Anyone replaced their brake rotors with better ones?

[dilshan.perera]

I want to know if anyone has replaced their factory rotors with new or better performing rotors and callipers?

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[Turbo8]

I want to know if anyone has replaced their factory rotors with new or better performing rotors and callipers?

The bigger front brakes from a GX550 will be a direct swap. You would have to make sure your wheels clear the calipers.

 

[Skrr1225]

I prefer mine stock but i hear the GX550 ones works great.

 

[josiahg52]

I mean, the GX rotors are heavier and thicker due to thicker friction surfaces, meaning there is more thermal mass and therefore may be less prone to fade in identical situations. The rotors are also slightly larger in diameter so there is a little more mechanical leverage there, I suppose, but importantly, the friction surface themselves are the same. Both calipers are fixed four piston, the GX calipers are different to position the pads properly over the friction surface. Pads are the same size, hardware is the same size, I'd bet good money the pistons are the same size.

I'd say the major benefit is the increased thermal management of the GX brakes vs. the 4Runner. I'd be wary of descriptions like way better or much better brakes. The 4Runner brakes are perfectly capable of exceeding tire grip in my experience. The larger GX brakes seems to be much more of thermal management/duty cycle consideration than "more stopping power."

 

[HVLA]

I mean, the GX rotors are heavier and thicker due to thicker friction surfaces, meaning there is more thermal mass and therefore may be less prone to fade in identical situations. The rotors are also slightly larger in diameter so there is a little more mechanical leverage there, I suppose, but importantly, the friction surface themselves are the same. Both calipers are fixed four piston, the GX calipers are different to position the pads properly over the friction surface. Pads are the same size, hardware is the same size, I'd bet good money the pistons are the same size.

I'd say the major benefit is the increased thermal management of the GX brakes vs. the 4Runner. I'd be wary of descriptions like way better or much better brakes. The 4Runner brakes are perfectly capable of exceeding tire grip in my experience. The larger GX brakes seems to be much more of thermal management/duty cycle consideration than "more stopping power."

Which is exactly what you want if you added a bunch of weight such as tires, bumpers, armor....

 

[Turbo8]

Rotor dimensional differences: 4runner, GX550
- Rotor diameter: 340mm, 354mm
- Rotor total thickness: 32mm, 32mm
- Rotor wall thickness: 7.6mm, 8.9mm
- Rotor weight: 21.6lbs, 25lbs

 

[Stonkin]

I started out with a simple pads and rotors swap, but it didn’t really move the needle. Save your money and buy XLine Power Brake US kit with 6 piston calipers, SS lines and much better rotors.
Huge difference but the OEM system is so marginal as to be scary with a sub 6K unbraked trailer or in the mountains or both. Am thinking about upgrading the rear brakes too

 

[Nodak]

yikes driving around with a 6k trailer with no brakes. i mean even the lowly uhaul 6x12 have surge brakes (smaller ones have none)

granted the uhaul 5x8 can only hold about 3k gvwr (900 for the empty trailer alone)

 

[SteveS]

If you need bigger brakes, you purchased the wrong vehicle for the required need. Its not just about brakes that increases the load capacity.

 

[Stonkin]

You’re probably right. I bought this for my wife. She said it could tow 6K which is more than my rock crawler Jeep, but less painful than my diesel dually, that pulls my 34’ box race car trailer. The U-Haul folks were thorough in determining that the 4Runner could handle it with my lighter weight Porsche, but I didn’t even check the trailer weight. It’s kinda amazing that someone builds, rents, or sells a trailer that heavy without brakes, but apparently they went to the same brake capacity school as the Toyota boys. Guessing across the industry, the engineering is at least 25% optimistic assuming most SUVs just haul groceries.
Just got word from Power-Brake.US that they have better rear rotors and pads, but waiting to see if the juice is worth the squeeze

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