4th Gen Brake Job and questions

[S p a r k y]

Its brake job time! I know my passenger rear is dragging slighly, froze, almost froze, it's time to fix it.

Has any 4th gen guys used Brakeperformance.com? Prices on rotors and pads seem to be very close if not better than getting from an Auto zone/advance. And that is with dimpled and slotted rotors. Pretty good deal I think.

Calipers? Napa calipers seem to have good reviews, plus come with a black zinc coating to stop rust.

Here is where I am kinda stuck, maybe because i am tight with $.

I had my front rotors turned at roughly 73K when i bought the 4runner, and they seem to be running just fine still @ 136k now. However I haven't removed and inspected like I should lately, I just know they are getting down close. Front Calipers from what I know are doing fine, can't feel anything restricting etc, but with 136k on them, I do wonder how long till one sticks.

To the rear, never been turned from what i know. I can feel above and below where pad rides, there is a slight lip, so i know i will either have to turn them or replace the rotors in rear. I do know as stated earlier, the passenger rear caliper needs to be replaced.

I feel most people will say, spend the $ get all new everything and be done. Drive it for years with no worries.

Others may say, leave the calipers alone, except for the sticking one, turn rears, get new pads and drive.

I guess brakes are one of the most important things on a vehicle, especially when families and little ones are involved.

 

[fdbyrne]

Not knowing your financial situation I won't even try to tell you what you should do. Only you know what you can afford. I can tell you what I did though, just to give you more information.

One of my calipers was frozen pretty good. All of them looked like they had had a hard life. Most of my pistons had rust on the outside of them and I figured that none of them had much useful life left. I decided to address them all at the same time.

Toyota sells rebuild kits for the calipers. It's cheap. They also sell replacement pistons. They are not quite as cheap. I like doing things myself so I got it in my head that I was going to rebuild all of my calipers. Then I went to RockAuto and figured out quickly that I could get rebuilt calipers for right about what I was going to pay for the parts I needed to rebuild all of my calipers. If I had to only replace one or two pistons, I would have rebuilt them. Since I had to replace them all I went ahead and bought the rebuilt calipers.

Since I had a coupon for RockAuto, I went ahead and threw in new pads all the way around and new rotors for up front. I didn't figure that the rear rotors needed it yet. The rotors were cheap and so were the pads so I figured I might as well replace them while I was in there.

In the end I paid about $300 for all of the hardware. Maybe a little more or a little less, I really can't remember. It took me a few hours to swap everything out because I went ahead and flushed and filled my brake fluid while I was in there.

Here I am, a few weeks after doing everything, and I'm happy that I went ahead and did it all at once. I am cheap (not broke, just cheap) and it would have really pissed me off to have had to do the same thing to a different caliper in a few months or get everything put together and still have a wobble.

 

[ebg18t]

Mark - brakeperformance.com is ok to deal with. Their rotor blanks are average quality. As mentioned by the other poster coupons w/ rock auto or autozone might be better.

If the front calipers are not sticking just let them be. Replace the sticking rear caliper and the others as needed. Unfortunately you never know when one will stick, but unless it is sticking don't waste the $. When you go to replace the front rotors do an inspection of the calipers.

Rear rotors are cheap. Just replace them along with new pads. But be careful pulling apart the rear parking brake as some have had trouble reassembling. On the front rotors since they were already turned, just replace them this time.

Do a full fluid flush and keep driving.

 

[S p a r k y]

Then I went to RockAuto and figured out quickly that I could get rebuilt calipers for right about what I was going to pay for the parts I needed to rebuild all of my calipers. If I had to only replace one or two pistons, I would have rebuilt them. Since I had to replace them all I went ahead and bought the rebuilt calipers.

Since I had a coupon for RockAuto, I went ahead and threw in new pads all the way around and new rotors for up front. I didn't figure that the rear rotors needed it yet. The rotors were cheap and so were the pads so I figured I might as well replace them while I was in there.

Thanks for info! Did you send back your core caliper? Debating on getting caliper from Rock or Napa. I do like the prices on rock for rotors and pads. Did you go with the OE replacement rotor? Are they Zinc coated for now rust? or just a replacement and will rust some?

About this coupon, know where anymore are?

Mark - brakeperformance.com is ok to deal with. Their rotor blanks are average quality. As mentioned by the other poster coupons w/ rock auto or autozone might be better.

Thanks! As I have been typing this, I have been thinking of how to do this without being stuck in the middle and having to go to a store etc. So I think I may get all four refurbed calipers and have on hand. I know I have to replace one, if I need more they are in reach. I can return if not needed!

Thanks.

I figure the OE Rock Auto non slotted/dimpled rotors will be fine. The slotted and drilled are Zinced and will look cooler. But i'll probably save some coin and do OE

 

[gm350reratliff]

I've had good luck with brakeperformance.com stuff in the past and last year bought new rotors and pads (slotted and dimpled) from them last year for my 4th gen. They stopped great with little brake dust but the rotors ended up warping this year anyway. I'm going to bite the bullet and have the rotors turned on the vehicle a hopefully get rid of this warped feeling for more than a year.

The problem with brakeperformance.com's warranty is that you have to send your rotors back to them for inspection to determine if you get new rotors. Your vehicle could be down for who knows how long during this process. That doesn't work for me.

I'm cheap as well so if it's going to be just as expensive to turn them on the vehicle as replacing the rotors, then I'll just buy new rotors, again.

 

[nasdamus]

I just re-did my front brakes and calipers this weekend. The passenger side caliper was frozen (again). I typically get everything off rockauto, unless i'm in a pinch. For the calipers, i went with reman's from advance. I used the coupon online for in-store pickup. I had went through them in case i ever have another issue in the future, which i did this past weekend. I bought the calipers a little over 2.5 years ago. I was able to pop the bad one off and run it up to advance and they swapped it out for me. I actually took the driver side one in as well to be safe (it had a little bit of rust and was sticky).

I replaced the front rotors and pads with this set off amazon (it was 10% a week ago): Amazon.com: Power Stop K137 Front Ceramic Brake Pad and Cross Drilled/Slotted Combo Rotor One-Click Brake Kit: Automotive

I have to say, it's really worked out well. I'm amazed at how much these bite. Time will tell how they last but as of now these are the best i've put on in the past 8 years.

I also swapped out the brake lines with the SS ones. I did it a couple days after putting on the brakes (wanted to feel the difference) and it was well worth it to do so.

 

[ben550]

I just re-did my front brakes and calipers this weekend. The passenger side caliper was frozen (again). I typically get everything off rockauto, unless i'm in a pinch. For the calipers, i went with reman's from advance. I used the coupon online for in-store pickup. I had went through them in case i ever have another issue in the future, which i did this past weekend. I bought the calipers a little over 2.5 years ago. I was able to pop the bad one off and run it up to advance and they swapped it out for me. I actually took the driver side one in as well to be safe (it had a little bit of rust and was sticky).

I replaced the front rotors and pads with this set off amazon (it was 10% a week ago): Amazon.com: Power Stop K137 Front Ceramic Brake Pad and Cross Drilled/Slotted Combo Rotor One-Click Brake Kit: Automotive

I have to say, it's really worked out well. I'm amazed at how much these bite. Time will tell how they last but as of now these are the best i've put on in the past 8 years.

I also swapped out the brake lines with the SS ones. I did it a couple days after putting on the brakes (wanted to feel the difference) and it was well worth it to do so.

What was the difference in between the OEM lines and the SS lines you installed? Did it give you firmer brakes?

 

[nasdamus]

I believe it did. The new rotors/pads gave it a big bite and stopping power, the upgraded lines gave it a firmer pedal feel. I'm honestly amazed how much better the truck brakes now. It's always been a challenge going between it and my wife's car (mainly that i felt like i could really stop quick). Her car probably weighs half as much though. Even she was impressed at the handling now.