TRD PRO BIG Brake Kit...

I think there are easy ways of boosting pressure. Like a large booster diaphragm. I am curious if higher pressure would result in more aggressive Atrac function. That is something that could have some utility with larger tires. Although if I'm ever in the front diff to re gear for big tires it'll get a locker so atrac won't really matter anymore.
 
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This is a good mod, a why not, whatever mod, kinda cool mod. Why would it cause controversy? This is not a garbage bag mod. How is it that even a thread with a genuine enthusiast mod such as this turns into poop? <Rhetorical question. I am trying to get used to that fact. (I won't.)

I like the brakes, and, yes, the rears need to match.
 
DEERUNNER said:
This is a good mod, a why not, whatever mod, kinda cool mod. Why would it cause controversy? This is not a garbage bag mod. How is it that even a thread with a genuine enthusiast mod such as this turns into poop? <Rhetorical question. I am trying to get used to that fact. (I won't.)

I like the brakes, and, yes, the rears need to match.
Click to expand...

Yep I think the rears would want to match so that the ABS/A-Trac/DAC would still work with the CPU controlling it.

My personal opinion though - These trucks don't need more brakes than they already have.

FUN THREAD
 
DEERUNNER said:
This is a good mod, a why not, whatever mod, kinda cool mod. Why would it cause controversy? This is not a garbage bag mod. How is it that even a thread with a genuine enthusiast mod such as this turns into poop? <Rhetorical question. I am trying to get used to that fact. (I won't.)

I like the brakes, and, yes, the rears need to match.
Click to expand...

Because this is the 4Runner forum. It is not a GTR forum. Most enthusiasts on this site are off-road oriented. A few on here are interested in modding the performance aspects of the vehicle. I being one of them.

[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] - Sounds like tires are what matter most. But wouldn't larger two piece rotors that are lighter than stock, (to make a point look at carbon ceramic), with less rotational mass feel much more responsive in terms of acceleration, handling and braking? Just as adding larger 33" tires would hinder those aspects of performance?

I know the OP went the same size as stock, possibly heavier... But rotora might offer two piece rotors in a larger diameter. Or is the weight savings negligible given moving the center of intertia further out?
 
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Well now; noting that the OP lives in San Francisco with all those steep hills and the streets laid out in a grid with no regard to terrain they might just be necessary.

I burnt out two clutches and broke a u-joint on my old '46 Dodge Club Coupe when I lived there way back when (1950s). That was when Lombard Street was straight!
 
Formidable said:
Because this is the 4Runner forum. It is not a GTR forum. Most enthusiasts on this site are off-road oriented. A few on here are interested in modding the performance aspects of the vehicle. I being one of them.

[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] - Sounds like tires are what matter most. But wouldn't larger two piece rotors that are lighter than stock, (to make a point look at carbon ceramic), with less rotational mass feel much more responsive in terms of acceleration, handling and braking? Just as adding larger 33" tires would hinder those aspects of performance?
Click to expand...

Yes I made jokes. Probably shouldn't have.

Many people out there think because they read something then it must be true, especially on the internet.

With that said the two most important components on a vehicle are brakes and tires. Let's talk about stopping ability for a bit. I am not really going to talk about the more esoteric aspects of braking systems because hey, this is a 4600 lb top heavy slug of an SUV right? I don't see track days in the 4Runner's future so improving brakes for less fade and unsprung weight reduction really have no bearing here. Looks? Sure, I will give him that. Red calipers look better.

With that said lets look at the stopping ability of the 4Runner or any vehicle for that matter. Basically breaking is dissipation of the vehicle's kinetic energy. How quick you stop depends on:
1. Reaction time
2. Tires
3. Road Surface
4. Braking system

To decrease stopping distance assuming that items 1-3 are the same then you need to modify the breaking system so that, from time of actuation to the tires being on the edge of sliding, you decrease that time.

