What brands are good for Rotors and Pads

Need new pads and rotors but I'm on a budget.
I was gonna Buy Akebono or Advics Pads off of rock auto.
Also lost on Rotors. Torn between OEM, Bendix or Brembo etc.
I'm not interested in Drilled or Slotted rotors.

I would like to do the tundra brake swap as I keep warping rotors, but being on a budget I'm not sure if I can swing it.

 

My Tundra swap cost about $500. You could do it cheaper if you buy calipers from the junkyard and rebuild them yourself.

$175 - 13WL remanufactured calipers from NAPA auto parts Eclipse Semi-loaded (Part numbers: CAL SE3264 & CAL SE3263)
$180 - StopTech Brake Rotors - Sport Slotted
$87 - EBC Brakes - 7000 Greenstuff SUV Supreme pads

And for the brake lines, I do not recommend buying stainless ones for a Tacoma. I did this and lucked out, but many others who tried mating the Tacoma brake lines to a Tundra caliper had leaking issues due to the difference in how the Tundra brakes are designed for the flared ends on hard lines, not the hardware on flexible braided Tacoma lines.
Buy this kit from @turbodb
https://adventuretaco.com/store/tacoma-to-tundra-hard-brake-line-kit/

So, for no discounts, no saving money it would cost you about $560 this route.

If you're thinking about the Tundra brake swap, just make it happen. I waited since I had the OEM brakes serviced when I bought my 2003 since I was headed out on a trip and the rotors were warped and pads were low. I tried waiting until they were worn out some but after getting the Tundra swap on I regretted not doing it immediately. I felt like I wasted $300+ to have a shop do that job when I could have just spent a little more and done it myself.

 

From a pad perspective, OEM are really the best. If you're getting rotors as well, you're basically into the brake project for a lot of the cost of going to Tundra brakes...so you might as well do Tundras (since the parts are about the same cost).

Here are the parts I recommend:

• 2 Toyota Tundra OEM rotors (L/R: 43512-0C011) Note: Amazon is sometimes out of these, and the Bosch QuietCast line is another good (and cheaper) option (L/R: 50011223) - $100
• 2 Remanufactured Tundra 13WL calipers from Napa (L: CAL SE3263) (R: CAL SE3264) or another parts store. Note: if they carry multiple lines, I recommend getting a line that has a lifetime warranty in case you ever need to replace a caliper. - $180
• 1 set of Toyota Tundra OEM brake pads (L/R: 04465-35290) - $70
• 1 set of Toyota Tundra OEM brake pad shims (L/R: 04945-35120) - $27
• 1 Tacoma-to-Tundra Hard Brake Line Upgrade Kit - $120

So, that's a total of $497 (plus tax I guess) for better braking. Full write up with pics here: https://adventuretaco.com/step-by-step-tundra-brake-upgrade-on-a-tacoma-or-4runner/

 

Napa rotors, factory pads and hardware kit

 

When I was younger I remember having a pulse in my brakes. Every time it was the rotors warping under use.

Ever since I did the tundra upgrade, I've not needed to replace or turn my rotors all while having solid brakes. I'd recommend saving if you need to in order to do the swap; it will save you $ in the long run.

 

I find it hard to believe that new factory rotors and pads would have any warping issues. If it were me I'd be looking closely at other culprits that may be making the pads not release. Like rusty crusty hardware or bad calipers.

 

If you don't want to upgrade to the Tundra brakes, Powerstop makes a great full replacement kit for $240. Go with either: KC1233A or KC1233A36

I've used the PowerStop kits a few times and they've always done very well.

 

Tundra brake upgrade, prob my favorite upgrade / mod to the trunk to be honest.

 

Wow you guys make me feel like a cheap SOB. I buy brake pads / rotors from Rock Auto. Only replace rotors when absolutely necessary. Have only replaced the rotors once and the pads a couple of times. Have over 225k miles. Guess what.... still stops every time I push the pedal.

 

LOL!
Depends on the rig brother. As soon as I added the larger tires, some armor, my camper shell, blaaaaaaablaaaaaa, the stock brakes lasted like 7k miles.
I'm a conservative braker too, I try to predict traffic slow down and coast etc. Just cant handle any additional weight. Burn right through em. Thast why I liked the tundra upgrade.

If you dont need it , no reason to upgrade tho

 

I’m just daily driving my truck In Los Angeles. No off-roading but lots of stop and go traffic. So not sure if I need the tundra brake upgrade. Just running 265/70/16 tires on it.

Maybe I’m driving too aggressive?

 

I'd say you'll be fine without them functionality wise if it's just a DD; then it just comes down to whether it makes sense to do them anyway given the cost you're paying already. Only you can decide that, really.

 

In that case does everyone still suggest OEM rotors and pads?
Or is it alright if I use something cheaper like akebono pads ($27 on rock auto right now)

 

Dude...Check out my Post in the Sale Trade forum

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/f-s-196mm-front-rotors.686732/#post-24238427

 

I replaced my rotors calipers and pads and long story short I was given the calipers for a 2002 4Runner with VSC which take a 320mm rotor. I didn't know or notice till I went to check my pads and saw something fishy. The rotors are totally perfect aside from being the wrong diameter. Basically I was using about 2/3 of the pads. So rather than replace the calipers again I bought 320mm and new pads. Problem solved, except that I had essentially lightly used rotors that I don't need. I still have them in the garage waiting for a guy like you.

FWIW I always go OEM when possible. Pads from Toyota are pretty cheap. Unless you're really stretching your dimes I'd do that.

Edit: I have over 240k miles and 16 years of DD my truck. I've never warped a set of rotors. And I drive like I still have my WS6 Trans Am when I was 24. I have however decided to cheap out on brake best drums. They were out of round from the factory and caused a serious pulsing problem. That was the first and last time I went with aftermarket.

You'll be fine for DD with stock brakes. Mr Frenchee there has slapped on about 12 tons in the waistline and needs the capacity however...

 

Napa Ultra Premium brake parts line Because the Girl that delivers is so worth looking at.

Toyota if I am getting more parts I just add to the order.

How ever it plays out.

I sit down and look at prices when I pay the invoices

 

Or Oreillys. Both are fine.


I have Akebono pads with Brembo Blank rotors on mine.

 

How the hell did a brake pad thread turn into politics?