4-Runner front caliper questions/answers

[Poser]

1988 was the first year of the V6 Mini...that caliper has four equal sized pistons...

 

[bigbrowndog]

V6 calipers have the larger pistons..

Been making the V6 since at least 89..

The larger set I have on my 60 came off of a 1990 v6 runner.

And if you use a disk master on a set of rear drums you are looking at a headache..

x2 The disc/drum master cylinder lets less brake fluid return to the master cylinder after the brakes are released keeping the wheel cylinders as full as possible. If you want a bit fuller pedal you can relocate the clevis pin hole in the brake pedal. cheers

 

[CruisinFJ60]

Nope. You've still got some bad info.

At least as early as '93 the V6 truck has four equal size pistons. I've held them in my hands, installed them and serviced them. No question about it.

There is no reason to install an FZJ master. I've run '75 vintage drum brake M/Cs, standard FJ40 disc brake M/Cs, stock FJ60 and minitruck M/Cs, and T100 M/Cs with 4 wheel discs. Both large Toy calipers up front with GM calipers in the rear and large Toy calipers at all four corners. All of the M/Cs work perfectly with these setups.

Any more volume than what the calipers need is irrelevant.

If the FZJ front circuit piston is larger, that will increase the amount of pedal pressure needed to produce the same pressure at the caliper that you can get with a smaller bore M/C and less pressure on the pedal. Contra-productive.

And as mentioned above, ALL Cruiser rotors are vented.



Mark...

i thought the fzj master was a 1" bore and teh T100 was a 1 1/16" bore?....

 

[Mark W]

Without checking things, I'm pretty sure they're both 1 inch.


Mark...

 

[Mace]

More than just that, when you put a set of disk brake calipers on the rear you actually have to reduce the pressure from the master with a proportioning valve to keep the rear end from locking up. What do you suppose happens to your rear drum brakes when a disk master is used??


It is not a good idea for lots of reasons..

 

[ColoradoLC]

Thanks for all of the feedback guys. In fact I do have discs on all 4 corners and an upgraded MC, so from what I am hearing, 89+ 4Runner front calipers and pads are fine and will work with the stock rotors, correct?

What year can you go up to for calipers?

 

[agent orange]

I want to say 96 is the cutoff. I ordered a pair of '93s and they are fine. What did you use for the rears?

 

[ColoradoLC]

I used the GM Eldorado calipers and rotors. It's too bad there's nothing from the factory to do a proper upgrade to these, but they work well enough. It's strange pumping the brake after you pull up the e-brake handle to get the e-brake fully engaged, but you get used to it.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

There is no reason to install an FZJ master. I've run '75 vintage drum brake M/Cs, standard FJ40 disc brake M/Cs, stock FJ60 and minitruck M/Cs, and T100 M/Cs with 4 wheel discs. Both large Toy calipers up front with GM calipers in the rear and large Toy calipers at all four corners. All of the M/Cs work perfectly with these setups.

Any more volume than what the calipers need is irrelevant.

The guys at TLC say that there is absolutely no need to deviate from the stock MC for their "Monster calipers", which are comparable to the 4runner upgrade in the front. When going to a 4 wheel disc conversion, they swap in another MC. I think the prefered item is from a Toyota sports car.

 

[CruisinFJ60]

jason and nicholas pm's sent

 

[snailwagon]

There is a slight difference in some of the later year calipers, but it is not the pistons. I have a pair from a 93 V6 4runner and a pair from a 96 T100. The T100 calipers don't have as much metal for the bottom heat sink rib. It's only a few mm. but makes a difference if one is considering grinding the calipers for rim clearance.

 

[theSherpa]

Agent Orange has it right...you want '92-'95 for the larger pistons (vs. the earlier IFS calipers). pretty sure '96 and later have the wider bolt pattern, and so won't work on FJ60 knuckles (5" spacing vs. 3.5" spacing?). I asked for '93 V6 4WD 4Runner calipers at the parts store...get them loaded as the pads are different from stock FJ60. I still have the stock master, so my pedal travel increased enough to notice, but not enough to be a problem. since pistons are bigger with stock master bore size, you'll have more mechanical advantage, so more pressure at the caliper for given force at the pedal. if you want firmer pedal, you can use bigger bore master, or apparently change the clevis pin hole, but seems like that'd put more side loading on master's piston, which *might* wear it out faster. I still have drum rears, so have no clue about disk/drum or disk/disk master, other than be aware of residual valves.

if calipers touch back side of your wheel, you can grind some metal off the caliper (lots of excess rib material there), or use spacers, or do like I did and put a washer or two over the caliper mounting bolts between the caliper and knuckle, which spaces the caliper back from the knuckle a bit toward the center of the truck. mine's been like that a long time, no worries so far.

HTH

 

[flyology]

Hello from down under...... (Queensland Australia) I have been reading this thread and I am interested in putting the V6 4runner callipers on to the front of my '87 HJ61 'cruiser. (also considering thre rear disc brake conversion using my old front callipers, and a transfer case handbrake, you guys call an emergency brake I believe).

I rang my local 4x4 wrecking yard and was quoted $165.00 each for second hand callipers, with no pads.....

Reading the thread am I correct in you guys pay around $70.00 US for reconditioned callipers with new pads?

If this is correct, I would be grateful if someone could point me in the right direction to order some '94 callipers and get them frieghted over here......


thanks,

Martin Bristow

 

[ColoradoLC]

I think a few people have suggested using Napa Auto Parts.

http://napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLWelcome.aspx

 

[flyology]

Thanks ColoradoLC, I have had a look at the online catalogue, problem is that it doesn't specify if V6 or not. (did you get any other engine option in a '93 4 runner over there?)

also appears the price has increased substantially, as the first two calipers listed (item no. SDC 24261314 l/h semi loaded) is $124.99, and same for the r/h (item no. SDC 24261313)

I am not sure what they mean by "semi loaded"?

someone said previously that the calipers and pads were $65.00 a side, if I can get them for that and freight is not OTT to Aust then I will be ordering them from the US.......

Any idea why the big price difference?

thanks,

MB

 

[Hank]

I buy at low wholesale. When I posted prices, I was in my "cost screen" apparently. So you are seeing normal parts store markup. Keep shopping though, you will find a better deal. Try Autozone, Advance Auto Parts or any of the retail sites for the Jobber market such as Carquest, Napa, Parts Express, Federated stores etc.

 

[Goode]

I just purchased a set of 92'runner calipers from NAPA. $43 per caliper. $25 for pads.
The calipers cleared my factory rims perfect.

 

[flyology]

Goode, what did you do about the "core" replacement cost, or didn't you get charged that?

On the NAPA website to buy the calipers there is around an $82 charge if you dont give them your old calipers........

 

[agent orange]

Dont even think about sweating it, they didnt even open the box when i took mine in. Do you really think the kid behind the counter gives a rats ass.

 

[Goode]

Yup. agent orange is correct. I took mine in a box, guy pulled the new ones out of their boxes and laid them on the counter. I put my old ones in the new boxes he was holding open. He was looking right at them and didn't miss a beat.
I guess they really don't care what caliper is returned, just send em a pair.

About the core, yes you'll get charged the $84.99 if you do not return the old calipers. So if you want to hang on to the originals, you will pay. Oh, you will pay.