PowerStop Brake Upgrade Kit

I’ve had no issues but I drive it like the heavy truck that it is and not a race car.
I also spent 15 years driving XJ Cherokees which don’t exactly have the greatest brakes.

 

I’d do this if I just drove in parking lots. I think it’s hysterical that people do this. Durago rotors and akebono pads are the winning combo for me.

 

If you going to rice your 4Runner with drilled rotors, you should go all the way - lower it, put a giant wing at the back and put a fart can sideways exhaust to complete the look.

Drilled and slotted rotors sometimes used it racing applications to enable brake pad out gassing. Outgassing only happens at extreme and prolonged usage, such as on the race track. Otherwise you just reduce braking surface, introduce weak spots into a rotor, and for anyone going offroad - risking trapping dirt and stones and ruining your brakes.

Also, the car I track with has solid rotors. I don't like dealing with warped rotors and benefits of slots are minimal for pads I use.

 

As mentioned earlier, I'm pretty sure the brakes just feel weak compared to other vehicles due to a softer pedal feel. The brakes on my 4Runner are way better than the brakes on my Silverado.

I do have Powerstop pads, but I doubt they're making that much of a difference.

If you prefer high performance brakes, that's your preference. Obviously the 4Runner's brakes aren't going to compare to a sports car.

As far as the Corolla: more sensitive doesn't equal better.

 

I value the ability to modulate braking force in the 4Runner. The soft pedal contributes to better control off road.

My OEM brakes can easily activate ABS on the road. Even with heavy 34” tires. This tells me the limiting factor in normal road driving is tire grip; Not necessarily braking force.

If I was consistently seeing high temperatures that affected braking ability, a larger rotor and pads would certainly help. Even just changing to a different compound pad could help. But for my use I think the factory brakes work great.

 

I may have missed this somewhere in this thread, but maybe your 4R needs a proper bleed? I've read about someone having a vacuum bleed done and it made a huge difference. Wondering if yours might have air or moisture in the system.

 

Braking is definitely a subjective preference for almost everyone as I've seen working in the industry and having 30 years of track experience. I don't think anyone expects a sportscar type feel (in any regards) when buying/owning a 4Runner. For me, personally, I'd like a better feeling brake system but it's way down on list of priorities for my 4Runner - as I can get from A to B safely and it brings me joy to take it up to the mountains or out to the desert.

 

Went with slotted and drilled and so far like it. Only issue is rear pads are getting chewed up. Only last about 1 to 1.5 year. But I do have a heavy foot when it comes to braking.

 

Nice! Is that just a painted OEM caliper? I need to rebuild my calipers at some point and have thought about painting it while it's apart.

 

Yes, just an OEM caliper. 1st time for me, cleaned it up, applied with brush, 2 coats. So far holding up pretty good, even the cheesy vinyl TRD sticker still holding up. It's 2nd winter and still good.