Tundra Brake Upgrade from the pick and pull

[AntleredRuin]

Ok, so not specifically a 3rd Gen 4runner question, but still.

Have a few days off next week and a few bucks to burn and I need new brakes.
Figured I'd look into the TBU from a pick and pull and grab a few other misc items while I'm there.
I've not been to a pick and pull in 20 years (I was a kid and don't remember much).
For the people who got their TBU brakes used, how did you get them off? Will these places lift vehicles for you, or are they generally already lifted? Should I bring a jack and stands?

 

[JohnMc]

All the PnP's I've been to have the cars up on stands of some sort. Usually wheels off already. And they don't allow jacks or stands in. Too much chance of someone dropping a car on themselves.

 

[T4R2014]

Should be on blocks already. Bring some penetrating oil and a breaker bar. Also remember that if you can't find a Tundra then a Sequoia has those calipers as well!

 

[ZebRuaj]

The pick n pulls around me have all the cars sitting on steelies supporting the vehicle in the lift spots. Just don't go after a recent storm or you'll be in the mud pulling parts off.

I usually bring my cordless impact and some PB Blaster. Gets thru most rusted bolts for the odds and ends I want.

 

[AntleredRuin]

That all sounds great, guys. Thanks! And if course Houston has been flooding for the past week.
Well the neat thing about here is Shepherd St. Literally dozens of pick and pulls lined up side by side on either side of the street for like 3 miles.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

 

[spruce]

I got my Tundra calipers used on ebay from Texas. $60ea. inc. shipping.
You might try looking there and spend the time driving rather than wrenching in the mud.
Just an idea.

 

[Scramble]

I would not use calipers from a junkyard. Brakes are pretty important. For a few dollars more you could get rebuilds from Napa using OEM housings. They'll be nice & shiny & you could paint them a pretty color...

 

[abishoff]

I got rebuilt ones off RockAuto. seems that is a good route

 

[Yoter]

If you do end up getting them at PNP, Just in case you don't already know not all Tundras had the same brakes some had smaller 199mm Rotors and the larger brakes are the 13WL Calipers. The Calipers will "13WL" cast into the side of the caliper.

 

[shootmymime]

dont listen to these naysayers. i have bought many from pull yards my pair, and 2 other pair (sold them) all in from the start i have my TBU in it $100 total. super easy. cut the brake lines, and use the 19mm IIRC to remove the bolts and it pulls right off.

 

[jpeaslee]

I'll second some pb blaster and a breaker bar. Should be set with that.

As long as the pistons aren't pitted, I don't really see a problem with using them from a junkyard. Spend 20 bucks on a rebuild and take an hour to rebuild them and you'll be set. 100% happy with mine.

 

[AntleredRuin]

I was able to hit up a few yards yesterday with my wife (and she had a lot of fun! She actually said that this was more fun than shopping at the mall! I really scored with her!)

Found a few Tundras, but all had the brakes completely removed already; most even had the front axle completely gone too. Is there an axle swap that I missed somewhere? Haha.
No Sequoias at all.

I DID find a leopard print bra in the front seat of an Explorer though...most likely from the distracting hooker that caused the crash...

dont listen to these naysayers. i have bought many from pull yards my pair, and 2 other pair (sold them) all in from the start i have my TBU in it $100 total. super easy. cut the brake lines, and use the 19mm IIRC to remove the bolts and it pulls right off.

That was my next more serious question with this; the socket size, which you answered. I had read 17mm, and maybe 19mm, depending on the vehicle, and I only have a 17mm. So i'll be getting a 19mm, just in case for when I go again in a few days.

I would not use calipers from a junkyard. Brakes are pretty important. For a few dollars more you could get rebuilds from Napa using OEM housings. They'll be nice & shiny & you could paint them a pretty color...

As for the concerns with the 'used' brakes, I'm really not too concerned. I've almost only ever heard of brake rebuilds on forums like this, where the members are the loudest representatives of a group of owners with 0 problems at all.
My dad has worked at a Firestone off and on for almost the past 30 years, and he said that rebuilds are very few and far in between, and almost NEVER Toyotas.
I bought my 4runner with warped rotors a year and 23k miles ago and STILL haven't changed them, so I'm used to bad brakes.
Obviously I'll visually inspect them first, though, and I'll be sure to make them nice and pretty too.

