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*PARTS AND HELPUL TOOLS*
Please see pinned comment for links.
3rd Gen 4runners are notorious for developing a front end shake while braking which will also cause the steering wheel to shimmy back and forth. What causes this shimmy while braking? Some people think the rotors are actually warping due to the heat. Some people believe it’s due to uneven brake pad deposits on the rotor causing the braking problem. From my own research, I tend to believe the uneven brake pad deposits on the rotors are the problem. This can happen after some hard braking, like coming down a steep grade, and then you come to a stop. With the rotors really hot, the brake pads can leave extra deposits onto the rotor. With the uneven deposits on the rotor, now the rotor is sort of “warped” because the braking surface is uneven. To correct this, you either buy new rotors or get your rotors resurfaced at a machine shop or auto shop. Will the TBU stop this situation from happening? No, it can still happen but I think it will be less likely because you now have bigger rotors that dissipates more heat and won’t get as hot under hard braking situations.
So what’s the real advantage to the TBU?
Answer: Increased Stopping Power.
Many in the 3rd Gen 4runner world believe the caliper and rotor setup for these trucks is under-powered especially if you carry lots of gear or tow.
The upgrade to the Tundra caliper and rotor gives you two distinct upgrades:
#1 - The rotor is much thicker which will allow it to dissipate much more heat and reduce brake fade. This will be most evident if you regularly drive down steep grades or tow. Even though you are utilizing engine braking by using lower gears, you still have to use the brakes, and on a long descent, your brakes are going to heat up. If they get hot enough, they will start to fade.
#2 - The caliper is larger with a higher fluid capacity and accepts a larger brake pad so you get increased stopping power.
*Tundra Caliper Choices*
13WL - 231mm Caliper
13WE - 199mm Caliper
*Benefits of Each*
The 231mm benefit over the 199mm is you have a larger fluid capacity and you have a larger brake pad for increased stopping power.
The 199mm benefit over the 231mm is it will fit with all the stock 16” rims, not just some of them. The 199mm setup is still superior to the stock setup because the caliper is a little bigger than stock and it still uses the same thicker rotor for greater heat dissipation.
*Important Considerations*
Wheel clearance with the 231mm option. Only certain stock wheels will fit over the caliper. If you don’t want to buy different wheels, you are faced with either grinding down the inside of the rim to make it fit or grinding down the caliper. Neither of those choices sound great to me. If you are wondering which stock 16” wheels fit over the 231mm calipers, I’ll provide a link to an excellent write-up for this modification that covers the wheels that will work without any grinding and basically everything you would ever want to know about this repair. I’ll put the link here and in the video description.
www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen...
To address the wheel fitment issue, some people chose to run spacers. I wouldn’t recommend this route and I’ll provide a link to a video done by “Engineering Explained” that goes into great detail about the issues surrounding running wheel spacers. Here’s the link and I’ll also put this link in the video description as well:
• Wheel Spacers & Adapte...
Do you have a spare tire that will fit over the 231mm caliper? If not, you’ll be forced to change 2 tires if you get a front tire flat. You’ll have to take one of the rear tires off and move it to the front, and then put the spare on the rear.
**We did this on a 2002 3rd Gen 4runner. If you have a 2001 or 2002, you need to have the ignition key in the "on" position to power up the brake booster when bleeding the brakes.
*After You're Done with the Job*
Bedding in the brakes - There’s a procedure some people chose to do to sort of “break-in” the rotors. I’m not going to describe this procedure because you can read up on it in that write-up I provided a link to. Is this a necessary step with new brakes? I don’t think so but you can do your own research and determine if it’s the right course for you.
When searching for parts for this job, use the following Tundra years and model:
For 199mm Calipers use a 2001 Toyota Tundra 4x4 V-8
For 231mm Calipers use a 2005 Toyota Tundra 4x4 V-8
Many people who do this job compromise in the caliper department. They will buy Toyota rotors, pads and shim kit but opt to save money and buy aftermarket calipers from an auto parts store like Napa.
*Torque Specs*
Wheel Lug Nuts - 85 ft-lbf
Caliper Bolts - 90 ft-lbf
13 дек 2016
