Anyone upgraded their brakes?
- Thread starter Neauxla
- Start date
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Bootleg
New member
The title of this thread is “Anyone upgraded their brakes”, not “should I upgrade my brakes?”. It’s all fine and well that most of you are happy with the stock brakes but how can you opine on upgrading the brakes when you haven’t? It’s clear that there are several people who don’t like stock brakes and have chosen to upgrade them. It’s also clear that those people, myself included, have been thrilled with the results. If you don’t like the stock brakes then upgrade. If you’re happy with them then don’t. Pretty simple.
I also have to laugh at the notion that owning a Neon makes you somehow knowledgeable about brakes. You lost all credibility when you said “I owned a Neon”.
I also have to laugh at the notion that owning a Neon makes you somehow knowledgeable about brakes. You lost all credibility when you said “I owned a Neon”.
marshal
New member
they're just a higher temperature compound, they won't fade as fast. if you want something with more bite you'll need to go to a high friction compound like EBC green or yellow pads.
like i made mention before though, there is only so much available friction with your tires before you lock them up. the stock braking system is more than capable of locking up the stock tires without effort. if you are running larger, wider tires with a bigger footprint - you'll then be able to utilize a higher friction compound.
like i made mention before though, there is only so much available friction with your tires before you lock them up. the stock braking system is more than capable of locking up the stock tires without effort. if you are running larger, wider tires with a bigger footprint - you'll then be able to utilize a higher friction compound.
1engineer
Moderator
I've read all your posts. Wanna know how many times you said you raced? It's the internet. We all have the same credibility which means you have just as much as the guy you are busting on. You could be 300 lbs living in a drain pipe stealing wifi from the Waffle House for all anyone really knows. I could be the same guy doing the same thing. Be nice or don't post.
Antman
Elite Member
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Jetboy
New member
Well... the stock brakes stop faster than a Range Rover Sport or a BMW x5. They're about 10% off the stopping distance of a Gallardo or Enzo. They don't fade under any normal use.
Most people with engineering or actual racing backgrounds would say cross drilled rotors are for posers not for performance. There's a lot of engineering reasons why. You'll notice that you won't find drilled or slotted rotors on actual race cars. It's a gimmick to trick people who don't know any better into spending lots of $ on snake oil.
Rotors on real racing cars look like this for a reason:
I do plenty of mods for looks - so I say go for it if that's your thing. But don't pretend it's helping performance of the brakes. That's nonsense.
Most people with engineering or actual racing backgrounds would say cross drilled rotors are for posers not for performance. There's a lot of engineering reasons why. You'll notice that you won't find drilled or slotted rotors on actual race cars. It's a gimmick to trick people who don't know any better into spending lots of $ on snake oil.
Rotors on real racing cars look like this for a reason:
I do plenty of mods for looks - so I say go for it if that's your thing. But don't pretend it's helping performance of the brakes. That's nonsense.
BLACK-FL4RUNNER
Member
isdriven
New member
None, nor would I ever. Enapa, I'm not trying to go on you or your taste in cars, to each is own. It's when you compare a 5th gen 4runner, or any 4x4 suv really, to a neon:twitch:,well....it just brings out the smart ass in me. It's all in good fun man, don't take it too seriously.
Back to the discussion. Correct me if I am wrong but, to me what this topic really boils down to is, is there a better option for towing? Not daily driving, not racing, etc... Dose the 4R need better brakes? No. Are the OEM brakes great? Yes. Are there ways to improve your braking and safety with non-oem parts? Yes. Personal, I tow a (very heavy) 21' center console with my 4th gen on oem brakes and its about an hour or more each why when I do. The Toyota stuff does the job ok, but for me, I would like something with more bit and stopping ability. When it is time comes for me to replace my brakes, I will be upgrading. Why?
Towing can be tricky business. Shit can get real, really fast, and you have to react even faster. There is a lot of weight, momentum, and heat involved depending on what you are towing. I want every inch of stopping ability and control I can get to keep myself, family, and everyone around me while driving as safe as possible. It's part of the responsibility one has when operation a vehicle on the read, especially when towing.
For me, my set up will be SS lines, pads with more bite (probably Hawk), and maybe brake fluid that has a higher boiling point than standard.
Does everyone need to do this? No, of course not. It's just my take on the whole towing thing. When it comes to brakes, it's always a sound investment.
BLACK-FL4RUNNER
Member
1engineer
Moderator
Two words: Trailer brakes.
Comparing the 4Runner to a Neon is no worse than some poser comparing it to his race car or a BMW or a Corvette. There have been real comparisons between the 4Runner and vehicles that are in the 4Runner's class. The 4Runner wins in just about every braking metric. I really want the few of you who upgrade their brakes to do some tests and prove that it is better to upgrade. Other Toyota vehicle owners want to put 5th gen 4Runner brakes on their vehicles as an upgrade!
Lastly,
I have great brakes on my mountain bike, why can't the 4Runner have brakes like those?
isdriven
New member
I would be up for doing a comparison once my OEM bakes wear out...... you might be waiting a while. LOL
Seriously though, there are so many variable involved that I think it would be difficult to test. i.e. Testing old oem to new aftermarket performance isn't a fair comparison imo. Then you have to consider everything else, speed, distance, timing, tires, tire pressure, weight, etc... Not saying it can't be done, but realistically it's not simple if you want to provide factual reliable data.
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isdriven
New member
It's not my boat/trailer, I just get to use it. But, yes, trailer brakes are smart.
1engineer
Moderator
It's easy. Set up a cone, hit 60 mph, hit the brakes at 60 mph, mark the spot of stop with another cone, measure the distance between cones.
I think it is rather funny that I'm getting dumped on for owning a "neon". Apparently there are some ill informed people on here. It is fine if you think the SRT4 was/is some piece of crap car. And having never owned/driven one then your opinions are just that. The car was incredible for its time and especially its price. But, whatever you guys want to believe.
BLACK-FL4RUNNER
Member
I worked at a dodge dealer during that time. Trust me, it's a pile of shit like all the cars they built those years. It was far from incredible. Lol
Yes it was a pile of shit that ran a 0-60 in 5.7 seconds and a high 13 second 1/4 for $19k.
I guess you could always have bough an M3 to get a 0-60 in 5.1 seconds and a low to mid 13 second 1/4 mile. Of course it would have cost closer to $60k.
It was such a piece of shit that I owned two of them that never had a single issue.
philsey
New member
midnight runner
New member
I don't understand why owners here feel that just because it is a truck it's ok for the brake pedal to feel a certain way. Isn't that why we modify the vehicles, to get more out of it than how it came from the factory.
I put a brake kit on my 4th gen and the brake pedal felt so much better. I know that the stopping distance wasn't going to improve. I do know that the reaction time of the brakes to get to full deceleration g's improved since the components were stiffer.
I work for a performance brake company, and customer demand is what drives what we develop. If the demand is there, someone will fulfill it.
I put a brake kit on my 4th gen and the brake pedal felt so much better. I know that the stopping distance wasn't going to improve. I do know that the reaction time of the brakes to get to full deceleration g's improved since the components were stiffer.
I work for a performance brake company, and customer demand is what drives what we develop. If the demand is there, someone will fulfill it.
