231mm / 199mm Tundra Brake Upgrade ABS Function Survey

[Yoter]

It has been reported by Sonoran Steel HERE and users HERE on the forum, that the 13WL 231mm TBU causes ABS malfunction. Specifically, the ABS system will cause the brakes to lock-up rather than pulsate. Some have reported this happening even during low speed non-emergency braking and causing the vehicle to slide dangerously.

There must be hundreds, if not thousands of 3rd Gen owners who have upgraded to 13WL 231mm / 13WE 199mm calipers. I am hoping to compile information from people running these calipers who either have experienced these ABS problems or have not experienced any problems, to better understand if there actually is an issue.

If you answer this poll please describe the problems you are having with a post below.

Feel free to suggest changes to this poll.

 

[Myrunr2010]

I hope you get a lot of responses to this. There seems to be plenty of 231 folks that have had issues with it, but I haven't seen too many responses from the folks with 199s.

 

[absalom]

Great idea for a thread. I'll certainly consider revising my lift guide if the evidence points one way or another!

 

[Yoter]

I hope you get a lot of responses to this. There seems to be plenty of 231 folks that have had issues with it, but I haven't seen too many responses from the folks with 199s.

I'm hoping this will work and be able to paint a clear picture of what to expect in terms of ABS post TBU.

Great idea for a thread. I'll certainly consider revising my lift guide if the evidence points one way or another!

Thanks! It will be interesting to see what the majority of people end up reporting, there are so many people running these brakes that we should be able to get an accurate picture.

 

[Jaysen4runner]

I have 231mm, I have no problem with my abs sytem.

 

[Road Bull]

Did the ABS system change throughout the 3rd gen years? That might be worth pondering in how it relates to a 231 TBU. Of course it could be that there was no appreciable change throughout the years, but I wonder if the 231 TBU might effect some years more than others.

I have had the 231 installed on my 2002 for about a month now. I have yet to notice any adverse effects to ABS, as of yet. What would be a good, controlled way to test this? I have had to make a few quick stops, but I didn't notice anything noteworthy.

 

[xpeppyx]

I would think that 2001/2002's would have more issues since they had EBD, Brake Assist, A-Trac and VSC added. Those add a lot more factors into the ABS equation.

 

[Cree]

00 with 231's. I won't say it doesn't function, because it does on loose surfaces. But I've also locked them up tight twice on pavement, both times under emergency braking. Haven't noticed any light usage differences.

 

[Myrunr2010]

I would think that 2001/2002's would have more issues since they had EBD, Brake Assist, A-Trac and VSC added. Those add a lot more factors into the ABS equation.

I believe the master cylinder on the 01/02 was different than the rest of the years.

 

[gmv4k]

1998 with 199mm (13we).

I haven't been able to lock them up if even if I tried.

 

[JayRolla]

I've felt the ABS issue. If I try to create the situation I can't. My wife multiple times in snow had them lock up where abs seems to be working on half the brakes and you just slide. I've also experienced this issue.

Another issue I noticed is light braking and hitting a small bump will activate the ABS and half tires lock causing a major slide on dry solid asphalt.

 

[Toyotayoda]

I have 231mm, I have no problem with my abs sytem.

I've heard a bunch about The tundra brakes on many 4runner forums. I have the original brakes on mine and they work fantastic. Is the upgrade needed for larger tire/wheel upgrades? Been thinking of getting the FJ 17"s for mine, when the stars align and I can justify it.

 

[LittleCaesar]

If one tows or descends mountains frequently, I'd do the Tundra brake upgrade in a skinny minute. If not, use the stock brakes and buy good pads and rotors.

Being that I used to tow frequently with my 4runner, I installed the 231s, pulled the ABS fuse, and have been fine for years.

 

[St Runner]

97 with 231's. ABS is disables and it works great. Couldn't stand the ABS, it was like a back seat driver who panicked too easily and had control of my brakes. I disabled the ABS before I put on the 231's and they did not make it any more prone to locking up than the standard brakes.

 

[MN4runnerman]

Could [MENTION=1795]sschaefer3[/MENTION] chime in and give us a rundown of how he tested these issues and in what situations it was done? The description on his site just tells us the issues I just want to know what he did to find out about the issue.

 

[rideexileex]

Despite a few gallons of bleeding the brakes, I still can't get a firm pedal, nor lock up the tires. Everything in the brake system has been replaced, less the booster and the ABS unit. My next step is to remove ABS entirely, and am considering a different type of MC. 2000 with 231's.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Try a gravity bleed first. If still no go then try with the engine running.

 

[MandAtaco]

I've got 231's on my 00 Limited, they work just like they did with the stock brakes.

With that said, the ABS on these trucks suck! Dirt road, coming into something you decide you need to slow down quickly for, you slam on the brakes and the ABS kicks in. Once it does, just hold on, it pretty much increases your brake distance by double, its just way to sensitive.

Same scenario but with the ABS disabled, I can control the stop without skidding. I always shut the ABS off now when offroad, its slid me into ravines a couple times now!

 

[dirtandvert]

'01 owner here. Purchased about six months ago and did the TBU upgrade ASAP so I can't compare it to stock as I had never engaged ABS prior. I do lots of driving on dirt roads in the mountains as well as the wet hills here in the Northwest so I've had lots of recent experience with ABS kicking in. Other than a bit sensitive, which seems to be common, I've had no issues.

 

[mckennar]

1998 w/231mm calipers. Had a near-miss in the rain a few days ago. I was going ~35mph around a left hand corner and had someone pull out of a side street to my right directly in my path at the last minute mid-corner. I jammed the brakes and, though I could hear and feel the ABS pump, I didn't have any directional control. It felt like my fronts were locked (TL;DR, they were).

So I released the pedal and, while threshold braking, steered around the guy... who, when he saw me, panicked and stopped mid-turn, blocking my lane and the oncoming lane with his crew cab GMC.

Prior to this, but after reading Sonoran's website on the issue, I went out and did a few test stops on pavement from 70 to 0 in a straight line and ABS was fine, no lockup front or rear. On dirt, ABS appears to work correctly as well. But for some reason, around this corner, in the first rain we'd had in about a month (greasy road), the fronts locked while the rears did not.

FWIW This is my 3rd 3rd gen and the first I've done the 231mm TBU on, and it's the first time I've had this happen.

I'm going to be looking out for this in the coming (winter) months, should we ever actually get snow up here. And I'll be testing this in the rain next time we get that, too.