If you do end up getting them at PNP, Just in case you don't already know not all Tundras had the same brakes some had smaller 199mm Rotors and the larger brakes are the 13WL Calipers. The Calipers will "13WL" cast into the side of the caliper.

I have the Limited with the 17'' 5 Spoke wheels, so either size of the Tundra should fit fine with no filing, unless I'm mistaken. I'd like the 231mm, but the 199mm are still better that stock T4R

 

[kolelt]

You can get OEM junkyard and rebuild it your self. Have them powder coat it.

 

[gamefreakgc]

P.S. there are powder coated rebuilt Tundra calipers on Rockauto for $49 each. A pair of them are currently installed on my 4Runner.

 

[thor999]

Sorry to thread jack, but I just bought a pair of 13wl from a member here, one has a stuck piston, anyone have recommendations as to how to remove it?

 

[AntleredRuin]

Well on Friday I searched a few P & Ps and found an '05 Sequoia that still had it's front brakes. A bit of smooth talking, and $80 even later, I was walking out the door with them.
The '05 (or maybe all Sequoias) have the 231mm calipers.

My dad works at a mechanic so he can turn the rotors for free. 2 caliper rebuild kits and a set of pads from AutoZone runs $40, and extra brake fluid, cleaner, and some blue rattle can runs about $10 from Wally World.
So for $130 all in, I have my brakes!

Now to find time to rebuild and install...


Note with the P & Ps I looked at (which is most of the yards on Shepherd St here in Houston). Most of the vehicle were already up on steelies, but they all said that they would pull parts for me. They would not let me bring any tools in (but i did bring a baby WD40, a flat and Phillip head screwdriver, and some needle-nose pliers in my pocket). Got a couple of random pins and things as well as the brakes, like the larger push-pin door panel clips and a new clip for my drivers side sun visor. I'm not going to ask them to remove those for me...

Also, I'm sure all you guys have noticed this, but they seem more willing to cut you a deal if you are polite and friendly (and maybe a bit of a suck-up). A couple places even had signs saying this. I didn't even have to haggle the brakes down at all; I had joked with the guy a little bit while he was looking to see if they had any 4runners and I conceded to him on the style of radio/AC bezel for the '96-'98 vs '99-'02 (even though I knew he was wrong). He was SURE that his available '96-'98 style was from a 2000 and I started to correct him, but after a moment just said, "Maybe I'm mistaken." He seemed to like that, and when I came back to ask about the brakes, he said ,"Eh, how does $40 a side sound to you, my friend?" No noticeable tax added, even though there were signs EVERYWHERE that they charge tax.

The other yards were short and rude and when I wasn't the most receptive to that, quoted the brakes I asked about at around $130-$160 total.

Sorry to thread jack, but I just bought a pair of 13wl from a member here, one has a stuck piston, anyone have recommendations as to how to remove it?

I've not looked to deeply at my calipers yet, but I will rebuild them in the next few weeks and I might be able to tell you then.

 

[01thunder]

I would not use calipers from a junkyard. Brakes are pretty important. For a few dollars more you could get rebuilds from Napa using OEM housings. They'll be nice & shiny & you could paint them a pretty color...

i've been through 2 sets of napa already, due to grabbing on one side and leaking pistons on the other.

 

[AntleredRuin]

I would not use calipers from a junkyard. Brakes are pretty important. For a few dollars more you could get rebuilds from Napa using OEM housings. They'll be nice & shiny & you could paint them a pretty color...

Also, I apologize, Scramble, because you caught my rant;

Really not meaning to be snarky at all, but I gotta call you on this. I know the word 'few' is kinda opinionated, but buying rebuilt calipers from Napa costs more than a 'few' dollars more than junkyard.
I paid $20 per caliper (no core charge) from a P&P. I can fully rebuild for about $50 each if necessary (which really shouldn't be; resellers rebuild as an 'insurance policy' and Tundra/Sequoia brakes are known for sturdiness). So $70 (MAYBE $80) total per caliper at the worst. I'm still better off than buying NAPA 'rebuilt' which don't have very good reviews and cost roughly $90 + core charge of $50 each. I know the core charge is refundable, but an extra hundred bucks can be killer for some people.
So technically per caliper, no rebuild, not even regarding the core charge, the 'few dollars' roughly translates to 4.5x the amount. Obviously that number can fluctuate, but still.

Reminds me of King of the Hill:
CUSTOMER: Do you honor Mega-Lo Mart coupons?
HANK: No, but for pennies more, you get the same products with Strickland service.
CUSTOMER: How many pennies?
HANK: .......Several hundred.


What's the difference in buying rebuilt vs buying and rebuilding yourself for cheaper? I highly doubt the parts house rebuilders as a whole are all that competent. I'd rather trust my stopping ability to myself rather than to a minimum wage rebuilder who just spits these things out.

Again, really not trying to be mean, but I couldn't let that go.
Caught me as funny more than anything else.

 

[Scramble]

Also, I apologize, Scramble, because you caught my rant;

Really not meaning to be snarky at all, but I gotta call you on this. I know the word 'few' is kinda opinionated, but buying rebuilt calipers from Napa costs more than a 'few' dollars more than junkyard.
I paid $20 per caliper (no core charge) from a P&P. I can fully rebuild for about $50 each if necessary (which really shouldn't be; resellers rebuild as an 'insurance policy' and Tundra/Sequoia brakes are known for sturdiness). So $70 (MAYBE $80) total per caliper at the worst. I'm still better off than buying NAPA 'rebuilt' which don't have very good reviews and cost roughly $90 + core charge of $50 each. I know the core charge is refundable, but an extra hundred bucks can be killer for some people.
So technically per caliper, no rebuild, not even regarding the core charge, the 'few dollars' roughly translates to 4.5x the amount. Obviously that number can fluctuate, but still.

Reminds me of King of the Hill:
CUSTOMER: Do you honor Mega-Lo Mart coupons?
HANK: No, but for pennies more, you get the same products with Strickland service.
CUSTOMER: How many pennies?
HANK: .......Several hundred.


What's the difference in buying rebuilt vs buying and rebuilding yourself for cheaper? I highly doubt the parts house rebuilders as a whole are all that competent. I'd rather trust my stopping ability to myself rather than to a minimum wage rebuilder who just spits these things out.

Again, really not trying to be mean, but I couldn't let that go.
Caught me as funny more than anything else.

No worries, we all get snarky sometimes. My comment was not based on rebuilding it yourself. A lot of people here use them without rebuilding & have paid as much as $60 ea from a P&P. As you can see above people have had problems with junkyard calipers. It also depends on where you live. Up here in the NE calipers are rusted out. Mine are new OEM Tundra's but I got them at half price.

As gamefreak said. $50 each on Rockauto powder coated.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Also, I'm sure all you guys have noticed this, but they seem more willing to cut you a deal if you are polite and friendly (and maybe a bit of a suck-up). A couple places even had signs saying this. I didn't even have to haggle the brakes down at all; I had joked with the guy a little bit while he was looking to see if they had any 4runners and I conceded to him on the style of radio/AC bezel for the '96-'98 vs '99-'02 (even though I knew he was wrong). He was SURE that his available '96-'98 style was from a 2000 and I started to correct him, but after a moment just said, "Maybe I'm mistaken." He seemed to like that, and when I came back to ask about the brakes, he said ,"Eh, how does $40 a side sound to you, my friend?" No noticeable tax added, even though there were signs EVERYWHERE that they charge tax.

The other yards were short and rude and when I wasn't the most receptive to that, quoted the brakes I asked about at around $130-$160 total.

Totally true out here in California. We are known for being a bit more... rude. Case in point, there was a guy in front of me complaining and whining about pricing about this and that and trying to nickel and dime the guys at the counter. Wanted to speak to the manager because of "outrageous" pricing, ended up not making a sale. Then I come up, friendly and asking about a few parts. I end up going out in the yard with him and helping him identify the bumper trim piece I need and a few other odds and ends. After listing to him talk about his wife & son he ends up just giving me the other parts for free.

If I were in his shoes I would do the same thing, reward people who are courteous and the type you want as a customer. I'll be back there the next time I need something.