Opinions on Brakes: Calipers/Rotors/Pads

[Dylan]

I've researched the forums on options for the brakes on our 4Runners.

FTR: I have a '04 V8 SR5. I just want some input on y'all's experience with current brake setups and any upgrades or replacements done to stock.

I'm entertaining the thought of upgrading to the 338mm Rotors and corresponding larger calipers. Aside from potential for better braking, any downside to this upgrade? I dont consider having to cut the backing plate a downside btw.

Also, what brand of calipers do people run/recommend? Rotors? Pads? I'll be upgrading from the factory brakes. They don't feel seized, but at 140k on the clock they need to be done and the rotors feel a little warped. On my 2nd gen I went with OE Cardone calipers and a similar quality rotor. I used Wanger Thermo Quiet pads. These werent bad, but not the best. I prefer to use Oreilly as my local auto parts. There's Napa in the area, but are in seedy areas and I dont have much experience with them. Looking for any insight you gearheads can offer. :yo:

 

[rinkman07]

Here's what I just put an order in for.

My car is a 2005 4WD V8 SR5

Pads: OEM Toyota
Calipers: NAPA Reman.
Rotors: Centric Premium Rotors
Brake Line: StopTech SS Brake Lines front and rear
Fluid: Haven't looked into this yet.

I've done quite a bit of reading on this subject. I didn't go with drilled/slotted rotors because I don't tow or take my 4runner to a track (some guys do). I read quite a bit about drilled/slotted rotors from EBC and other companies warping very prematurely. The Centric Rotors I got are the 319mm ones. I didn't feel like doing the bigger brake upgrade. I didn't read any disadvantages about doing the bigger brake upgrade either, just didn't feel like taking the time to trim back my dust covers. The Centric Rotors come highly recommended from what I read and they have a preventative coating around the hub of the rotor and in between the cast of the rotor.

I have read good things about a lot of pads. People say the Hawk pads are good, people say OEM and EBC pads are good. (If you go with EBC they make different types like the yellow stuff and green stuff pads). Research the difference because I don't really know. I went with OEM toyota because I didn't see hardly any complaints.

I went with NAPA Reman calipers because there doesn't seem to be a good caliper solution to our 4runners (in regards to pistons siezing) and NAPA reman.'s are what a lot of guys on here go with. You can get different/aftermarket calipers but they are very expensive for you daily driver.

I haven't installed any of these parts yet but I should be doing the job here within the next few weeks so I will report back if you haven't already decided on things by then. Also, I figured I'd do the SS brake lines while everything was apart. Goodridge and Stoptech make SS brake lines.

Mark

P.S. Do some more searching around here. I found countless threads about guys running the parts I have just ordered and other parts that I didn't go with.

 

[RunnerAK]

I went with NAPA front calipers and Autozone Duralast rotors and ceramic pads on the front of our SR5. I chose the NAPA calipers because they come already painted and seem to be a pretty high quality rebuild (they have beefy clips on the piston boots that the OE ones didn't have). I went with Autozone rotors and ceramic pads because they were cheap and have a good warranty in case of a rotor warping in the future (plus they are always offering 15-20% off the Duralast brake products with free shipping).

They've been on there for several months now without issue. I really like the braking feel of the ceramic pads over what was previously on there, and plan on sticking with them for future change outs.

As far as the upgrade to larger rotors, I don't know if it is worth the trouble for normal driving. Our SR5 has the smaller calipers/rotors, and my Limited came with the larger setup. If I didn't crawl under there and look, I wouldn't have known they were different at all because they both perform about the same. Unless you are doing a lot of towing up/down grades, then I would say the larger setup is overkill, the smaller setup is already pretty robust in these trucks.

 

[zimdba]

Be prepared for the nose-dive whenever you brake hard. Your suspension was not designed to accommodate the increased braking power for whatever upgrades you do.

IMHO, at this point the vehicle should be long paid-for - invest in whatever you can afford for brake upgrades (SS lines, larger rotors, etc.) - it's one of the major functions of the vehicle.

 

[ebg18t]

IMHO unless you are towing a lot or in the mountains a lot where brake temps are higher (harder, longer braking) I don't see a reason to upgrade the rotor size. Good pads and fresh fluid are the key.

 

[M1911]

IMHO unless you are towing a lot or in the mountains a lot where brake temps are higher (harder, longer braking) I don't see a reason to upgrade the rotor size. Good pads and fresh fluid are the key.

Considering how quickly I go through pads and rotors here in relatively flat Boston (and no, I don't tow), I disagree.

Has anyone tried Stoptech calipers and rotors?

 

[sal6430]

Considering how quickly I go through pads and rotors here in relatively flat Boston (and no, I don't tow), I disagree.

Has anyone tried Stoptech calipers and rotors?

How quick is quick? You shouldn't be going through pads and rotors that quickly.

 

[awdjunkies]

Considering how quickly I go through pads and rotors here in relatively flat Boston (and no, I don't tow), I disagree.

Has anyone tried Stoptech calipers and rotors?

I've tried Stoptech rotors and they were awesome, although not on any of my 4runners but on my Mitsu Evo. Excellent against fade and lasted longer than my Brembo stockers, although they were slotted(Not x-drilled).

As far as fluid, has any one here tried Motul RBF600? awesome Fluid.. Here is a little bit of info on it:

MOTUL RBF600

‘Typical’ New Dry Boiling Point = 312°C (594°F)
‘Wet’ E.R. (Equilibrium Reflux) Boiling Point = 216°C (421°F)

Motul RBF 600 is a 100% synthetic fluid for hydraulic-actuated brake and clutch systems. Specifically designed to resist the high temperatures of actuated (steel or carbon) racing brakes and clutch systems.

Motul RBF 600 far exceeds the standards of DOT 3 and DOT 4.

The RBF 600 container is filled with Nitrogen to increase shelf life and eliminate contamination while factory sealed.

Extremely high dry and wet boiling points help prevent vapor lock and brake fade during hard use.

 

[M1911]

How quick is quick? You shouldn't be going through pads and rotors that quickly.

Up here in snow country, I've replaced the front calipers at least 3 times and the rear calipers at least twice. I'm lucky to get 25k miles on a set of brakes. Stop-and-go driving + salt on the road + toyota calipers = a big pain in my backside.

 

[awdjunkies]

^ Damn, that's excessive!! Have you tried looking into Cryo treating them?

 

[ebg18t]

Considering how quickly I go through pads and rotors here in relatively flat Boston (and no, I don't tow), I disagree.

Has anyone tried Stoptech calipers and rotors?

glad you disagree, this is how we share for everyone to learn. I used to live in Boston. Never went thru pads on this truck in 3 years; Still on the same pads now. I think it might have to do with which pad used and driver style.

as for stop tech calipers, they are ok. I had a set fail on me at NHMS on my track car. i won't use them again. But some folks love em.

 

[RunnerAK]

Also, the larger setup uses exactly the same pads and has the same sized pistons in the calipers as the smaller setup, so you're really not gaining much if any practical stopping power (the only gain would be from the very slight increase in the moment arm from the larger rotors/caliper offset). What you're really gaining with the larger setup is more heat capacity/dissipation ability with the larger rotors, which means less brake fade when working the brakes hard (such as when towing).

 

[awdjunkies]

glad you disagree, this is how we share for everyone to learn. I used to live in Boston. Never went thru pads on this truck in 3 years; Still on the same pads now. I think it might have to do with which pad used and driver style.

as for stop tech calipers, they are ok. I had a set fail on me at NHMS on my track car. i won't use them again. But some folks love em.

Wow, really? Not the best confidence inspirer if you will, while on the course.

 

[SSt4r]

I have Stoptech rotors on the front and have had no problems. Are they better than stock? I'm not intuitive to be able to tell that slight difference.
I also have stainless lines (Goodridge I think?).
I used NAPA calipers: use whatever calipers you can get a lifetime warranty with! I already replaced my NAPA ones once.

 

[ebg18t]

Wow, really? Not the best confidence inspirer if you will, while on the course.

Yep. There was a crack in the casting that leaked more and more with the heat cycles. I had a student in the car too (teach for PCA & ACNA). We had a bad Wilwood caliper too years ago. I moved onto Alcon's after and they were rock solid.

 

[awdjunkies]

Yep. There was a crack in the casting that leaked more and more with the heat cycles. I had a student in the car too (teach for PCA & ACNA). We had a bad Wilwood caliper too years ago. I moved onto Alcon's after and they were rock solid.

Oh Pshh.. yeah!!! Alcons man... That's Baller status... WRC, And the whole racing community is behind Alcons :nod:

That's crazy to also hear about Wilwood, also a GREAT company/caliper. Have a few friends run Wilwood's in their Auto-X prepped cars. :car:

 

[M1911]

glad you disagree, this is how we share for everyone to learn. I used to live in Boston. Never went thru pads on this truck in 3 years; Still on the same pads now. I think it might have to do with which pad used and driver style.

I don't think the pad used causes frozen pistons, and I'm not the only 4th gen owner to suffer from them repeatedly. I commute in on the Pike during rush hour. That much stop and go just sucks the life out of brake pads and rotors.

 

[ebg18t]

I commute in on the Pike during rush hour. That much stop and go just sucks the life out of brake pads and rotors.

The Pike sux. I don't miss that commute one bit. But I do miss the Boston pay scale.

 

[dadigab]

No one has considered if the wheels will fit after upgrades. I don't know personally but maybe someone else has input.

 

[M1911]

The Pike sux. I don't miss that commute one bit. But I do miss the Boston pay scale.

Yup. I just hate my commute.