5th Gen Calipers

[RDOOGZ89]

Ive been running my 5th gen upgrade with centric rotors and calipers for a couple months now.

I had to do the 30 slow presses to fix some of the mushyness.

The only regret I have is not painting the calipers. They are covered in surface rust now. Im not happy about it, but i do not have the time or money to redo my brakes to paint them.

 

[Supersonic]

Talking fluid flush/brake bleeding I've used the https://www.harborfreight.com/autom.../brake-bleeder-and-vacuum-pump-kit-63391.html on 1999 Prism with great result and was wondering how if it would be a good option for flushing the brake fluid on the 4Runner?

A slight disadvantage would be volume of the recovery container, but this may work out to be an advantage as you may have to empty it more often, but that gives you the opportunity to fill the master cylinder before it goes empty.

I've seen one complaint about air getting in by the bleeder threads, but that wasn't my experience and I had replaced both front calipers on 99 Prism. I'm going to try it on my other cars first but figured best to ask for input here to.

 

[EnduringGuerila]

5th Gen 4Runner Brakes Upgrade (for 4th Gen 4Runner)

I tried to help summarize the information found in this thread and other sources:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...n-4runner-brakes-upgrade-4th-gen-4runner.html

 

[Elan750]

Is everyone fully convinced the 5th gen calipers are better? I'm seeing 5th gen owners getting frozen calipers and they look nearly identical to 4th gen soooo..
eep:

 

[EnduringGuerila]

Strange, replaced my rear rotors with 5th gen just fine.

Same here. I'm pretty sure the 4th and 5th rears are the same size. I had no issues when I did the conversion.

Have either of you tested your emergency/parking brake which uses the inside of the rotor like a brake drum?

 

[Keros]

Bought Centric (141.44287/8) front 5th gen calipers from rock auto Dec 2016.

I decided to change all the pads and rotors with the rear brakes, as they had finally worn out, this week. Low and behold, the inboard pistons on the centric calipers are frozen after only a year and a month.

So, essentially, the calipers are a service item with the rotors and pads. And Centric calipers are crap, don't buy them.

 

[trey99ek]

Bought Centric (141.44287/8) front 5th gen calipers from rock auto Dec 2016.

I decided to change all the pads and rotors with the rear brakes, as they had finally worn out, this week. Low and behold, the inboard pistons on the centric calipers are frozen after only a year and a month.

So, essentially, the calipers are a service item with the rotors and pads. And Centric calipers are crap, don't buy them.

Great to know. I was about the pull the trigger on these and my 2nd set of 4th gen caliper just froze AGAIN.

 

[BriAntic]

So is the general consensus that 5th gen calipers have the same issues or was that just due to buying aftermarket parts?

 

[Slowgoat]

Damn

So it’s only a matter of time for mine then.

Luckily I have lifetime on my calipers.

I just looked at mine and they are still good and we have tons of salt up here.

 

[JeffMerr]

So is the general consensus that 5th gen calipers have the same issues or was that just due to buying aftermarket parts?

Where are you seeing the 5th gen calipers having seizing issues?

 

[pjbrownva]

Damn

So it’s only a matter of time for mine then.

Luckily I have lifetime on my calipers.

I just looked at mine and they are still good and we have tons of salt up here.

Where are you seeing the 5th gen calipers having seizing issues?

It seems that some 5th gens are having issues, but most of them seem to be
in areas with a lot of snow and salt on the roads.

See this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...5th-gen-brake-calipers-doing.html#post2014498

The consensus so far seems to be that 5th gen calipers sometimes seize, but it's not necessarily common. One poster wrote that aluminum calipers with steel pistons plus salt = battery... so of course you'll have problems. :keyboard:

 

[BriAntic]

Oh cool, looks like I'll go ahead and cough up the $1600 for the whole package. Times like this really make me appreciate places like TRD4u and other online OEM sources.

I can only imagine what it would cost going to the local dealer.. :sobbing:

 

[pjbrownva]

Oh cool, looks like I'll go ahead and cough up the $1600 for the whole package. Times like this really make me appreciate places like TRD4u and other online OEM sources.

I can only imagine what it would cost going to the local dealer.. :sobbing:

I did the steel braided lines too, including the elusive "center" brake line in the rear (I *think* I found that part at tire rack), and I've been really pleased with the results.

For pads, I went with akebono ceramic brake pads. They're really good, and come highly recommended. For the other parts if you prefer OEM, then go for it, but I personally believe that the steel braided brake lines and the akebono pads are a clear upgrade over their OEM equivalents.

 

[Zeusmotorworks]

Did the Akebono ceramic brake pads on the 4Runner and the same pads plus braided lines and 5th Gen 4runner calipers/5th Gen 4runner Stoptech rotors on the FJ. Been real happy with the Akebono pads on both.

 

[Keros]

So is the general consensus that 5th gen calipers have the same issues or was that just due to buying aftermarket parts?

Great to know. I was about the pull the trigger on these and my 2nd set of 4th gen caliper just froze AGAIN.

I think the 5th gen upgrade is worthwhile. My craptastic centric brand calipers are statistical outliers I think. Just crap parts. Buy OEM if possible.

The shop I had do the brakes put "Advics" brand calipers in. Time will tell how they last.

 

[Teqeeler]

My passenger side caliper is seized, this makes 6 calipers in 7 years for me, no joke. Like clock work every jan/feb one will seize. I do not feel like or have the time to do a complete 5th Gen front brake switch. So in the name of saving money and time to get my 4runner back on the road and see if the 5th gen calipers are any different can I...

- Install 5th gen passenger side caliper while leaving the 4th gen caliper on the driverside, will this create any pulling issues?

- Also I have a new 4th Gen rotor, other then the 5th gen rotor being slightly thicker, what issues would i realistically run into having the rotor paired with the 5th gen caliper? I can't think of any...

Thanks..

 

[pjbrownva]

My passenger side caliper is seized, this makes 6 calipers in 7 years for me, no joke. Like clock work every jan/feb one will seize. I do not feel like or have the time to do a complete 5th Gen front brake switch. So in the name of saving money and time to get my 4runner back on the road and see if the 5th gen calipers are any different can I...

- Install 5th gen passenger side caliper while leaving the 4th gen caliper on the driverside, will this create any pulling issues?

- Also I have a new 4th Gen rotor, other then the 5th gen rotor being slightly thicker, what issues would i realistically run into having the rotor paired with the 5th gen caliper? I can't think of any...

Thanks..

I wouldn't suggest it.

1) the 5th gen front rotors aren't just thicker, but they are also 18mm larger in diameter -- which is 0.71 inches for us American folks -- so I assume that the pads on the fifth gen front caliper won't align or grip the 4th gen front rotor properly. You're likely to have approx (more or less) 0.7" of brake pad that aren't even touching the rotor == very bad news.

See https://imgur.com/a/L8Iqx (taken and posted by a member on this same thread... I forgot who, or I would credit them)... and photos are copied here, just in case the link ever stops working.







Second, I think --at a minimum-- the front calipers should be a matching pair, just as the rear calipers should be a matching pair (that is, if you aren't willing to change all 4 calipers to 5th gen).


While this is just my opinion (as opposed to a known fact), here's some serious food for thought on why I hold this opinion.

The changes in piston size, might not be the only change. You don't want to risk pulling or uneven wear, or possibly unwanted side effects on the braking system which *is* rather advanced... not just anti-lock, but it also automatically applies brakes for traction control, to prevent roll-back while on a hill, and also for "brake force distribution" to evenly apply braking power, as well as a sensor that determines if you are in an emergency stop, based on how quickly you depress the brake pedal, it will actually apply more braking power for you automatically.

I don't know why you would ever consider jeopardizing your safety or that of others to save a few bucks. I saw the centric "c-tek" front rotors for as cheap as about $40 each, and front brake calipers can be had for about $65 (after core exchange), so you're considering saving the cost of 1 caliper and two rotors, which is less than $150 if you bargain shop. Are you willing to risk your safety and possibly your life, and that of others over $150 and about 1 hr of additional work?

 

[AkinsBlue]

Just throwing my experience out there on the 5th gen brake upgrade.

I tackled the 5th gen swap about 3 weeks ago and everything went according to plan until it came time to do a test drive. Upon pulling out of the garage it was clear that something was dragging on my rear brakes. I shifted into reverse and began to back into the garage and began to hear a popping noise. I discovered this was the rear parking brake shoes making uneven intermittent contact on the rotor. I adjusted the shoes in as far as they would go with no luck. I then swapped back to my 4th gen rotors and voila, problem solved.

It looks like others have had success running 5th gen rotors but it seems to me that they will not work on my runner.

 

[r32]

I'm in process of upgrading myself.

Going with 5th gen rotors, 5th gen calipers, and stainless steel brake lines. I hope it goes smooth.

 

[ZiaMan]

Oh cool, looks like I'll go ahead and cough up the $1600 for the whole package. Times like this really make me appreciate places like TRD4u and other online OEM sources.

I can only imagine what it would cost going to the local dealer.. :sobbing:

You might want to hold off and see what RR Racing releases using a Wilwood Big Brake Kit.

No word on pricing yet but they posted this to the GX Forum:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-1st-gen-2004-2009/875431-ceika-big-brake-kit-anyone.html#post10103926

Hi Everyone,

We completed testing on our GX470 6 piston brake upgrade kit. We have the parts in production and will post final pricing soon.

Specs are:

(1) Wilwood Aero 6 calipers featuring forged aluminum construction and stainless steel pistons
(2) CNC machined 6061-T6 adapter brackets
(3) Wilwood BP20 pads -- temperature capability of over 400F greater than any pad available for the stock GX470 calipers
(4) Stoptech GX460 Brake rotors (a full 1.25" thick, versus stock 1.1" thick rotors). Other options availalbe (EBC slotted rotors).
(5) Optional stainless steel brake lines.
(6) Available either anodized finish with Wilwood logo, or custom powder coated colors with RR-Racing logo.

We have had the calipers on our shop GX470 all winter with lots of salt on the streets here in PA this year, and no signs of corrosion. Stock calipers are cast iron with steel pistons, so basically everything on them corrodes which is why it is so common for them to seize.

Some pics:

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