Tundra Brakes on '03 Tacoma

You're right. There's many schools of thought. I'm pretty sure I followed this procedure without issues: http://4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/bleedingbrakes/

Rear driver
Rear pass
Front pass
Front driver
LSPV

Always good to have a friend so you can actually watch all air out of the system. I think we did the rotation twice because I had so much air after brake lines and caliper change.

 

Yeah, I think I need to find a 2nd person to help. I also couldn’t find any clear hose or a clear container, I ended up using some vacuum hose I had, an old oil container and running the line higher than the bleed valve (solo method) so I was pretty blind on all accounts. I figured pumping extra fluid would do the trick, but I don’t think it did haha. I’ll source some clear hose and helper for my next go.

 

I have a gatorade bottle with a piece of clear hose stuck through a hole in the cap and a piece of wire wrapped around the neck to hang the bottle near the bleeder screws. Cost me the price of a gatorade to rig that up, haha

 

I’ll have to go dumpster diving and see if I can get the discount version

 

Just having one person to apply and remove their foot from the brake pedal upon your saying so (and only when you say) is gonna really help out.

After performing this job back in 2015, my pedal feel has never felt any different than original and I'm still using the stock brake booster. I used braided stainless lines down to 4Runner hard lines into S13WE calipers. Still haven't needed to replace pads or rotors since...

 

Had mine since 2016 and 30,000 miles and just inspected the pads last month during the tire rotation. They're fat as ever!

 

01+ master cylinder already has a larger piston. soft pedal feel was more for the previous years. i have a tundra master cylinder and booster on my 95. I can lock up 35" tires now if wanted to.

 

70,000 to 80,000 on mine and I've only recently seen where mine have noticable wear. This upgrade is pretty much essential. I could never go back to OE brakes now, even on a different 1st Gen. I'd have to make the change ASAP.

 

I bled the living shit out of my brakes chasing this, tried all the variations of areas to bleed first and last. My pedal is still not as firm as it used to be, but if i pump it once itll lock tires on pavement no problem. I have taken the truck out probably 20 times since the install and havent experienced any brake fade or overheating, even when fully loaded with gear and the fam. I am wondering if I maybe didnt drill out the banjo enough and have a slightly restricted flow of fluid to the caliper. I have looked over the stock lines and havent found any bulging or signs of damage. I have an 03 with stock brakes and the pedal feel is much different than the 02 with the 13WLs. Pads and rotors still look new but I have only put on maybe 10k miles or so.

 

My 02 is non abs, forgot to mention that.

 

I might try that as well, its about time for me to bleed them.

 

Just throwing this out there original post and a few others show concern for drilling out the banjo and I get it.

The best solution if you don’t want to go the banjo route is to use hardlines and extended brake lines with steering knuckle brake line mount bracket.




NOTE: Gusseted steering knuckle/spindles will require modification to the mount bracket to get it to fit.

Looks like most of the parts (not extended brake lines) can be sourced from 3rd gen 4runners, do your research to confirm.

extended brake lines:
https://www.lceperformance.com/Stainless-Brake-Lines-Tacoma-To-Tundra-Upgrade-3-p/1055142.htm

Or you can check out @turbodb write up and Brake line package, I went this route.



https://adventuretaco.com/store/tacoma-to-tundra-hard-brake-line-kit/

 

That’s an interesting solution, although my Wheeler’s brake lines have been perfect. I guess not everybody has the same experience though

 

Definitely can confirm that the hard lines I used are 4Runner parts.

 

Got this information from @Dusty T. a while back and it checks out. All of these Toyota parts are currently on my truck. Literally a bolt-on mod.

"Part numbers as follows:
Brake hoses:
(1) 47314-35330
(1) 47316-35250

Brackets:
(1) 47351-35270
(1) 47352-35310

Clips:
(4) 90468-A0007

These parts were less than $50 from my local dealer. If you have problems with those part numbers, these are brake hardlines and brackets for a 2002 4Runner.

Conversely, you can order the same kit, plus brake hoses from LCE Performance. I mimicked their kit minus the hoses......
http://www.lceperformance.com/Stainless-Brake-Line-Kit-Tacom-To-Tundra-Upgrade-p/1055114.htm

Cheers!"

Edit:
Here is the thread that started his journey and got me so interested in the upgrade.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/banjo-fitting-seal-tundra-brake-upgrade.334072/

 

Medic,
Could you confirm what calipers you are running? 13WE or 13WL? I just spoke wit LCE & they say their kit is specifically designed for the "WE" and will not work for the "WL" caliper. I have sourced the components you have listed above and all I need now are the proper hoses. Please help.

 

You definitely want to be running the WL calipers - a lot more surface area than the WE's. It's one of the reasons to not get the LCE kit. Price being the other.

Hoses/flex lines are the tough part, since 4Runner and Tundra hoses are too short (and so are aftermarket stainless steel lines for those trucks) which is part of why I've put together the kit that I linked above.

 

No link .....

 

Hydraulics shops will make you lines already with hard line ends on them and while most calipers have surfaces machined for banjo bolts, not all do. By measuring the length you need to get a little slack at full droop you can get a coated stainless line bypassing all the bs with the junction of the hard line and soft line at the frame and still work with any caliper regardless whether it's machined for banjo bolts.


These were $69 shipped from G and J Aircraft in Ontario, SoCal.

To break it down a little for MC bore,

All 96-00 had 1" with the dual diaphragm booster which seem to not have as much positive feedback on pedal feel. 01+ w/o ABS also had the 1" and the dual diaphragm booster. 01+ w/ ABS had 13/16" and the single diaphragm booster which seems to have more positive feedback on pedal feel.

 

S13WEs are what I have on my rig. 199mm rotors. The 13WL calipers are definitely larger, and the rotors are 231mm in diameter. I've found that my brakes operate just fine, but some folks prefer the stronger setup in the 13WLs.