it started showing up on some 2009+ TRD Off Road models.

 

Holy crap! The 2016 TRD Offroad that I looked at didn't look anything like that.

 

I can confirm that 2010 TRD sport models will have 1/4" hard lines with m12x1.0 inverted flare fittings going to the MC. I was able to get some custom hardware that will adapt to it. Also was able to get my hands on a pedal extension adapter so I didn't have to hack up the original mount.

 

Can I get the parts sources and part numbers please? Nice job on the parts hunt!

 

I second this!

 

Probably was a 2wd truck. Only 09+ TRD OR 4x4's get the much superior electric boosted master cylinder/abs/traction control all in one master cylinder. (and some very select few 05-08 trucks optioned with the rare VSC package)