Page 1 of 25 12311 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 241

Thread: Bolt-On Tundra Brake Upgrade for 96-02 4Runners

  1. #1

    Bolt-On Tundra Brake Upgrade for 96-02 4Runners

    Well, i've bitten the bullet and i'm going to do a full brake upgrade.

    Up front, i've ordered Tundra Brembo Rotors (plain face) from tirerack for $112 shipped.

    I'll match up some OEM front pads from trdparts4u (about $60) along with some remanufactured calipers (199mm) from autozone ($140). the rear 4runner shoes (1999) and tundra 199mm front pads (for a 2001) were $109.61 online, shipped from strap22 on yotatech (phil at toyotapartsales.com).

    2001 Tundra Remanufactured Calipers from Autozone (two)
    2001 Tundra Brembo Rotors from Tirerack (two)
    2001 Tundra OEM Pads (199mm) from a dealer (one set)
    2001 Tundra Brake Pad Retaining Pins from a dealer (4)

    In the rear, I'm just putting OEM shoes from trdparts4u and a sonoran steel stainless brake line. while I have the drums off, I'll have them resurfaced and clean everything up. the rears are the original set of shoes, and still have lots of material left, but that's really due to the lack of function for quite some time. I've had some pretty bad brake performance fade and i just discovered that i have a leaky rear seal on the passenger side. I'll swap both seals out while i'm doing the brakes.

    Update 1:

    I called the local advance. they can get them in tomorrow morning, they will price match autozone at $69.99 each + $50 core (instead of $85 each), and i can return them to any store for the core credit. price is $153.28 after core refund.


    The total upgrade price will be $375 for everything except the stainless lines, including all shipping, core refunds, etc. That's OEM reman calipers w/ a lifetime warranty, new rear OEM shoes, new front OEM pads, and brembo blank rotors - a serious upgrade over stock runner stuff.

    The total to just get new front rotors, pads, & rear shoes would be about $225. For $150 upgrade on the calipers, I get better, non-fading, more powerful brakes. Not bad at all.

    I'll have the calipers tomorrow, then the shoes/pads, and rotors hopefully by monday. I'll probably pull the fronts and swap calipers this weekend, bleed them out, and swap suspension stuff around, then next week all I'll have to do is put on the rotors and pads and go for a drive.

    Update 2:

    ok, done...

    I have pics, but i left the camera at home, so they'll have to get uploaded later. i started at about 8:30 or so last night and got into bed at 5 after 1. ufff. that's hard on an old man.

    I pulled the calipers and took some good comparison shots. The calipers on my 99 limited were stamped S13WM and the 199mm tundra calipers are S12WE. They are the exact same dimensions in every aspect except for the inner "void" where the pads rest. On the tundra caliper, that void is about 1/4" larger to accomodate the wider rotor. The rotors are halla beefy and really nice. The tundra pads have a lot more surface area for friction as well. I didn't even have to trim the dust shield since they are the same size as my OEM calipers. I got everything on and had a BIG problem - contact between the wheels and calipers! I had to clearance the highspots on the caliper closest to the hub, but that was really nothing w/ a variable speed grinder and a 80-grip paper wheel. I touched up the clearanced spots w/ some flat black just to protect it from rust. I bled everything out, then moved to the rears.... uff. The driver side was OK, and I just cleaned and adjusted it. On the passenger side - it was a different story. I not only had a rear seal leak that has coated everything in 75W90, but i also have a rear caliper piston dust boot that's squirting fluid. that means that i have a leak at that piston! arrrrgh! I guess I'll be changing the rears soon too. Now i'm glad that i didn't get those $$$$ shoes from the dealer. Anyway, I got things cleaned up to decent shape and put everything back together and went for a drive.

    WOW!

    Very nice! my front rotors were in bad shape and grooved, but the stopping power has NEVER been this good, even w/ OEM 4runner pads and stock resurfaced rotors. I'd say that over new stock stuff, the stopping power has increased at least 20% and probably more like 30%. over the performance that i was having w/ my crappy rotors - well over 50% increase. before i had to put the pedal to the floor to stop with any force at all. now all I have to do is tap it to about 30-40% and it will stop on a dime!

    overall, I was going to have to replace pads and rotors anyway, so the extra $200 for new calipers that allowed me to upgrade to thicker rotors and pads w/ more surface area was WELL SPENT!


    Update 3:

    pics...


























    Update 4:

    (from Fingers' old thread)...

    4.7" pads = D812 = 199mm calipers = 2000~early 2003.
    5.3" pads = D976 = 231mm calipers = late 2003~present plus front brake TSB changes.