Right now, especially with the exceptional braking ability of the 4Runner in panic mode, there are very few things you could mod that will decrease that time. I do not know the exact time from initial control actuation to tires at the edge of lockup but it is measured in milliseconds. How do you speed that up? You modify the electronics in the ABS not the caliper.

Now let's examine the other three items. Reaction time is what it is. Some people have quicker reaction times, some don't. Calipers won't help there.

Tires are extremely important if you want to decrease stopping distance. A big soft, sticky tire would shorten stopping distance considerably. Remember that it only took milliseconds for the tire to go from no breaking to edge of skid breaking. Sticky tires will let the vehicle stop quicker because they provide more adhesion to the road.

Road surface is especially important whether it is wet, ice covered or dry. We usually have no control over that though.


Having slotted rotors, ceramic brake components, carbon parts, more pistons in the caliper and other cool mods are more geared towards repetitive slowing of the vehicle, not stopping. In every day use our 4Runner is just like all the other passenger vehicles out there and stopping is the most important thing the brakes do.

If I really wanted to improve the braking performance of the 4Runner I would:
1. Change out all the brake lines to the strongest available and
2. Get the widest, softest, non aggressive tread tire I could afford to run.

These mods would knock a few feet of the 60-0 stopping distance. The mod that would knock the most off the stopping distance? Reaction time. In the real world you take about 1/3 of your stopping distance to react. There's room for improvement there in everyone.

Here's a link if you want to know a bit more about ABS newtonian mechanics - Does ABS shorten stopping distance of a car? - Physics Stack Exchange but at the end of the day I will enthusiastically concede the point that red calipers look cooler but only if all four are red.
 
I think I need to buy some red engine enamel and go paint my calipers. Naw; too much work for now. Maybe I'll just buy the paint and wait for a day when I'm rotating tires. Naw; usually when I'm rotating I wash the inside of the rims - that wouldn't be too great - wet rims and waiting for paint to dry. Maybe I'll just leave them the way they are - -

It's really easy to justify not working on car upgrades when you get older - - -
If it ain't broke, don't - - -
 
1engineer said:
Yes I made jokes. Probably shouldn't have.

Many people out there think because they read something then it must be true, especially on the internet.

With that said the two most important components on a vehicle are brakes and tires. Let's talk about stopping ability for a bit. I am not really going to talk about the more esoteric aspects of braking systems because hey, this is a 4600 lb top heavy slug of an SUV right? I don't see track days in the 4Runner's future so improving brakes for less fade and unsprung weight reduction really have no bearing here. Looks? Sure, I will give him that. Red calipers look better.

With that said lets look at the stopping ability of the 4Runner or any vehicle for that matter. Basically breaking is dissipation of the vehicle's kinetic energy. How quick you stop depends on:
1. Reaction time
2. Tires
3. Road Surface
4. Braking system

To decrease stopping distance assuming that items 1-3 are the same then you need to modify the breaking system so that, from time of actuation to the tires being on the edge of sliding, you decrease that time.

Right now, especially with the exceptional braking ability of the 4Runner in panic mode, there are very few things you could mod that will decrease that time. I do not know the exact time from initial control actuation to tires at the edge of lockup but it is measured in milliseconds. How do you speed that up? You modify the electronics in the ABS not the caliper.

Now let's examine the other three items. Reaction time is what it is. Some people have quicker reaction times, some don't. Calipers won't help there.

Tires are extremely important if you want to decrease stopping distance. A big soft, sticky tire would shorten stopping distance considerably. Remember that it only took milliseconds for the tire to go from no breaking to edge of skid breaking. Sticky tires will let the vehicle stop quicker because they provide more adhesion to the road.

Road surface is especially important whether it is wet, ice covered or dry. We usually have no control over that though.


Having slotted rotors, ceramic brake components, carbon parts, more pistons in the caliper and other cool mods are more geared towards repetitive slowing of the vehicle, not stopping. In every day use our 4Runner is just like all the other passenger vehicles out there and stopping is the most important thing the brakes do.

