Rear drums, swap w/ 4runner?

Is it possible to swap the rear axle and brakes of the tacoma with the 4Runner to get rear disks. Has anyone done any other kind of modification to convert the rear drums to disks?
Been having a lot of drum problems on my drums, plus they love to overheat. Looking forward to hearing your stories

 

"Every thing will swap over with exception of the rear axle. The diff housing might switch over if you have a 4 banger but if you have a v6, the carrier is too big. If you have a e-locker, the 4runner (if it doesn't already have it) can easily be retro fitted for it."

May be better off doing something

 

Had rear drums on my 3rd gen 4Runner. Retired it after twelve years and 170,000 miles. Never had any issues with them.

What particular "drum problems" are you having?

 

I don't understand this forums hate of drum brakes.....

 

I live in a hot, mountainous area. My breaks constsntly overheat because all the work is getting pushed to the front disks. I think 4 rotors are a must at least where i live. It isn't out of hate, it's just a neccecity

 

Not to challenge you but out of genuine curiosity... Sounds like the issue is your front brakes are getting too hot? How would rear disc brakes (not breaks) reduce the physics of load-transfer to the front axle and thus the front brakes contributing to 70% or more of braking? Last I knew that wasn't related in any way to the nature of the rear brakes.

Also, is engine compression braking on long downhill stretches to reduce brake heating not a thing where you are? Even in the hilly (not mountainous) northeast where I grew up it was typically considered best practice. Has that changed?

 

My buddy did a rear disk job on his old 4Runner, and it in fact worked. The issue, even with engine breaking, is that the traffic is stop and go. Meaning up to 55, down to 20 because of the nature of the road. There isn't any way to manipulate engine breaking to do that.
The deal is my front rotors overheat because the rear brakes don't assist them enough. Pushing that much breaking to the front 2 disks will create a lot more heat than having the rear 2 take some of the load off.
I'm not challenging the design or dissing the truck, it's just that other cars have moved to 4 disks, and i was hoping to figure out a way to move too.

 

Still doesn't make sense. Properly functioning rear drums should provide more than sufficient braking power. If I were in your shoes I'd be looking at verifying everything is functioning properly first. Bad adjuster, stuck pistons, glazed shoes, etc.

Have a look at the braking distance tests, GMC Canyon is 4 wheel disc I believe: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2016/08/2016-midsize-pickup-challenge-acceleration-and-braking.html


Anyway, best of luck. I haven't seen any references to anyone else doing that sort of mod on one of these but it doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

 

My mechanic took a look at them. They're functioning just as they should. They just don't provide as much as a rotor. Let's not compare the tacoma to the gmc. I mean, it's a gmc

 

First, on most vehicles, front brakes do like 90% of the stopping work. Second, front brakes do even MORE work when going downhill (your mountainous area). Third, don't ride the brakes, and they won't overheat.

A rear disc conversion will net you zero benefit.

 

not to challenge you at all....but if it's in stop and go traffic to where you cant engine brake I really don't see the brakes overheating

 

I looked at that when I replaced my rear drums and shoes, mainly for ease of service. Problem is, it eliminates the emergency brake. Need that to pass inspection in MA. Also nice for hills with a trailer so I'm not putting that kind of stress on the parking pawl.

 

Drum brakes give you more stopping power than discs. There is a much larger contact surface area with drum brakes. Their downfall is that they overheat easier - that's all.

 

Another issue is that kit provides single-piston callipers. No point wasting money on that.

 

Yeah, I have nothing against the drums other than how much of a pain they are to service. My pads still looked new, but I replaced them because the OEM ones were squeaking.

 

Does '99 T4R have lspv?

 

Typically drum brakes work just fine and are designed and built to function and work perfect when used within the weight/load limits of the truck. Practically every big rig semi has drum brakes on the weight barring axles and trailers. I live in a very mountainous area and travel up and down a long 6%+ grade highway pulling and being pushed by a trailer. Never had any issues with brakes overheating or stopping. And I don't have trailer brakes. Like others, I suspect there is something wrong even if a mechanic says differently. Go to a brake specialist. If you are still dead-set on installing disk in the rear then make sure you put in a brake proportioning valve made for rear disk. Once again I would consult a true brake specialist.

I've replaced my drum brakes at 100K miles because I didn't want to do it in the winter. 1.5 hours on the first side and 15 minutes on the second. It's not that hard and will probably be the only time I do it before getting a new truck. Good luck.

 

You should probably address the issue of your engine breaking before working on the brakes.

 

No where is it both hot and mountainous.

 

In my pants!

(I'll show myself out.)