Looking for Tundra big brake info

Thanks everyone for your great info on this. 2 questions I have a napa close by, if I go with the Tundra from them what about the core return. I will be returning Tacoma calipers not the Tundra ones. Buzzards commented that to use the 199mm rather than the 231mm brakes for 16" oem wheels. The 2 sizes he mentioned was that the rotor or caliper size. Thanks again for all your help.

 

So the Tundra came with 2 size calipers, How do I make sure I get the smaller ones? Looking at them on Napa and Advanced sites, both do not mention size.

 

the 231 calipers WILL fit some OEM 16” wheels. Theres a thread about it on this forum.
Doesn’t make sense to do this mod and end up with 199 mm calipers, go for the 231 mm.
It’s worth it.

 

The 231mm size will only clear a few 16" wheels, but there are a few they will clear.
The 199mm size will clear pretty much all OEM Toyota 16" wheels.

Contrary to popular belief the main difference is great, worth the upgrade, but not as drastic as people claim.
They don't realize they're replacing 20 year old brakes with brand new ones, plus usually adding stainless steel braided brake lines and new brake fluid, etc.

All of that alone would make for a notable difference. The rotor, caliper, and larger brake pad surface area make a difference as well, obviously. But not nearly as much as people claim.

The real benefit of the Tundra brake upgrade is the WIDTH of the rotor, as it is much less able to warp over and over like the OEM 4Runner/Tacoma Rotors.

If you tow a lot and drive mountains a lot the upgrade is worthwhile once you need new brakes anyway.

199mm to 231mm, I would be willing to bet in a double blind test with multiple vehicles and people there's be few to none of the participants who could feel any difference between the two.

If you KNOW exactly which wheels you want and KNOW they will clear the 231 then go for it. No reason not to.

I chose to have wheel options in the future as I prefere 16" wheels over 17" and OEM over aftermarket. Either are fine.




You can find the right ones by searching the correct year of Tundra as well as the correct brake code.

13WL = 231mm calipers
13WE = 199mm calipers

Both have the same dimensions on the mounting bosses, just larger surface area on the newer WL model.

I'd go with OEM Toyota pads over the Napa ones. I found them at a better price and they have more flat surface area for braking power.

I also found the OEM Toyota rotors to be of better quality (obviously). Your choice.

Again, the main benefit of Tundra over Taco/Runner rotors is the WIDTH, as they don't warp or fade as much. So either is great.

P.S. You will feel the extra unsprung weight of the new brakes. Took some getting used to for me. Only downside in my mind.


Be aware that you may need to trim your dust shield or bend it out a bit. Mine rubbed and that happens to a few peeps.

The 16" OEM wheels that will fit (that I know of, take it with a grain of salt) are:
-5 stars
-the 5 flower looking one
-Tacoma 5 point swept star
-2nd gen Taco snow flake looking ones
-1st gen Tundra 5 points (obviously)
Not certain about those but I've seen them on 05-06 V8 Tundras so they should work (I'm in the market for a Tundra).

Cheers

 

Is this what they call soft pedal? Whats it feel like? Does it effect performance?

Not sure what they call my wheels? will the 13WL fit?

 

You can use your Tacoma calipers as core return.

Definitely go with the 13WL. All the parts you need (and that many people have done with 16" rims) are in this write-up. I have run 3 different 16" wheels with 13WL (231mm) calipers.

https://adventuretaco.com/step-by-step-tundra-brake-upgrade-on-a-tacoma-or-4runner/

No guys. This is backwards, please stop spreading this around. Most 16" wheels clear the Tundra 13WL calipers. ALL OEM Toyota 16" wheels fit - a big reason for that is that the Tundra came with 16" wheels in this timeframe! Additionally, all SCS 16" wheels fit 13WL (231mm) calipers. It's not the "rare" wheel that fits.

^^^ This, exactly.

 

By the way - @badone - you can cut out this template and place it in your wheel to ensure that the larger caliper will fit. It'll be close on a 16" wheel, but close is OK

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tundra-13wl-caliper-fitment-templates.492815/

 

This is the route I went. I did it when they were having a 20% off sale at select stores. I bought the Tundra brakes from a store near Boston (online) and returned my cores (oem tacoma calipers) to a store in south Mississippi. Fannnnnnntastic. As others have stated, get the 231mm. without a doubt.

 

199mm calipers came on 4runners,
231mm calipers on tundras.
If you choose 199mm, you’re doing a 4Runner brake mod, not a tundra.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tundra-brake-kit-upgrade-rims-options-16x8.532306/

 

Except the rotor is significantly thicker and the whole system beefier.

 

Not true at all. There are multiple OEM Toyota wheels that won't clear the Tundra 231 Calipers.

I've personally tried to fit my '99 4Runner split-3-spoke wheels (despite multiple threads on the internet showing with photos that they have to be shaved down to fit) and they didn't work. I've also personally tried my old FZJ80 wheels over the Tundra 231 Calipers (despite multiple sources saying they wouldn't fit) and they indeed do not fit. There are multiple 16" wheels that won't clear. OEM Toyota wheels. Not an issue if you don't have or plan to run those.

When I did the brake upgrade on my two vehicles I chose the 199 for this reason. My buddy and cousin both wanted the 231 for the extra size and we tried to fit quite a few wheels over the years. Aftermarket all fit. OEM, not so much.

 

These fit

 

I went the ebay route, so far no issues
https://www.ebay.com/itm/303505680273

 

Fair, I should have been more specific since OP was talking about Tacoma's. All OEM 16" Tacoma wheels fit (as far as I know). Still, it's a good caveat to say not all Toyota OEM wheels fit (though I think the answer is still that most do, it's not the exceptional 16" wheel that fits), thanks for the correction.

To add more interesting value here; I wasn't able to find this list on my phone, but here are a bunch of confirmed fit wheels:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tundra-brake-kit-upgrade-rims-options-16x8.532306/

There you go @badone; good to go!

 

those two trucks posted here have different wheel designs and center caps, look closer, count the holes. So OP which wheels do you have?

 

Well I was going to do this upgrade over the winter, but a couple frozen pistons in my stock calipers bumped up the priority level. Thanks @turbodb for the great kit and info.

 

Look up G and J Aircraft in SoCal- they can make you any brake lines you want - I got these with a hard line fitting at both sides so I bypass the oem soft line locations altogether. These go from the frame mount (junction before the small piece of hard line that mates to the soft line next to the UCA) all the way to the caliper. $69 coated stainless braided.



In the possibility of someone saying they won’t be able to find a replacement if you damage one - buy 3, plus if you destroy one of these it’s not like you’re going to have an autozone right next to where you break. Bring a hard line plug and / or an extra soft line off grid.

 

so what is the original mm size of the 2002 Toyota Tacoma calipers? Also I wonder if they gone to larger Calipers on the 2nd gen Tacoma vs 1st gen ?

 

2nd gen Taco's are identical castings to 1st gen Tundras - they just moved the brake line port since they're on the back of the spindle.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-brakes-swaps-and-tech.468271/

 

Huh!! Learn something new everyday!!