Replace pads or Tundra Upgrade?

masphx

masphx

New member
Rotated my tires today and has a chance to check my brakes (bought 4R in sept). The brakes started making a grinding sound when coming to a stop at low speeds about a month ago. No wobbling though. This is what I found...

Left Front...
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Right Front...
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Both sides the pads look like they are almost gone. Also on both sides looks like there has been some metal on metal contact. This can been seen on the inside area of the rotor? Must be the grinding sound.

My question is should I replace pads or go for the Tundra upgrade? I plan on doing the Tundra upgrade at a later date as I would like to use money for other things right now. I have read the upgrade can be pricey especially since I don't have good access to yards. Pads on the other hand would be cheaper and hopefully would last a year or more. Just don't know if the rotors are that salvageable with the metal on metal contact.

If I go tundra would probably go with the 199mm upgrade as I read they are direct bolt on. My auto mechanic skills are novice but slowly working on getting better.

Thanks for the advice,

Mason
 
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You need more than pads anyway. Your calipers are f'd up, your rotors look to have some scoring, go with the Tumdra upgrade. I have the 199 kit also, it's so much better than the stock set up.
 
Question about the tundra upgrade... Does the sequoia (front of course) have the same stuff? A local yard has a sequoia and I was wonding
 
Dude, this is a forum where we like to do stuff to our trucks. Give us a choice between just a pad swap or an actual mod, and we say mod!

I have the 199s and love them.
 
I agree with all of them. :iagree: If you are planning on doing them in the future, go ahead and do them now. You do need new pads and rotors. Also those calipers look messed up. Do the upgrade and appreciate the braking power that comes with it.
 
Nashvegas34 said:
Dude, this is a forum where we like to do stuff to our trucks. Give us a choice between just a pad swap or an actual mod, and we say mod!

I have the 199s and love them.
Click to expand...

lol, this is true. Well is seems unanimous that I do the mod instead of the pads. Did not know the calipers were messed up along with the rotors. Glad I posted pictures

So what is the best/cheapest way of getting these parts new? Autozone, Online or OEM? I also need to do the LBJ's so planning on ordering those. I see there are a bunch of write-ups for this mod. Which one is the easiest to follow?

Thanks for all the replies,

Mason
 
masphx said:
lol, this is true. Well is seems unanimous that I do the mod instead of the pads. Did not know the calipers were messed up along with the rotors. Glad I posted pictures

So what is the best/cheapest way of getting these parts new? Autozone, Online or OEM? I also need to do the LBJ's so planning on ordering those. I see there are a bunch of write-ups for this mod. Which one is the easiest to follow?

Thanks for all the replies,

Mason
Click to expand...



Hey Mason,
Here is a great thread with the info/answers to your questions: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/108689-finally-got-tundra-brake-upgrade-going.html
 
Go with they tundra upgrade. And the 231's are a direct bolt on as well. It is with out a doubt the best performance upgrade I've done. I've never done a brake good on any vehicle until this one and it was a piece of cake.
 
Others will have other opinions or sources, but this is what I used:
Calipers: Advance Auto Parts, Buy Fenco Disc Brake Caliper, Front Left SLC9689 at Advance Auto Parts (left) and Buy Fenco Disc Brake Caliper, Front Right SLC9688 at Advance Auto Parts (right)
Rotors: Amazon.com, Brembo 25534 (x2)
Pads: Amazon.com, Akebono ACT812 (1 set)

I just sourced parts that would fit a 2001 Tundra.

Total cost ~$300 (not including the $100 core charge you pay up front for the calipers but that you get back when you return the old ones)
 
LittleCaesar said:
Tundra +2.

Did you replace those brake pads yourself?
Click to expand...

No did not. Bought the truck back in September. Guy selling it said everything was recently replaced on it. Brakes, Timing belt, tires and a few other things. I checked Toyota service records and timing belt was done in 09. I have a feeling everything thing else was done around that same time too. He replaced the Timing belt at 128,000 miles when truck was brought in for a CE light. Service guy probably told him that the belt should be replaced and he did so. At least he got that done there. He was a DIY type of guy using not the greatest parts. I have a Bosch starter for example. Only service record and Carfax record was that 128,000 service done at Toyota.

So back to the Tundra upgrade. Is it worth it to go with the 231mm or just stick to the 199mm? From what I have read the 231mm require some cutting of the dust cover, not sure if they cost more then the 199mm? I have stock rims and tires so not sure if the 231mm would fit.

Mason
 
Go with the 231. Same cost at O'Rielly where I got mine. I have an angle grinder and I spend maybe a total of 45 seconds - 2 minutes trimming. I went with O'Rielly's because the calipers come completely built with pads and all for 119 each w/ lifetime warranty. If I bought them separately from Auto Zone it was going to cost $30-$40 more. I got the rotors there too and checked the casting as BFAD suggested and they looked every bit a good a OME rotors to me. You might could find some $10-15 cheaper on Amazon but I wanted to make the switch that day. I found my pads in a similar state as too did.

Edit: what wheels do you have. There is a running list of what wheels clear the new calipers. Check BFAD thread.
 
I would go with 231mm. I did them on my old 4runner and it only requires a little bit of the dust cover to be cut. Good luck man
 
PhdNPrerunners said:
I would go with 231mm. I did them on my old 4runner and it only requires a little bit of the dust cover to be cut. Good luck man
Click to expand...

^this, replaced my stock ones with top of the line stuff and it was one fo the biggest mistakes I've made with my runner, should have gone straight 231's from the start.
 
Edit: what wheels do you have. There is a running list of what wheels clear the new calipers. Check BFAD thread.
Click to expand...


I have these rims and tires. Could not find that BFAD thread. So I can just pick these parts up at O'Riellys? Do they par up to OEM pretty good? Planning on doing this Thursday - Sunday as the weather is getting cooler those days...

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From what I've read you will have to either get spacers or grind the rims to run the 231 size. I'm in the same debate right now, I don't really think grinding the rim is the best idea.
 
I always replace rotors when I do pads, and I always reccomend that as well.

I had the opportunity to do the upgrade but I had no interest in running spacers and there wasn't enough info on the 199's for me to do it confidently. My truck was apart in the garage and I needed it ASAP.
So I just put normal calipers, rotors and pads on.

I don't tow much and when I do it stops ok anyways, but that's besides the fact I downshift anyway. And 31's and 32's stop fine with the brakes that came on the R16 stock 4Runners.
 
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