231mm Tundra Brake Swap COMPLETE!

[CoMarc]

Add my name to the list of completed Big Tundra Brake caliper swap! My Brembo rotors came in earlier this week, picked up some calipers and pads from the local Napa warehouse, and I was off (with some Dot-3 Brake fluid and a couple new tools)! This swap was easier than I expected, and it only took a few hours to complete for a non-mechanically inclined person as myself. Of course, I also had my father-in-law who used to do this (changing and replacing brakes) as a living many, many years ago supervising me during the process. But even then it was a really easy job to do. The hardest part perhaps was getting the stuck brake line off without destroying it. I used tin-snips to cut away the dust shield that I didn't need, and the bigger calipers fit with tons of plenty space under the FJ Cruiser 17" rims.

And now onto the pictures!

Before:




Comparison - Tundra on Left, 4Runner on Right:



After:




You can kinda see the caliper behind the FJC rim:


Great upgrade! I can tell a bit of different with normal driving around so far, but that wasn't the reason for this upgrade. It'll be for stopping the truck AND camper coming down the Colorado Rockies, and I'll find out more about that next weekend or near the end of the month. Can't wait to feel the difference!

 

[Spish]

Nice! When its time for new front brakes I'm doing this mod. Let us know how they make the trip.

 

[kball]

Nice job! It seems the biggest problem people have doing this mod is ending up with a spongy feeling brake pedal. Did you have any problems with that? Any tips from your experienced father in law about the bleeding part?

 

[Duhockey]

Nice job! It seems the biggest problem people have doing this mod is ending up with a spongy feeling brake pedal. Did you have any problems with that? Any tips from your experienced father in law about the bleeding part?

yeah, I heard some had to bleed the brakes a quite a few times to get the brakes to operate normally

 

[zcruiser]

I'm thinking of doing my Tundra calipers in red for this exterior color...

Any opinions?

 

[CoMarc]

Hey guys,
I was worried about bleeding myself in the beginning from some of the feedback I had heard from other bosts, but the Bleeding of the brakes wasn't bad at all and quite easy! It took a few open/closes each side, don't get me wrong, but with 2 people (one on the brake pedal, and the other at the bleeder) it goes pretty quick. We bled both front brakes till no air was coming out, then took it out and started seating the brakes. It didn't take long and soon the brake pedel felt normal and my actual braking was great! I just got home from taking it too see what fireworks we can set off in this horrible downpour weather we have. I keep feeling a difference in braking power as I use them, and they just seem to get better and better.

 

[CoMarc]

Nice job! It seems the biggest problem people have doing this mod is ending up with a spongy feeling brake pedal. Did you have any problems with that? Any tips from your experienced father in law about the bleeding part?

As for tips on bleeding, two people is the quickest. Here's how we did the bleeding:

My father-in-law was at the brake pedal, I was at the brake caliper. Before doing the below two steps we would refill the brake master cylinder:

He pumped the brake (pressed and released multiple times till it felt stiff)
Then I would open the brake nozel-thing for a quick second and close it.
Repeat those two steps till no air comes out of the nozel. Do that for both sides and you're set. I also had an old glass jar I used to catch all the brake fluid.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the process, I'd be happy to offer any help I can! Below are some forum posts that have helped me in my research of this great mod:
Tundra Brakes Installed...
Tundra Brake Upgrade...

 

[CoMarc]

Hey everyone! Just a quick update on this brake job. I just drove the T4R towing a 1 ton + pop-up from Denver up to Yellowstone and back. Although the pop-up had some eventful problems due to a large metal shrapnel (that's another story), the new Tundra brakes out performed my expectations! If you ever tow anything with the Toyota 4Runner, this Tundra Brake swap is a MUST!

No shaking, no worries. It's still not going to stop your truck on a dime, but it definitely will stop it! I had to do a quick stop going downhill coming out of the park, and it stopped me quickly and easily. I'm so glad I put these on!

 

[LINY4Runner]

I'm thinking of doing my Tundra calipers in red for this exterior color...

Any opinions?

I have them done red on my truck, but you'd need more red to compliment it. I have the red lips on the wheels and the red and black TRD off road decal on the back to balance it out a little...





As for the spongy brake pedal after the swap, I've narrowed it down to my leaky rear axle seals. They'll get replaced with the locker, so once I rebuild my rear brakes, I'll get some more input on the spongy pedal feel...

 

[Mr. Leary]

yeah, I heard some had to bleed the brakes a quite a few times to get the brakes to operate normally

Yes. The pistons in the calipers are much larger, requiring lots of fluid, and lots of bleeding.

Those pice bring back memories...

 

[piperoo]

Where is the best writeup for doing this? Parts necessary? I am going to start buying the stuff to do this and hopefully get it done within the next few months...my front end shakes like crazy when I hit the brakes and am going down a hill. Maybe this will solve that. ?


Edit:

http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=54.0

http://www.yotatech.com/f2/tundra-brake-upgrade-pc-d-my-calipers-high-gloss-red-133294/

 

[bak3rme]

yea i'd love to do this only problem is its hard for me to get a hold of tundra parts

 

[LINY4Runner]

yea i'd love to do this only problem is its hard for me to get a hold of tundra parts

grab 'em up at any auto parts store :guitar2:

 

[Elton H]

my brakes work fine for me ? id do a tundra set up for the right price

 

[zcruiser]

grab 'em up at any auto parts store :guitar2:

Don't you have to pay a core charge? And don't they expect the same calipers back?

 

[Gibenstein]

Awesome! Out of curiosity how much did this set you back? Is everything still running around 500 bucks to get this completed?

 

[LINY4Runner]

Don't you have to pay a core charge? And don't they expect the same calipers back?

In a perfect world, yes...but if there's calipers in a box they'll never know the difference

 

[CoMarc]

Awesome! Out of curiosity how much did this set you back? Is everything still running around 500 bucks to get this completed?

I believe I paid roughly $500 with the core charges, but then received $110 back for returning my old 4Runner caliper cores to Napa where I bought the Tundra calipers. The final amount for everything was around $400-$450.

 

[LINY4Runner]

I believe I paid roughly $500 with the core charges, but then received $110 back for returning my old 4Runner caliper cores to Napa where I bought the Tundra calipers. The final amount for everything was around $400-$450.

I paid half that. :flipoff:
hehehe

 

[zcruiser]

I paid half that. :flipoff:
hehehe

Approx... $180 for rotors and $90 for loaded calipers.