If I really wanted to improve the braking performance of the 4Runner I would:
1. Change out all the brake lines to the strongest available and
2. Get the widest, softest, non aggressive tread tire I could afford to run.

These mods would knock a few feet of the 60-0 stopping distance. The mod that would knock the most off the stopping distance? Reaction time. In the real world you take about 1/3 of your stopping distance to react. There's room for improvement there in everyone.

Here's a link if you want to know a bit more about ABS newtonian mechanics - Does ABS shorten stopping distance of a car? - Physics Stack Exchange but at the end of the day I will enthusiastically concede the point that red calipers look cooler but only if all four are red.
Click to expand...

For Christ's sake Greg, if you want people to take you seriously you need to stop breaking so many things.

Just sayin. :hiding:
 
[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] - As usual, well said, and thanks for the link. In the acute, slam on the brakes event I can see how these probably won't make a lick of difference.

The comments regarding the difference between stopping and slowing are appreciated.
 
Jetboy said:
I had tundra brakes on my last 4 runner but I kept warping due to driving a canyon with 4000 vertical feet in 8 miles. But the 5 th gen brakes are much bigger. Is anyone having brake problems?
Click to expand...

I typically drive the canyon north of that one and nope, no issues here apart from people driving so far below the posted speed limit that they fall off the grade :)
 
Ron4RNevada said:
That link has got to be the most confusing explanation of how and why ABS works that I've ever seen - And I think mostly wrong.
Click to expand...

Sorry Ron, should have explained the link a bit. The link is to a physics version of the 4Runner forum. Usually the first post there is like the first post here lol. You have to go through it a bit to get the right answer.
 
My plan was to go all BBK all 4 corners. They do not have any rear to fit 17. If I go 18 all around, I can get all 4 corners with 2 piece rotor.

There's always pros and cons to every mod.

Some pros to upgrading to bigger brake, when you add a lot of weight to the vehicle, heavy front a rear armor bumper, winch, 33in rims/tire, roof rack, 3 inch lift, you slowly lose the factory brakes and they barely work. My brother's Tacoma is like this, he has to stop a whole block a head of time. HAHAHA!

Thanks for the comments, in the end its my vehicle and I can do what ever I like to it because I own it. :clap2:
 
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I feel that every vehicle I've ever driven could have used better brakes, but some were just atrocious.

Congrats to the OP on the upgrade!
 
SOOTRD said:
My plan was to go all BBK all 4 corners. They do not have any rear to fit 17. If I go 18 all around, I can get all 4 corners with 2 piece rotor.

There's always pros and cons to every mod.

Some pros to upgrading to bigger brake, when you add a lot of weight to the vehicle, heavy front a rear armor bumper, winch, 33in rims/tire, roof rack, 3 inch lift, you slowly lose the factory brakes and they barely work. My brother's Tacoma is like this, he has to stop a whole block a head of time. HAHAHA!

Thanks for the comments, in the end its my vehicle and I can do what ever I like to it because I own it. :clap2:
Click to expand...

Most of us are 4x4tards and anything that doesn't lift, armor, or lock gets the neanderthal treatment.
 
SOOTRD said:
My plan was to go all BBK all 4 corners. They do not have any rear to fit 17. If I go 18 all around, I can get all 4 corners with 2 piece rotor.

There's always pros and cons to every mod.

Some pros to upgrading to bigger brake, when you add a lot of weight to the vehicle, heavy front a rear armor bumper, winch, 33in rims/tire, roof rack, 3 inch lift, you slowly lose the factory brakes and they barely work. My brother's Tacoma is like this, he has to stop a whole block a head of time. HAHAHA!

Thanks for the comments, in the end its my vehicle and I can do what ever I like to it because I own it. :clap2:
Click to expand...

Of course you can do wnat you want to your own vehicle no one questioned that. After reading your post you might want to brush up on physics a bit if you think your brake kit will help with adding weight.
 
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