Yet another Tacoma brake upgrade to Tundra

Same setup I have.

 

you get the 13WL from napa?

 

I don't think Delta did (it's in his build thread), but I got my set from Napa. Everything else I went with Toyota OEM parts.

 

He got the Amazon kit, comes with everything except the brake lines

 

hello - just bought a 2001 Tacoma. Its my first Tacoma. I have mostly had jeeps up till now. The truck was just in the shop getting a timing belt. I asked them to check out the brakes that shudder and don't stop particularly well. They said I need:

Front brake caliper set left/right
Front brake pad set left/right
turn font rotors
turn rear brake drums
clean and adjust rear shoes
Inner and outer rear axle seals

Its $950 and mostly labor. Got me thinking... why not upgrade? Found this thread. Good stuff. My questions are:

1. does this upgrade really improve stopping power? I use my truck for work and hauling trailers with up to 3000lbs. If there is no major difference, I don't have much time these days with my new business and I might want to just get the work done with stock parts in the interest of time. Unless there is somebody in Denver on this forum I could pay to do it who's already done their tacoma.
2. I am upgrading to 17" soft 8 rims so I can use jeep take off BFG mud tires. 255/75R17's. I assume this will fit inside the 17 rims ok since it fits 16" rims
3. how much in parts does it cost to accomplish this upgrade?

Thanks!

 

If you routinely haul a trailer you will notice a difference. 255/75 are taller and .5" skinnier, you will definitely rub the frame at full turn (unless your rims are different backspace than stock). I do even with the lift.

If you are mechanically inclined this can be done in an afternoon, having a friend handy with beer makes it more enjoyable

 

I'm ordering all my parts for the brake upgrade on my truck. I see that people order the wheelers brake line kit. My question is, has anyone ever used the brake line kit from rock auto. They sell stainless braided lines also, yet they are $38 shipped. If any ones has used these lines with the tundra calipers.

Brake lines for reference

Centric (950.44510) Brake Line Kit

https://www.amazon.com/Centric-950-44510-Brake-Line-Kit/dp/B003K3NBRS

 

I looked a week or so ago for someone else and I couldn't find the Amazon kit anymore

 

I can only find it on eBay now.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Front-Brake-1...-2006-SEQUOIA-TUNDRA-/272213381030?nav=SEARCH

 

Ah, I didn't look there

 

Fuck! The price went up like $30

 

ok.... I am about ready to do this upgrade. I need the extra braking power for trailer towing. I've asked some shops and they won't do it for insurance reasons since its not equipment that was intended to go on a tacoma, but rather a tundra...

ebay kit with 13WL calipers, pads, rotors $312 and I guess I can send in my cores for a $80 refund.
wheeler brake lines $72.50 +ship

Is there anything else I need to order? Toyota brake fluid? Should I replace the fluid completely? Truck has 165k on it and who knows what brake work has been done. The guy was not much for maintenance I am finding...

I did brake line replacement on my jeep YEARS ago and honestly don't remember what all was involved in bleeding them. Has anybody done a step by step Gen 1 bleeding post/tutorial? I was reading something in another post about 5 places to bleed not just the 4 corners...etc. pressure bleeder vs not. etc etc. I just want to make sure I do this right. I am driving my kids around in this Tacoma.

Brakes make me nervous... I am "mechanically inclined" so to speak, but have not done much work on cars. I am looking for the best and most comprehensive step by step instructions to guide me. Would this work (see post #3)?: Thanks

 

here is some bleeding info that looks helpful

 

@bluebruin that's the link I posted up on the first page I also followed it to a tee from what I can remember (I did the upgrade a few years ago). Went with Napa calipers, Toyota pads/rotors and Wheeler's extended brake lines.

This job practically consists of replacing old parts with new. The only thing you really need to "modify" are the dust shields. They need to be trimmed to clear the larger calipers and bent back (at least that's what I did) to clear the rotors.

As far as bleeding the brakes go, I did all 5 locations and did a gravity bleed. Took a while but worked great for me. Just try to find the sequence for our trucks (most cars start with the farthest from the master cylinder to the closest). This is not always true so look it up and start bleeding.

Oh and since you're finding out that the previous owner wasn't keeping up on maintenance, I say go ahead and replace as much brake fluid as you can. Siphon out the old brake fluid from the master cylinder, fill with new fluid then start bleeding. Nothing like looking at your brake master cylinder reservoir and seeing clear, clean brake fluid.

 

sounds good. I suppose, if I can't get them bleed well enough and end up with the dreaded soft pedal, I can take it into a shop and have them re-bleed them right if I can't get it to work completely. the shop is only about 1 mile from my house.... I could make it there on less than perfect brakes I guess.

so, if I am going to do this, I might as well do the whole shebang. Front tundra upgrade, rear drums/shoes, and axles seals/bearings. fun fun.
I am looking on Amazon, but don't see many great choices for replacing the rear drums. my local shop wants to turn them, for $110 in labor... so, I figure I might as well put that money towards just replacing them since I can't turn them. Does anybody have a good source for some good drums that fit and work well?

And then there are the seals/bearings. I have a press so I could do the bearings *I think*. What do you think about this kit? Sounds like you definitely wanted the updated design of the seals to prevent future leaks.
http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/toyo...ra-ultimate-rear-wheel-bearing-kit-w-abs.html

thanks to all for the input and advice.

 

oh, and what do you think of replacing the shoes vs. re-using mine? is this something that is likely worn out if the drums need to be turned? My local shop only had put on the estimate to "clean" the shoes.

 

If you aren't replacing the shoes, why would you want to put on new drums?

 

to save money on replacing things that don't need to be replaced? the shop said the shoes only needed to be cleaned. just wondering. guess its probably not worth it if I will have it all torn apart. sorry, I am not much of a mechanic. I am just trying to figure this out as I go.

 

Generally, the drums don't need turning or replacing before the brake shoes wear out. I was just curious why the shop wanted to turn them in the first place. Do you have high mileage on your truck? Like more than 200K? Rear brakes usually last a really long time unless they are ruined by leaking axle seals.

 

don't know. they just said they need to be turned and shoes cleaned. yes, passenger side seal is bad and they said needs to be replaced. have not noticed a bunch of gear oil, but will check under there better tomorrow. I only have 165k miles. I am wondering if maybe I'll do the front brakes only to start, then see how it is. The reason I was thinking do it all, is if I am buying and replacing the brake fluid, maybe I don't want to do it in 2 stages since I would have to replace and bleed again later? Or, can I somehow replace the rear later and keep the brake fluid. i read I need 5 12oz bottles, and that adds up at $12-15 a bottle for toyota (since it has the right additives etc?) to be honest, doing seals, bearings, rear brakes, and front brakes at once is a bit much. I don't have that much time and money so maybe its better to do it in 2 stages and eat the cost of the fluid. Unless you can pinch off the lines and avoid doing the brake fluid again on the rear. I think I saw that somewhere when reading in here.