Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

[RL Lemke]

I drive a 2004 4Runner (V8 4X4). At 83,000 miles, I figured that it was time to replace the brake pads. The front had about 25% left, and the rear about 40%. Not bad considering I have a lot of trailer and mountain driving, let alone the constant stop and go of Dallas traffic.

I replaced the front rotors with Frozen Rotors cryogenically treated rotors. $127.50 each - SKU 980160

For pads I went with Hawk Ceramic front pads - HB490Z.665, and Hawk HPS - HB477F.610 rear pads.

I'm still seating the pads with light to medium pressures. So far the braking performance is nothing short of surprising. The added linear & progressive performance is stunning. With the accordion driving on Dallas freeways, I'm sure that panic stops are right around the corner. I'll update y'all as these pads wear in.

 

[Casper]

RL...i totally know what you are talking about. While I may not run the cryo rotors that you do, i run Axxis ultimate pads both front and rear with new stainless lines and the stopping power out of the system in the SE is actually really impressive. So much so that a buddy of mine that has a porsche 996 Turbo liked the feel of my 4runner better than his porsche.

The only problem that you will run into with panic stops is that because of the higher Coefficient of Friction of the Ceramic and HPS pads (i run HPS on my gto---nice pad) that the brake assist kicks in sooner and harder now. Its actually kinda annoying as you get this herk-and-jerk action once its activated.

 

[RL Lemke]

Update: These brake pads and rotors are amazing!!! The linear progression in braking force, with corresponding slowing, make driving feel much more secure than the great performance of the stock.

 

[jharris2]

I drive a 2004 4Runner (V8 4X4). At 83,000 miles, I figured that it was time to replace the brake pads. The front had about 25% left, and the rear about 40%. Not bad considering I have a lot of trailer and mountain driving, let alone the constant stop and go of Dallas traffic.

I replaced the front rotors with Frozen Rotors cryogenically treated rotors. $127.50 each - SKU 980160

For pads I went with Hawk Ceramic front pads - HB490Z.665, and Hawk HPS - HB477F.610 rear pads.

I'm still seating the pads with light to medium pressures. So far the braking performance is nothing short of surprising. The added linear & progressive performance is stunning. With the accordion driving on Dallas freeways, I'm sure that panic stops are right around the corner. I'll update y'all as these pads wear in.

RL,

just checked the Frozen Rotors site. They have different part numbers for the front rotors for 16" wheels (P/N 980161) and 17" wheels (P/N 980160). Any idea what the difference is? Seems that they should be different for the Sport vs. SR5/Limited because of the larger rotor on the Sport, but not the wheel size. Or am I missing something obvious?

Thanks.

 

[RL Lemke]

I bought the rotors for the Lexus GX 470 size brakes offered in the SE in 2004. I can't comment about other years other than 2004.

 

[Wai]

Re: Re: Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

RL,

just checked the Frozen Rotors site. They have different part numbers for the front rotors for 16" wheels (P/N 980161) and 17" wheels (P/N 980160). Any idea what the difference is? Seems that they should be different for the Sport vs. SR5/Limited because of the larger rotor on the Sport, but not the wheel size. Or am I missing something obvious?

Thanks.

I am also looking for replacement rotors.
When I searched it out on Partznet it also shows rotors for 16" and 17" wheels.

I have a 03 SE, which one should I go for?

 

[sharp4runr]

Re: Re: Re: Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

I am also looking for replacement rotors.
When I searched it out on Partznet it also shows rotors for 16" and 17" wheels.

I have a 03 SE, which one should I go for?

You'll want to get the 17" one. The Sport Editions only come in 17" wheels and come with slightly larger front rotors.

 

[Wai]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

You'll want to get the 17" one. The Sport Editions only come in 17" wheels and come with slightly larger front rotors.

Thanks for the info.

I didn't know SE has a larger rotor. IIRC the brochures didn't give out the specific dimensions for the brakes. It's good to know.

 

[toybox]

Re: Re: Re: Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

I am also looking for replacement rotors.
When I searched it out on Partznet it also shows rotors for 16" and 17" wheels.

I have a 03 SE, which one should I go for?

If I were you I would go with the aftermarket rotors. Toyota OEM rotors seem to warp very easily.

 

[jharris2]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

Thanks for the info.

I didn't know SE has a larger rotor. IIRC the brochures didn't give out the specific dimensions for the brakes. It's good to know.

Sport Edition has a 13.3" front rotor, the SR5 and Limited have a 12.6" front rotor. All have a 12.3" rear rotor.

I e-mailed Frozen Rotors and got a response from their president that the web site is correct. Personally, it seems misleading, because the SR5 has 17" wheels as an option (Limited came with them standard) but the brakes didn't change.

Net is, I agree with Sharp4Runr that the rotors for 16" wheels are actually for the SR5/Limited, and the rotors for 17" wheels are for the Sport.

 

[Wai]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

Personally, it seems misleading, because the SR5 has 17" wheels as an option (Limited came with them standard) but the brakes didn't change.

Thanks for the clarification.
I also think that differentiating the rotors by wheel size is very misleading, as We all know that 03-05 Limited all comes with 17" wheel.

I guess if a Limited owner did order the wrong part (larger rotor), he still could install it because the knuckle and calipers are all the same?

 

[jharris2]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

Thanks for the clarification.
I also think that differentiating the rotors by wheel size is very misleading, as We all know that 03-05 Limited all comes with 17" wheel.

I guess if a Limited owner did order the wrong part (larger rotor), he still could install it because the knuckle and calipers are all the same?

I checked the Frozen Rotors web site and Partznet, and both seem to show that the part number for the front pads is the same regardless of wheel size. So maybe you can upsize to the larger rotor if you had 17" wheels.

But that raises a different question in my mind -- does the larger rotor with the same caliper and pad significantly change braking performance?

 

[Wai]

I checked the Frozen Rotors web site and Partznet, and both seem to show that the part number for the front pads is the same regardless of wheel size. So maybe you can upsize to the larger rotor if you had 17" wheels.

But that raises a different question in my mind -- does the larger rotor with the same caliper and pad significantly change braking performance?

Yeah I would think so.
Heat is the biggest enemy on brakes. Having a larger rotor means a larger heat sink for absorption and larger surface for dissipation, so the rotors would be less likely to crack or transfer to the pads and cause fade.

 

[xUSNavy]

Hawk brake pads are an excellent choice. However I am not fond of their ceramics, but they are still better than Raybestos and EBC.

 

[toybox]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

I'm pretty sure that the pads are different also as Partznet gave me the wrong pads last time and I had to go back and get the larger ones. (actually they were out of stock, it was the weekend and they couldn't get them till Monday so I had to go aftermarket). Even when I went to Autozone to get the larger ones they called out two different pads for the 4Runner.

I checked the Frozen Rotors web site and Partznet, and both seem to show that the part number for the front pads is the same regardless of wheel size. So maybe you can upsize to the larger rotor if you had 17" wheels.

But that raises a different question in my mind -- does the larger rotor with the same caliper and pad significantly change braking performance?

 

[jharris2]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

I'm pretty sure that the pads are different also as Partznet gave me the wrong pads last time and I had to go back and get the larger ones. (actually they were out of stock, it was the weekend and they couldn't get them till Monday so I had to go aftermarket). Even when I went to Autozone to get the larger ones they called out two different pads for the 4Runner.

Good to know, Joe -- I checked two sites (Partznet and another) that just had a single entry for front pads, and I couldn't find any part numbers for the calipers.

Next time I'm at the dealership, I'll try to remember to ask one of the techs to see if they have any additional information.

 

[Wai]

I'm pretty sure that the pads are different also as Partznet gave me the wrong pads last time and I had to go back and get the larger ones. (actually they were out of stock, it was the weekend and they couldn't get them till Monday so I had to go aftermarket). Even when I went to Autozone to get the larger ones they called out two different pads for the 4Runner.

I ordered some pads from Partznet and they are on their way. Hopefully they are the right ones.

 

[toybox]

Re: Re: Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

I ordered some pads from Partznet and they are on their way. Hopefully they are the right ones.

Well if they didn't ask if you had a Sport or SR5 your chances are probably low for getting the right pad. I would save yourself some trouble and find out if you have the right part number BEFORE you jack it up and pull the wheels (like I did, then had to put it all back together just to get the right pads and start over :bash: )

I have the part number at home for the right OEM pads for the Sport, I'll post it tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Wai]

Re: Re: Re: Frozen Rotors & Hawk Brake Pads

Well if they didn't ask if you had a Sport or SR5 your chances are probably low for getting the right pad. I would save yourself some trouble and find out if you have the right part number BEFORE you jack it up and pull the wheels (like I did, then had to put it all back together just to get the right pads and start over :bash: )

I have the part number at home for the right OEM pads for the Sport, I'll post it tonight or tomorrow.

I did put in my VIN number so hopefully it would help.

But yeah, please post the PN if you could, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[gizmopt2002]

On the subject of brakes, are Jason Burtmans slotted rotors and his pads good at all?