Need (Yes, actually need) Better Brake Pads

If you don't have an 09 and up TRD OR with the electronic brake booster your brakes will most likely always feel MEH. My TRD Sport has always been on the soft side compared to my 3rd gen TRD OR. However, due to rust issues on the old calipers, I recently upgraded the brakes on it. I've used several sets of Raybesto's Element 3 Hybrid pads and really like them. After bedded in properly they grab better than the factory set. They're a blend of ceramic and semi-metallic. Very low dusting as well after bed in process. I combined them with their Element 3 coated rotors.



Part numbers for reference

 

Literally just bought TRD brake pads from my toyota delership yesterday. What do you mean theyre discontinued

 

https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota__/TRD-Performance-Brake-Pads/69528902/PTR0989111.html

So, Toyota doesn't sell them anymore.. Seem to have discontinued them a couple years ago. Some dealerships had remaining stock they were selling.
Then... All of a sudden some months ago, pads showed up on the market again. Same appearance and boxes and all.. But, not from Toyota. Some dealers bought them. And people are having them fall apart.. Pads release from the backing, bad cracking, etc. There is speculation they're fakes.
I'm just repeating what I read in various threads... And, you can see in the toyota parts link, they say unavailable.

 

I would be one of those people that bought them recently and had the pad separate from the backing. No way they are real OEM pads.

First question would be do you have an Off-Road? If so, when the dealer flushed the brakes did the flush the ABS system. Maybe its just my dealer but I actually had to tell them to do that.

Other than that I would start replacing with replacing the rear brakes and getting them properly adjusted (the auto adjusters just don't work) and then put that guys setup from Raybestos on there. I did the exact same thing on mine and it will absolutely lock up the tires.

 

bought them from a dealer probably less than a year ago. Still running them. May be a different part number

 

I'm a Toyota tech, I've yet to see a tacoma with a drum adjusted properly unless it was recently serviced. They will turn if wildly out yes, but its more of a byproduct of design. They will not self adjust to a proper point, on any model. I'm saying this from experience with customers and my own trucks.

 

I work on forklifts, which only have drum brakes on the front, no rear brakes, everything is bigger. If they don't get manually adjusted, the wheel cylinder pistons will pop out, now you have no brakes, contaminated shoes, and a big oily mess.

 

Can't argue with that... I don't do this shit everyday.

 

Just to add here...

I took my truck to the dealer and got a flush of the ABS system done (I don't have the tool to trigger it) and the service advisor recommended I get the tech to adjust the rear brakes. The difference the rear adjustment made was pretty huge.

 

2005 TRD OR 4x4. Never have had good brakes. Had everything changed (3 years ago), upsized calipers, new slotted rotors, new drums, shoes, wheel cylinders, and master cylinder. Mechanic that bled the brakes said my M/C must be bad for the brakes to perform so poorly with all new parts. Replaced M/C again, no difference. Bought the Upgrade Tundra M/C, all the adapters, brake lines, etc., took to a different mechanic last month. He said, before I charge you $600 to install all the new parts, come drive the truck, I just adjusted the rear drums. Unbelievable!!!! Truck never stopped this well since I bought it. Night and Day difference!
The upgrade front disks actually work fantastic when they are getting a little help from the drums!!

 

I did did all my brake work.. New rotors, pads, and adjusted the rear drums. Was a little better.
Then I did a techstream brake bleed, which pushes fluid through all the abs valves and other components.. It was better. And finally after a couple weeks of driving... after breaking in. They're great! I can finally lock up the wheels when I slam on the brakes.

Each thing made a small difference. And apparently breaking in, is real, heh. I couldn't lock up the brakes, even after the initial several 50mph to 5mph new pad procedure. But I used them really hard for about a week.. Every time I stopped I'd basically speed up, get close to the stop sign or whatever, then hit them hard. Finally one day they locked up.. And every time I stomp them since then, I can get them to lock up. (well, it chirps then activates the ABS).