TRD vs. OEM Brake Pads
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stinknugget
New member
Not a dumb question at all. I have been considering the same thing as I am not 100% satisfied with OEM pads (I have 18k miles on my '13 TE). If you are not the test subject I will be once I wear through my OEM pads. I say do it and report back! Also, what is the price difference between the TRD and the OEM?
1engineer
Moderator
What do you want out of a pad? I went almost 70K with several thousand miles left. Many members have reported 80-90K miles before replacing. If you really step on the brake the brake assist feature kicks in and you come to a stop scary fast. So, do you want even more life or somehow quicker stops? Just curious what you hope to gain.
stinknugget
New member
To me, the OEM pad feels a tad spongy and week until the bonus Toyota robot braking kicks in. As I am a fan of controlling my own destiny I was hoping to get better braking feel from the pad and not so much more lifespan, if that makes any sense.
harper7
Senior Member
Did you "bed your brakes" in when new?Google FÚ it!
Maybe your just not used to the 4runner brake system as it is unique but IMO very good once you get used to them.
Mine have over 70k miles and still about 5mm pad left,will practically throw me through the windshield if I panic brake them,stopped my 3 ton truck every time as expected ,barely wears the rotors and are quiet and dust free.I couldn't ask for more and will be buying oems to replace them .....as I did on my 4th Gen........ at 100k miles.
Also google TRD brake problems .lol
Jeremy556
New member
Properly bedded in, the T4R's brake system is completely without feel, while being incredibly effective. While I'm all about upgrades and modifications, I recently ordered all around new OEM brake pads, as I noticed at 71k miles, mine were getting close to the notch.
FrontRange4Runner
New member
I got a set of EBC Yellowstuff waiting to be put in. I got them for $60 so even if there is no performance upgrade I'll not be upset. That said, I am always looking for a little more fade resistance on mountain roads. I have not really noticed a problem in the Runner yet with brake fade (it engine brakes quite well), but our previous 05 Accord had issues with it. Nothing like getting to the bottom of a smallish hill only to find you brakes are mush. If people are getting 60k out of their brakes, then it will be a long while before I can report if they make any difference...lol
Hawaiian4runner
New member
Spongy feel is from the brake lines. Even Toyota acknowledges this. I am curious about the TRD pads so please someone try them and report back. I have no experience with TRD pads but in the past with other so called high performance pads, the most noticeable difference was the fricken damn irritating brake squeal (mostly when reversing). When I started asking around, most people told me to live with it or go back to OEM.
I have no specific experience with TRD pads, but I have 10 years track experience with a lot of higher temp and race pads. If it is even a moderately aggressive race pad, I think it would be totally unsuitable for an SUV on the street. Not only will you have a lot of dust and squeal, but they will greatly reduce rotor life. And if they are toward the more aggressive end of the spectrum, you will never get them hot enough for maximum effectiveness, and, in cold weather they could be downright ineffective. Brake pads transfer some of their material to the rotor. Some high temp pads, depending on their formula, will not get hot enough in street driving to keep a uniform layer of this material on the rotor, so brake "pulsation" can result. Something many folks believe to be warped rotors which, in fact, is rarely the case.
The "feel" of a braking system involves the interaction of all its components. Having a lot of experience with Porsche brakes, I just accept the 4R brakes as something that will eventually stop the vehicle, and leave it at that. The entire vehicle is so void of anything approaching true vehicle communication, I think you're better off spending that money on some good Kentucky bourbon and forget about it.
The "feel" of a braking system involves the interaction of all its components. Having a lot of experience with Porsche brakes, I just accept the 4R brakes as something that will eventually stop the vehicle, and leave it at that. The entire vehicle is so void of anything approaching true vehicle communication, I think you're better off spending that money on some good Kentucky bourbon and forget about it.
WillK
New member
If it's the brake lines, would SS lines help with that??
Hawaiian4runner
New member
Yup. Didn't Toyota go with SS on the 2014s?
Jhalko
New member
Just going to throw out an idea on this with nothing other then a personal guess behind it. Notice it's the Colorado guys mostly complaining about brake performance, maybe it's partially a function of driving up and down the Rockies? I lived in western NC and never even thought about brakes but since I've lived in Colorado it seems like I go through them in almost half the time. I drive up and back from the high country a lot and the roads are steeper here for sure, not to mention the traffic.
The 4runner brakes are amazing compared to my old grand Cherokee but that isn't saying much. I just wonder if driving conditions are varied enough here to help explain why us folks in Colorado are looking for an "upgrade" while others think it's a waste of time and money.
The 4runner brakes are amazing compared to my old grand Cherokee but that isn't saying much. I just wonder if driving conditions are varied enough here to help explain why us folks in Colorado are looking for an "upgrade" while others think it's a waste of time and money.
Jeremy556
New member
Downshift.
eddiebx
New member
What if the transmission implodes :violin:
But seriously, I don't think mountain driving is that hard on brakes (and if it is, you're doing it wrong, lol). People who drive in constant stop-and-go traffic in big metropolitan cities probably go through brakes waaaay faster than mountainous regions.
Jhalko
New member
Obviously you aren't familiar with weekend ski traffic in Denver. It's stop and go AND mountain driving! :frusty:
