very confused - can you guys help?

[afg10000]

I've been reading and researching the Tundra Brake upgrade for months. Everyone has always raved about how important this upgrade is. Figured out I needed to go with the 199mm S13WE calipers to clear my wheels w/out grinding. Bought everything and went to install today. To our surprise, the S13WE's were exactly the same size as what I have on there stock. The casting number on my stock calipers is S13WM. Went to town on the interweb and found Toyota made a smaller S12WE caliper for stock 15" wheels and the S13WM for the Limited 16" wheels. The only difference in measurement we could find was the width of the brake pad housing. The S13WE Tundras were slightly wider to accommodate the slightly thicker Tundra rotor. It seems to me at this point there's not much point in doing this since it looks like the only benefit I'd get would be a thicker and heavier rotor. I didn't realize Toyota made different size calipers for the Runners. I assumed from all the threads that the Tundra calipers (both sizes) were far more effective than the stock 4Runner's. Am I missing something here? Is installing the Tundra gear really gonna make a big difference compared to what I have? I've not seen any threads or posts about this. Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions you guys can provide-

 

[wheelds]

the stock 4runner rotors have a tendancy to warp when under heavy use. A thicker rotor will help against warping. even if you dont have a larger brake pad surface area the new brakes would still be an upgrade. Think in terms of preventitive maintenance.

If it was me, I would do 231mm and find new wheels - my $.02

 

[JayRolla]

Toyota went too the 231mm because the 199mm was still warping rotors. Again you could have cleared them probably with spacers.

 

[Steve240]

what about just upgrading to higher quality rotors, bremo's or a like. I havent pulled the tricker on a brake up grade yet but I had the same concerns, I want to keep my rim's and I don't want to bother with spacers. I was thinking of trying upgraded rotors and hawk performace pads.

 

[madetomeasure]

Toyota went too the 231mm because the 199mm was still warping rotors. Again you could have cleared them probably with spacers.

The rotors were warping only when stopping a Tundra. One would be hard-pressed (pun intended) to warp 13WE/199mm rotors on a lighter weight 4runner.


I just bought 13WL calipers yesterday to do a 231 swap, and I'll be grinding my wheels. The amount needed to grind is so minimal there isn't any structural issues...

 

[afg10000]

Toyota went too the 231mm because the 199mm was still warping rotors. Again you could have cleared them probably with spacers.

I was thinking about getting the spidertrax spacers from Toytec anyway at some point. So I won't have gring the back of the spokes to clear the 231's with the 1.25" spacers? Sorry, I wish I'd have known the S13WM's and the S13WE's were pretty much the same. BigFishAllDay's thread has pics and measurements for the S13WM and the 13WL, but only a reference pic of the S13WE. Maybe I can take a pic of these S13WE's and place the red arrows and measurements on there to contribute since I have them sitting right here.
thanks for the help -

 

[JayRolla]

The rotors were warping only when stopping a Tundra. One would be hard-pressed (pun intended) to warp 13WE/199mm rotors on a lighter weight 4runner.


I just bought 13WL calipers yesterday to do a 231 swap, and I'll be grinding my wheels. The amount needed to grind is so minimal there isn't any structural issues...

But like stated the 199mm is not much of an upgrade. I have a 1996 4runner with stock brakes and rotors since I bought it and they are NOT warped. Also brakes like a champ with stock brakes. I hear a lot say it feels almost unsafe on stock brakes but I have never had that feeling unless I didnt bleed well enough. But I also dont brake hard and dont run though puddles. Hot breaks and then running through some cold mud has been known too warp rotors also.

 

[afg10000]

Did some consulting with my mechanic friends and poured deeper into forums and googles. General consensus is the 199mm upgrade is at least worth the 3/8" thickness of the larger rotor (Thanks, Wheelds). I still cannot find a concrete answer with the spacer question. I need to make a decision. If the wheel spacer grants me enough room to accommodate the 231's, the cost is really nothing other than the $200 for the 4 spacers. I've found plenty of probablys and shoulds (I have the split spoke '96 limited rims, same as JayRolla).
But, from your above post, you decided not to do the upgrade. I don't mind spending the money on the spacers to do the full monty. I haven't skimped on my build thus far. I already have Brembo rotors (amazon), Bosch Quietcast non-chamfered pads (though amazon sent the ones for the 231's so they're useless right now) and the 199mm calipers from Napa. The cost to exchange the calipers to the 231's is about $2.00. Can anyone confirm the Spidertrax 1.25" spacers will fit the stock rims with no grinding to the rims?

 

[madetomeasure]

Did some consulting with my mechanic friends and poured deeper into forums and googles. General consensus is the 199mm upgrade is at least worth the 3/8" thickness of the larger rotor (Thanks, Wheelds). I still cannot find a concrete answer with the spacer question. I need to make a decision. If the wheel spacer grants me enough room to accommodate the 231's, the cost is really nothing other than the $200 for the 4 spacers. I've found plenty of probablys and shoulds (I have the split spoke '96 limited rims, same as JayRolla).
But, from your above post, you decided not to do the upgrade. I don't mind spending the money on the spacers to do the full monty. I haven't skimped on my build thus far. I already have Brembo rotors (amazon), Bosch Quietcast non-chamfered pads (though amazon sent the ones for the 231's so they're useless right now) and the 199mm calipers from Napa. The cost to exchange the calipers to the 231's is about $2.00. Can anyone confirm the Spidertrax 1.25" spacers will fit the stock rims with no grinding to the rims?

Yes, Spidertrax fit and will clearance the 231's with no grinding whatsoever...

 

[afg10000]

Yes, Spidertrax fit and will clearance the 231's with no grinding whatsoever...

Thanks for the conformation. I'm gonna order the spacers and go big -

 

[JayRolla]

Did some consulting with my mechanic friends and poured deeper into forums and googles. General consensus is the 199mm upgrade is at least worth the 3/8" thickness of the larger rotor (Thanks, Wheelds). I still cannot find a concrete answer with the spacer question. I need to make a decision. If the wheel spacer grants me enough room to accommodate the 231's, the cost is really nothing other than the $200 for the 4 spacers. I've found plenty of probablys and shoulds (I have the split spoke '96 limited rims, same as JayRolla).
But, from your above post, you decided not to do the upgrade. I don't mind spending the money on the spacers to do the full monty. I haven't skimped on my build thus far. I already have Brembo rotors (amazon), Bosch Quietcast non-chamfered pads (though amazon sent the ones for the 231's so they're useless right now) and the 199mm calipers from Napa. The cost to exchange the calipers to the 231's is about $2.00. Can anyone confirm the Spidertrax 1.25" spacers will fit the stock rims with no grinding to the rims?

From what I can tell the 1.25" spacer is enough to clear the caliper since there is less than 1" of material that needs removed from inside our rims to get them too clear. I havnt decided against it just decided its not mandatory at this time. I will be doing the upgrade since its always nice to have more brake when your towing or fully loaded.

You should be good, and like stated the 199mm is still worth the upgrade but if your anything like me your just going to wish you did the 231 in the beginning.

 

[afg10000]

From what I can tell the 1.25" spacer is enough to clear the caliper since there is less than 1" of material that needs removed from inside our rims to get them too clear. I havnt decided against it just decided its not mandatory at this time. I will be doing the upgrade since its always nice to have more brake when your towing or fully loaded.

You should be good, and like stated the 199mm is still worth the upgrade but if your anything like me your just going to wish you did the 231 in the beginning.

I'm with ya. I'm more than 1/2 way there with the gear I got. The spacers will be good anyway. For some reason I actually get a bit of a refund from Napa swapping the 199's for the 231's. Thanks for all the help -