    In my opinion, the BEST pads are OEM - no doubt. the other "raybestos" type long-life pads typically last quite a while, but they chew up your rotors.

    Why do you think midas can do a lifetime brake pad job for $50 or something crazy cheap? it's cause you have to go in and have your rotors resurfaced ever 6 months (paying about $25-$40 each) just to keep them from vibrating and squealing. that takes life out of the rotors and the pads actually wear them down more cause the pads are extremely hard compared to the soft rotors that they sell. You'll weat out a set of rotors in a couple years, then to keep your "lifetime brakes" in good standing, you have to get rotors from them at about $250 a set. Then the snowball continues down that hill...

    There's a reason for hard metal rotors and soft non-metallic pads. My OEM rotors have lasted 154k miles and still have life. It's on it's second set of pads with plenty of life. there's not may aftermarket brands you could say that about...
    -andy

  2. #2

    Re: Bolt-On Tundra Brake Upgrade for 96-02 4Runners

    Nice writeup on this Andy!

    I've had my 199mm calipers sitting in my garage for most of the winter so I'm looking forward to putting them on when the snow is finally gone. Hope to get some pics up myself soon.
    - Jamie<br /><br />1996 SR5 4Runner 4X4 Auto, Deckplate Mod,&nbsp; Hayden Tranny Cooler,&nbsp; Amsoil Air Filter, OME 881/906 N86C/N91SC Lift - SOLD, but still miss it!<br /><br />2005 Silverado 2500HD Duramax Diesel 4WD

  3. #3

    Re: Bolt-On Tundra Brake Upgrade for 96-02 4Runners

    next time i need new pads, im doing this.

    id love to convert the rear to discs too. . .
    -Lee
    2013 BMW X6 50i

  4. #4

    Re: Bolt-On Tundra Brake Upgrade for 96-02 4Runners

    converting the rears to discs is a pain in the butt. you'd be better off getting a D44 from an Isuzu Rodeo that already has discs w/ the tiny little built-in drum for an e-brake. you can get them w/ matching toyota ratios if you stay 4.88 or below as well. you'll need an ARB when you do that though to go in the D44.
    -andy

  5. #5

    Re: Bolt-On Tundra Brake Upgrade for 96-02 4Runners

    i didnt know those came with d44's...

    yeah i wouldnt do the conversion in reality, not because as you said its a PITA, but because for all that effort and money id rather sas or go longtravel or something.

    i dont think ill ever sas my truck... namely because its an 01 with all the fancy computers that hate solid axles and love stupid ABS.

    ill sas an older runner someday....

    ok, now back on topic..... :biggrinking:
    -Lee
    2013 BMW X6 50i

  6. #6

    Re: Bolt-On Tundra Brake Upgrade for 96-02 4Runners

    I decided long ago to not bother with the rear disc conversion because all the options left you hanging as far as being able to have any sort of decent e-brake. I do need to redo my drums this summer too because both the parking brake bellcranks are toast.
    - Jamie<br /><br />1996 SR5 4Runner 4X4 Auto, Deckplate Mod,&nbsp; Hayden Tranny Cooler,&nbsp; Amsoil Air Filter, OME 881/906 N86C/N91SC Lift - SOLD, but still miss it!<br /><br />2005 Silverado 2500HD Duramax Diesel 4WD

  7. #7

    Re: Bolt-On Tundra Brake Upgrade for 96-02 4Runners

    agreed. a swap is better than a conversion due to the e-brake alone. (should be less than $1500 if you get an ARB locker, a junk-yard axle, gears, and new springs - if you do the work yourself)
    -andy

  8. #8

    Re: Bolt-On Tundra Brake Upgrade for 96-02 4Runners

    my e-brake hasn't worked in 4 months... i really need to get on that :confused2:
    -Lee
    2013 BMW X6 50i

  9. #9

    Re: Bolt-On Tundra Brake Upgrade for 96-02 4Runners

    Chances are good your bellcranks are toast too.

    That's definately the weak link on these darn drums.
    - Jamie<br /><br />1996 SR5 4Runner 4X4 Auto, Deckplate Mod,&nbsp; Hayden Tranny Cooler,&nbsp; Amsoil Air Filter, OME 881/906 N86C/N91SC Lift - SOLD, but still miss it!<br /><br />2005 Silverado 2500HD Duramax Diesel 4WD

  10. #10

    Re: Bolt-On Tundra Brake Upgrade for 96-02 4Runners

    i loosened it when i did the rear drums, and never tightened it again, thats all... i really should get on that.
    -Lee
    2013 BMW X6 50i

Page 1 of 25 12311 ... LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •