brake pad questions

[marino]

after 107k, it's time for some new front brake pads. what kind should i get? i was thinking about the average price level ones from an autozone or whatever... but what is everyone else using? pros/cons...

i've got an '01 2wd sr5 - and the factory rotors are still good. not looking to do the tundra brakes upgrade either...

oh... and can the pads be changed while the caliper is still attached on these trucks, or do i have to pull the caliper off to change them?

tia!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I use Akebono ceramics and they work well and create very little brake dust if any.

 

[Griffeycom]

I just replaced mine with OEM pads. And no you don't have to remove the calipers.

 

[ambush]

Brake pads & rotors

Dude
I just got my truck not even a month ago and my rotors went bad. Changed them and had the brakes changed. I was reading so much on these boards before I joined about warped rotors.

Low and behold, I was a canidate for it too!

So I said screw it and got some EBC slotted and dimpled rotors and some Bendix Ceramic pads. MAN oh man!!
No dust, no sqeual and NO vibration.

Just my story and 2 cents.

--Ambush

 

[Doug S]

I'd suggest just going with OEM unless you are into something that might be considered heavy duty like towing or steep hills.

My first set of pads went over 60K and I only got them changed then because an insurance company was paying for it while they did some other work. (They were getting a little thin )

Doug

 

[emptypockets]

Luckily at over 70k, I haven't had to do brake pads yet. From what I've read and heard, the best choices are OEM and Performance Friction. While you're at it, you might want to measure your rotors for thickness. If they're within specs, you'll be ok. Otherwise, you could do the whole thing at once.

 

[marino]

thanks for all the replies!

looks like i'll be going with oem then.

anyone know the thickness specs for the rotors?

=]

 

[gapboi210]

It's not hard at all to remove the caliper, just 2 bolts. It seems harder and honestly how woud you change the pads out without removing the calipers?

 

[marino]

just making sure. on some other cars i've worked on it was sooo much easier to leave the calipers on vs. removing them to change the brake pads.

i also couldn't find any write ups on this.... might be a good time to document it for others....

 

[gapboi210]

How are do you get the pads out from between the caliper and the rotor? Are you talking about the 2 piece caliper where you take off part of it and remove the pads?

 

[marino]

you remove the pins/brackets from the back side of the caliper and slide the pads in/out from there. the openings on the backs of some calipers are large enough to do that.

 

[marino]

***update***

i just got done changing out my front pads, and i didn't have to take out the calipers for it at all.

and i went with the $40 pair from autozone... duralast golds... or somthing.... they've got lifetime warranty and stop the truck really well.

i've got pics of how i did it, but the short and sweet is as follows:

-remove that thin wire from the inner part of the caliper
-pull the two bolts out, and the flat metal piece will pop off as well
-use two flat head screw drivers to push the pad away from the rotors and compress the pistons
-pull pads out
-reverse of above for install

once i got the tire off, it only took about 5 minutes to change them

thanks again for the replies!