Just bought a 2000 SR5 4x4, auto trans and the rotors are super shaky at high speeds and downhill braking. Know that this is a problem with a lot of 4Runners/Tacomas. Need to replace the rotors and was wondering if anyone had a recommendation that won't break the bank that will help eliminate this from happening again too fast. Also, any drum adjustments for the rears that I could do to help relieve the fronts. Thanks!
3rd Gen Rotor Recommendation
- Thread starter bramuno
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wake_rider
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Such a common issue with our 3rd gens. Easy fix!
You can go two directions with this. Look into the company "Powerstop" for rotors, but I don't prefer their brake pads. They are very affordable, though, and I think their casting is pretty comparable to OEM, which is hard to find with most aftermarket parts. Brembo would also be a great rotor, but the cost can sometimes get out of control with them. So just do your research. For pads, I really think it's hard to beat the OEM pads. They have great bite with little fade, and are nice and quiet.
All of that is assuming that you want to stay stock. But, most people with a 3rd gen will tell you that their front calipers and rotors leave a lot to be desired and tend to wear out early because they are seemingly undersized. Depending on which wheels you have, a Tundra Brake Upgrade is a really good idea. You need to either have the 16" 5-stars (which fit the larger calipers and rotors without clearance issues) or the 16" split spokes (which will require a slight amount of milling on the inside of the rim to clear the calipers). Most agree that this is the one of the, if not THE best upgrade you can do to a 3rd gen. You can also get a complete kit to do it (the calipers, all the hardware, pads, and rotors) through Powerstop, which is what I did. Honestly, I'm not a fan of the pads, though. I'd happily trade them out for OEM pads. They're too noisy and take a LOT of heat to get up to operating temperature. Once they're hot though they do have phenomenal grab, but they take a lot of constant braking to get up to heat.
So, you have some options but most would say that spending a little extra will save you quite a bit in the long run because the larger calipers and significantly thicker rotors that come with the Tundra kit will have much longer life span than what comes stock on our trucks.
As for the rear drums, as long as your auto-adjusters and bell crank are not frozen up, they should adjust every time you use the e-brake. Though it's not a bad idea to jack up the back and see what kind of drag you're getting, if any, when the wheels are spun. It might be time to take a look at your brake shoes to see if they have any meat left, and to make sure that they are not drenched in gear oil, which is a common issue with our trucks when we get leaky axel seals.
