5th Gen Calipers

[ExpeditionBill]

Just replaced my front calipers and rotors with 5th gen with the parts you originally posted up and they are working great. Had to bend the dust shield a bit to get it to fit since it was a little bit bigger.

Thanks

 

[Slowgoat]

Who refurb'ed your 4th gen???? Centric? I'd blame 7 months to shit refurb not the caliper.... Don't most calipers last 10 years before some us see these problems? Spoke with mechanic, he says he gets about 1 4runner a year with a seized caliper... its not good, but other acura's he usually sees 10 times more. I think a lot of these second time seizing has to be something the refurb company is missing. My mechanic gave me the name of what he claims to be the OEM/OE maker for calipers for toyota. He said Advics. Is the who toyota gets their parts from. checking out their site it does like they could be.
Just replaced rear rotor with centric 5th gen. lets see how long it lasts ...

I thought the exact same thing. I bet you are right.

No, they are crapola Duralast (Autozone). I was grinding metal on metal when I found the seized pair of rear calipers back in March of this year, and was travelling 600 miles a week minimum for work. So I slapped those turds on there in desperation.

Good news is I'm only out a bit of my time and a half bottle of brake fluid.

But I was pissed when I smelled that burnt brake smell Fri morning and saw smoke. I just couldn't believe it.

But this is a known nightmare issue with 4th Gen 4runners. I hope we get it sorted one day.

 

[ExpeditionBill]

How do you diagnose seized calipers? I can feel some sort of vibration when braking on the highway, is that it?

My pedal bounced or pulsated when I hit the brakes. More so at higher speeds. I had Toyota check it out and just a quick look at the calipers, you can see the pistons and see if they look rusty.

 

[ExpeditionBill]

Hey guys....so I had a shop do my brakes since I didnt have time about a week ago.

Everything seems good but it feels a bit soft when stepping on the pedal. Anyone else's 4Runner feel like this or is it firm?

I'm trying to get them to bleed it again. He told me well all Toyota's feel soft (even though my original brakes were firm), then he says since I have larger 2010 parts on the front and 2003 on the rear and something with the ABS wont work correct now.

 

[084RUNNAH]

He's full of crap. Your brake pedal should feel as good or better than what it was. For me, I upgraded my lines and the pedal got firmer than what it was. Either take it back to them to rebleed (if they know how to do it properly) or take it elsewhere.

 

[Slowgoat]

I'm saying he's full of crap, also.

Should be firm. Mine are.

That guy didn't pay attention to detail, most likely.

 

[shahsmerdis]

Firm!!!!!

 

[Slowgoat]

I just thoight of this: They might improve.

My apologies if you did this already.

Take her out on the interstate and get the brakes hot by dragging them (ie: heat up the rotors and pads till they're glowing, smoking hot).

Then let up for a few miles, and let them cool.

Do this cycle a couple times.

You want some of the pad material to be deposited on the rotor. The heating does this. It lets your pad grip the hell out of your rotor (a lot of crap mechanics skip this step; a lack of attention to detail!).

Then let the brakes cool for 10 minutes by driving (if you do come to a complete stop with the brakes hot like that, it will leave a stamp looking deposit. You don't want that. It'll make the braking uneven slightly. This cooling prevents that).

Bedding in the new pads is important. Over time, this process will happen gradually as you drive it, if the mechanic skips it. This just speeds up the process, and is how a lot of guys go about it.

There are different methods, but this is a fast, easy way I learned from a great mechanic.

If they're still mushy, bleed em and forget it.

 

[Staceman]

Been running my 5th. Gen calipers - rotors for 2 months now. I smile every time I use the brakes. I still have my 4th gen calipers. Even rebuilt them myself then gave up later. They started sticking again soon afterwards... Used 5th Gen calipers from a junkyard, all new Toyota hardware otherwise. I couldn't be happier.

 

[shahsmerdis]

I just thoight of this: They might improve.

My apologies if you did this already.

Take her out on the interstate and get the brakes hot by dragging them (ie: heat up the rotors and pads till they're glowing, smoking hot).

Then let up for a few miles, and let them cool.

Do this cycle a couple times.

You want some of the pad material to be deposited on the rotor. The heating does this. It lets your pad grip the hell out of your rotor (a lot of crap mechanics skip this step; a lack of attention to detail!).

Then let the brakes cool for 10 minutes by driving (if you do come to a complete stop with the brakes hot like that, it will leave a stamp looking deposit. You don't want that. It'll make the braking uneven slightly. This cooling prevents that).

Bedding in the new pads is important. Over time, this process will happen gradually as you drive it, if the mechanic skips it. This just speeds up the process, and is how a lot of guys go about it.

There are different methods, but this is a fast, easy way I learned from a great mechanic.

If they're still mushy, bleed em and forget it.

if they weren't properly bleed, and have air in the system no amount of petal will get it it out...

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Okay so I finally got a chance to measure a 4th gen rear axle hub and a 5th gen's.

Basically, the 4th gen axle is about 106mm all the way to the hub plate. The 5th gen starts around 108mm and tapers to 106mm just after the rotor face (this is why the wheels fit flush and snug, despite the rotors being slightly larger in the hub diameter.)

Bottom line, use either one, the 5th gen units are bored slightly larger than the 4th gen. But the reality is that since Toyota wheels are both lug & hub centric and you should be using lug centric lug nuts anyways, then the lug nuts will center the rotor when you tighten it. If you feel that is too much looseness for your comfort, just use 4th gen rear rotors.

 

[verman84]

I've been using the 5th front and rear calipers and rotors since July with zero issues. It brakes beautifully smooth and strong. Best money spent so far.

My biggest complaint is not painting the calipers before putting them on. I thought the coating would keep them clean looking but they've become slightly brown. Not sure if it's rust or brake dust.

Either way if you're considering new calipers, order them painted or paint them first.

 

[shahsmerdis]

I've been using the 5th front and rear calipers and rotors since July with zero issues. It brakes beautifully smooth and strong. Best money spent so far.

My biggest complaint is not painting the calipers before putting them on. I thought the coating would keep them clean looking but they've become slightly brown. Not sure if it's rust or brake dust.



Either way if you're considering new calipers, order them painted or paint them first.

Centric 142 series has new piston and is painted . 20 dollars more though. Money well spent . these brakes are awesome

 

[pjbrownva]

Okay so I finally got a chance to measure a 4th gen rear axle hub and a 5th gen's.

Basically, the 4th gen axle is about 106mm all the way to the hub plate. The 5th gen starts around 108mm and tapers to 106mm just after the rotor face (this is why the wheels fit flush and snug, despite the rotors being slightly larger in the hub diameter.)

Bottom line, use either one, the 5th gen units are bored slightly larger than the 4th gen. But the reality is that since Toyota wheels are both lug & hub centric and you should be using lug centric lug nuts anyways, then the lug nuts will center the rotor when you tighten it. If you feel that is too much looseness for your comfort, just use 4th gen rear rotors.

Thanks for following up, BlackWorks. I knew the specs were slightly different, but other than that, I was in over my head. :cowboy:

-Phil

 

[JeffMerr]

So it's been about 4 months since I installed the new calipers and rotors and when I was under my truck the other day I noticed the calipers were a rust orange color. My old OEM calipers I took off weren't this color and that was with 100k on them. I live in California so rust isn't really something I'm used to seeing on my truck. Is this just cosmetic?

 

[ExpeditionBill]

So it's been about 4 months since I installed the new calipers and rotors and when I was under my truck the other day I noticed the calipers were a rust orange color. My old OEM calipers I took off weren't this color and that was with 100k on them. I live in California so rust isn't really something I'm used to seeing on my truck. Is this just cosmetic?

You should have painted them....Mine are doing the same after a week (I forgot to paint them before install)...there is some rust color showing up now. Will be painting them next weekend.

 

[JeffMerr]

You should have painted them....Mine are doing the same after a week (I forgot to paint them before install)...there is some rust color showing up now. Will be painting them next weekend.

Taking them off and painting them isn't really an option for me at this point. Is it going to cause any issues down the road?

 

[ExpeditionBill]

Taking them off and painting them isn't really an option for me at this point. Is it going to cause any issues down the road?

I would just cover up the rotor and surrounding stuff and get some caliper paint and paint them on the car. That's what I'm going to end up doing.

 

[stielow]

will this upgrade work with 16 inch wheels

 

[ExpeditionBill]

will this upgrade work with 16 inch wheels

Nope.

I would say 17" wheels are minimum size to fit the brakes (Same as 4th generation sport and limited)

My 03 SR5 came stock with 17"...same as sport and limited and it fit. Maybe an extra option when previous owner bought it?