PowerStop Brake Upgrade Kit

I’ve had no issues but I drive it like the heavy truck that it is and not a race car.
I also spent 15 years driving XJ Cherokees which don’t exactly have the greatest brakes.

 

I’d do this if I just drove in parking lots. I think it’s hysterical that people do this. Durago rotors and akebono pads are the winning combo for me.

 

If you going to rice your 4Runner with drilled rotors, you should go all the way - lower it, put a giant wing at the back and put a fart can sideways exhaust to complete the look.

Drilled and slotted rotors sometimes used it racing applications to enable brake pad out gassing. Outgassing only happens at extreme and prolonged usage, such as on the race track. Otherwise you just reduce braking surface, introduce weak spots into a rotor, and for anyone going offroad - risking trapping dirt and stones and ruining your brakes.

Also, the car I track with has solid rotors. I don't like dealing with warped rotors and benefits of slots are minimal for pads I use.

 

As mentioned earlier, I'm pretty sure the brakes just feel weak compared to other vehicles due to a softer pedal feel. The brakes on my 4Runner are way better than the brakes on my Silverado.

I do have Powerstop pads, but I doubt they're making that much of a difference.

If you prefer high performance brakes, that's your preference. Obviously the 4Runner's brakes aren't going to compare to a sports car.

As far as the Corolla: more sensitive doesn't equal better.

 

I value the ability to modulate braking force in the 4Runner. The soft pedal contributes to better control off road.

My OEM brakes can easily activate ABS on the road. Even with heavy 34” tires. This tells me the limiting factor in normal road driving is tire grip; Not necessarily braking force.

If I was consistently seeing high temperatures that affected braking ability, a larger rotor and pads would certainly help. Even just changing to a different compound pad could help. But for my use I think the factory brakes work great.

 

I may have missed this somewhere in this thread, but maybe your 4R needs a proper bleed? I've read about someone having a vacuum bleed done and it made a huge difference. Wondering if yours might have air or moisture in the system.

 

Braking is definitely a subjective preference for almost everyone as I've seen working in the industry and having 30 years of track experience. I don't think anyone expects a sportscar type feel (in any regards) when buying/owning a 4Runner. For me, personally, I'd like a better feeling brake system but it's way down on list of priorities for my 4Runner - as I can get from A to B safely and it brings me joy to take it up to the mountains or out to the desert.

 

Went with slotted and drilled and so far like it. Only issue is rear pads are getting chewed up. Only last about 1 to 1.5 year. But I do have a heavy foot when it comes to braking.

 

Nice! Is that just a painted OEM caliper? I need to rebuild my calipers at some point and have thought about painting it while it's apart.

 

Yes, just an OEM caliper. 1st time for me, cleaned it up, applied with brush, 2 coats. So far holding up pretty good, even the cheesy vinyl TRD sticker still holding up. It's 2nd winter and still good.

 

The Care Care Nut just put out a video on Toyota brakes. He really pushes Toyota products. I don’t agree with his irrational hate towards aftermarket brakes. I have never bought factory brakes for any vehicle I have owned and never had any issues of noise. I do agree with his comments on Toyota calipers seizing as I need to replace one tomorrow.
https://youtu.be/BgqXi7i849M?si=cNqjOeSY9yerbQAO

 

Powerstop Z36 work great. I have used them on everything I have owned for a few decades now. Drilled and slotted work great and I haven't had to resurface when replacing pads yet. The Z32 might be a better choice if you don't haul or tow much. The 5th generation have best brakes on a 4runner so far. The drilled and slotted can be machined if needed. I replaced the brake lines with stainless steel and now if you hit them a little too fast, they will throw you through the windshield. I could definitely tell a difference with stainless lines. You do have to seat their pads per instructions, but there's no fade or marshmallow pedal when you are through. The rears wear more quickly than the front pads on mine. I think it's because it's a Limited and AWD and 3rd row. I know from personal experience and not a guess.

 

I’ve had Powerstop discs on my 3/4T diesel for +10yrs and love them, no warping like OEMs.

 

It's genuine Toyota rotors and pads for me (made by Advics this time around). The brakes easily activate the ABS on clean, dry pavement. And these are the smaller 319 mm fourth gen. SR5 front rotors. All the braking power I'll ever need. I also regularly check all four calipers for free-moving pins and pistons and bleed them thoroughly.

 

2018, with 110k, road hard , put away wet. Salt on roads in winter, beat the shit out of it on the weekends, stop and go daily.

Still on the original brake pads and rotors. Original oem everything.






Good hell.

 

I dunno I have the Centric discs from RockAuto, they actually come in Powerstop boxes. I find they offer nice initial grip in the rain. I am more satisfied with the heavy duty Akebono pads I put on them. Brake flush I found prior to doing the discs did little to stop mushiness. Pads are key. Like others have said the holes can get gummed up..but ive been ok so far.

The problem with OEM discs is they have two levels of discs.. the Japan ones..hard to get or the lovely POS chinese crap they sell at Toyota now.. these are far worse than what you get OEM from Japan.

I plan on doing rears next with the drilled slotted discs. I have on previous sports cars cracked drilled discs, it happens even with camforing of drill hole. But hey.. I like them in the rain.

 

My suggestion and this is a big one.

DONT USE Vacuum or Power Bleeder on this vehicle. I have both... nightmare city!!! Use manual method, start at front per manual use the pedal pump. For rears use the booster pump..hit the pedal it dumps it for you..

I tried a high end Motive and Mityvac... This truck doesnt like this at all. Couldnt get air out with either. Using factory method it was a breeze.

 

I was looking for a Brembo upgrade... Disappointed. Probably go wilwood six piston in the future.

 

What was disappointing?

 

I have been using the other Powername. Powerbrake, big break kit. Tons of videos and content online about this. I can tell a difference with this versus OEM. They seem aging well. this was when new.

The other day rotating tires.

 

The kit keeps the dust shield and fit a stock 17" rim?

 

Yes, I kept the OEM dust shield but had to trim it a little bit. They fit the 17" wheel. They don't fit on a 16 though. I got the same rotors and pads on the tacoma but couldn't fit the calipers because I run a 16" wheel on the taco. They do well also on the taco. This kit is solid but expensive IMO. Nothing cheap these days.

 

Thank you, just caught "jailbreak's". Vid on them (same individual that i referenced for a S/C install) and he showed the same. There's one vid i watched that they grind the whole shield off.