brake upgrade?

[octanejunkie]

So I have a Base 4Runner, that means I could get the larger 317mm calipers and retain the factory rotors?

I'm not 100% on that. The rotors are the same thickness, but not the same size. You may run into an issue with the entire pad not sitting on the rotor.

To be safe, and get the maximum benefit, [MENTION=143701]InterfectoremAV[/MENTION], you should consider upgrading to calipers, pads and rotors that are designed to work with each other rather than mix and match

IIRC, when I had my rotors turned, the tech at O'Reilly's said 20mm was the minimum thickness on the 317mm rotors. His eyes did look glassy tho :roll:

 

[BigFishAllDay]

The Tundra caliper upgrade is only worth it if you have the standard 4runner calipers. The SR5's and Limited's already came with large calipers, and the performance is marginal at best.

Specs:
Base - 295mm Caliper with 20mm thick rotors
SR5 & Limited - 317mm Caliper with 20mm thick rotors
Tundra - 318mm caliper with 26mm thick rotors

For the base model 4runners, and others that came with the 295 calipers this is a great upgrade. For those that came with the 317 calipers you're not to gain much.

I'm sure that I am one of many who would disagree.

First run 100-0, 60-0, etc braking distances would probably be similar between the tundra brakes and the larger stock setup. 2nd, 3rd, 4th runs, etc would be a totally different story.

That extra 6mm of rotor thickness vs. the larger stock setup = 5.7 lbs of metal in the rotor (per side) = a much larger heat sink. Rotor size is the primary factor in heat dissipation. The pads on the tundra setup are also larger = larger swept area = better heat transfer / dissipation.

For a single emergency stop, sure, tomato tomato. However, for repeated braking on mountain roads, wheeling in hot environments at low speed, towing, etc the tundra upgrade offers much more than just marginal gains.

Throw in the factor of hundreds of extra pounds that many modified rigs are carrying around, and the need to slow down that extra mass, and the benefit becomes even clearer.

Last but not least, if you need new brakes, the upgrade cost is about equal to replacing everything with OEM+ pads / calipers / rotors which is only going to get you, at best, a grabbier pad that might stop shorter for the first time or two before head fade outweighs the benefit of the pad material.

 

[gamefreakgc]

The Tundra caliper upgrade is only worth it if you have the standard 4runner calipers. The SR5's and Limited's already came with large calipers, and the performance is marginal at best.

Specs:
Base - 295mm Caliper with 20mm thick rotors
SR5 & Limited - 317mm Caliper with 20mm thick rotors
Tundra - 318mm caliper with 26mm thick rotors

For the base model 4runners, and others that came with the 295 calipers this is a great upgrade. For those that came with the 317 calipers you're not to gain much.

I have an SR5 and noticed a decreased stopping distance. The calipers are the same size, but the brake pads are not, the Tundra pads are considerably bigger. As long as you get some non-chamfered pads, it'll make a difference.

Even the Tundra rotors are knows to warp on 4Runners, it just kicks the can down the road a bit further.

 

[MStudt]

I'm sure that I am one of many who would disagree.

First run 100-0, 60-0, etc braking distances would probably be similar between the tundra brakes and the larger stock setup. 2nd, 3rd, 4th runs, etc would be a totally different story.

That extra 6mm of rotor thickness vs. the larger stock setup = 5.7 lbs of metal in the rotor (per side) = a much larger heat sink. Rotor size is the primary factor in heat dissipation. The pads on the tundra setup are also larger = larger swept area = better heat transfer / dissipation.

For a single emergency stop, sure, tomato tomato. However, for repeated braking on mountain roads, wheeling in hot environments at low speed, towing, etc the tundra upgrade offers much more than just marginal gains.

Throw in the factor of hundreds of extra pounds that many modified rigs are carrying around, and the need to slow down that extra mass, and the benefit becomes even clearer.

Last but not least, if you need new brakes, the upgrade cost is about equal to replacing everything with OEM+ pads / calipers / rotors which is only going to get you, at best, a grabbier pad that might stop shorter for the first time or two before head fade outweighs the benefit of the pad material.

You made a great point with adding the extra weight, and that was something that never crossed my mind. So having larger brakes in that case would be a huge gain.

Still, for me I didn't notice much. Even after adding bumpers, full size spare, and sleeping platform the performance was about the same. Just like anything else on these 4runners, others will have different results even with the exact same products. I'm not saying the larger calipers, and rotors wouldn't benefit others. I can only speak on my own behalf by saying I didn't notice much.

 

[phattyduck]

The Tundra caliper upgrade is only worth it if you have the standard 4runner calipers. The SR5's and Limited's already came with large calipers, and the performance is marginal at best.

Specs:
Base - 295mm Caliper with 20mm thick rotors
SR5 & Limited - 317mm Caliper with 20mm thick rotors
Tundra - 318mm caliper with 26mm thick rotors

For the base model 4runners, and others that came with the 295 calipers this is a great upgrade. For those that came with the 317 calipers you're not to gain much.

Some 2WD SR5's came with the small brakes and 15" wheels (mine).

That said, those are should be:

15" wheel 4Runner: 295mm diameter x 22mm thick rotors
16" wheel 4Runner: 318mm diameter x 22mm thick rotors
1st gen Tundra: 318mm diameter x 28mm thick rotors

The 199mm vs 231mm Tundra caliper choice refers to the size of the pad that fits in the caliper, not the size of the rotors referenced above.

-Charlie

 

[octanejunkie]

Charlie just EF Hutton'ed this thread :first:

 

[BigFishAllDay]

You made a great point with adding the extra weight, and that was something that never crossed my mind. So having larger brakes in that case would be a huge gain.

Still, for me I didn't notice much. Even after adding bumpers, full size spare, and sleeping platform the performance was about the same. Just like anything else on these 4runners, others will have different results even with the exact same products. I'm not saying the larger calipers, and rotors wouldn't benefit others. I can only speak on my own behalf by saying I didn't notice much.

:cheers:

Put me on your list for SS 2018. I watched the thread this year and was kicking myself for not getting involved.