Why did Toyota put this here?

My SxS doesn't even have a parking brake... Don't need a parking brake when you're stuck in the mud or parked at a bar.

 

TRD Off Road is really marketed to weekend warriors. They don’t need drums as badly as the TRD PROfessional drivers. Let’s face it, Pro drivers are the crème-de-la-crème of Taco drivers and need drums badly to do the amazing things they do.

 

I thought it was boobs

 

Also works great in the wishy washer fluid. Then it’s an on demand aroma.

 

Won't freeze either, brilliant idea

 

Oh simple, make sure you buy the TRD off road. One time my driveway had some water on it and i had to lock out my rear diff.

 

I believe that’s called “hydro-locking”. It’s an advanced technique. Bravo!

 

You think drum brakes are superior to disk brakes off-road? A disc brake might squeal initially as slush impacts against the pad and disc, but it will quickly wipe itself clean. Drum brake shoes ride farther away from their contact surface on the drum, allowing debris to be caught between them. Not to mention on a long winding downhill road towing on a 20-foot sloop with drums your pedal will noticeably get progressively softer and less effective as brake fluid boiles into gas at the system’s wheel cylinders, as the drum brakes will retain huge amounts of heat. Converting to disc brakes solves the issue as the rotors, exposed to the air, more rapidly dump the excess heat. Drum brakes don't do anything better than disc brakes aside from being cheaper to the manufacturer and not throwing a ton of brake dust onto wheels.

 

Or, Get a manual transmission and go down hills without using the brakes.

 

TEWS

OK, the OP is back. Back to the title of this thread.

I asked the question because I had removed the Exhaust Pipe Stopper and the heat shield to run some cable, the heat shield was returned to its original position. The heat shields under the vehicle are stiff enough they will not sag as some posited – no worries there. They may be relocated by sticks, twigs, mud, snow, etc. but they will not sag on their own.

As for the Exhaust Pipe Stopper, I will keep it off the vehicle as I will be installing skid plates and it will no longer be necessary. What I was really looking for in my question was a good story on how Toyota added them because... something happened? It would just be nice to know how Toyota came to the conclusion it was needed. A lot of movement would be required before contact and thus containment would occur. Damage to that cross over exhaust pipe would be severe.

Other things in the immediate area also not necessary after skid plate installation is the stock bikini transfer case skid plate - it will be removed. If I reroute the exhaust away from the transfer case I will remove the heat shield that protects the front drive shaft U-Joint. Don't get those TEWS started on those tubular angle braces between the frame rails and the transmission support cross member that are removed upon installation of any skid plates.

I will remove from this vehicle all items I find to be superfluous or no longer serving their original purpose or better yet replaced with something that does a superior job. They are small things, but as the TEWS so often mention they all add up to some glorious engineering monument. Considering how much weight I will be adding any reduction helps.

TEWS - Toyota Engineers Worshipers Society

 

Who told you drums were better off-road?

 

Alanis morrisette

 

What cable were you running?

 

Ask your Mom

 

When I was installing my Y pipe, that little “exhaust pipe stopper” made it impossible to unbolt the stock mid pipe and simply take it off. I needed to remove that piece in order to do so. Essentially the name of the part says it all.

Do I think it would be a deterrent for a cat thief? Not really, it wouldn’t be that much of a set back.

 

She didn’t know either

 

Common knowledge.

 

I’d have drums on the front if they were offered. Way better on the trails. Not everyone goes as hard as me, so they are fine with discs.

 

My 2001 Land Cruiser has disc brakes in the back. The most off road worthy vehicle Toyota ever made.

Tacoma is a budget vehicle that gets budget parts.

 

A 4/0 cable from the engine compartment to rear bumper to tap into where ever I want/need power. In the distant future it may supply power to a rear winch. Only immediate taps are to the refrigerator (finished that today) behind the drivers seat and soon to the air compressor in the fender well.