Allow me to define what I mean here by "monkey business": Violating my own longstanding practice of using OEM mechanical parts on any Toyota that I own. In this case it was an OEM part put on a truck not designed for it. The reason I did it was because a number of Mud pundits said it was a good idea. I chose to ignore my 40 years of experience owning and driving Toyota products because I wanted to make my truck "Better than OEM". It is easy to forget that "Better than OEM" is invariably an experiment. Experiments can and do fail. In retrospect, it would seem that since I could not afford to have the experiment fail, I would have been better off not attempting it in the first place. Further, had I considered the matter carefully to begin with, it would have been apparent that the potential gain from this experiment was too meager to be worth the risk of failure. None of this is meant to disparage the afore-mentioned Mud pundits as most of what they have to impart is pure gold. I am sure this experiment worked for them. I do assert, however, that their experiments succeeded not due to skill or experience, but to dumb luck.
Near as I can tell the mod failed because the tolerances of the various parts stacked in the wrong direction on my truck. Maybe the calipers were a little tight and the pads a little fat. Mechanically speaking, I have no idea what caused the failure. What I do know is that had I the sense to adhere to my own established policy of "OEM only", I would at this moment be a much happier camper.
As to the shop that did the work participating in the monkey business, I must say in their defense that customers bring them all kinds of parts to install and ideas to execute. Not all of those parts are worth installing, nor the ideas worth executing. None of that is covered by any warranty and turning away work from a steady customer is a poor idea. The proprietor didn't know if this mod would work and told me he would check with a buddy who is also a top notch LC mechanic. The buddy said the pads would fit and all would be well. The pads sort of fit, but not all was well. I would have rather these guys had a strict policy of saying "no" to non-OEM, but what would they then say to installing proven aftermarket parts like say OME suspension and Marlin Crawler gears?
As to you, the general reader participating in monkey business, I would point out that the prevailing opinion on the forum seems to be that OEM is better. That quality gear is worth the extra expense. That modifications are to be undertaken with extreme care and attention to detail. That just because something sounds like a good thing doesn't mean that it is. We all make mistakes, and are usually the cause of our own misfortunes. That is the essence of monkey business.
I submit to all that this "100 series pads in the 80" idea needs to be viewed with far more skepticism than it is. That these pads can be stuffed in the calipers without the shims and still stop the truck does not, in retrospect, seem a valid argument for risking damage to the rotors. Assuming the experiment works for you,how much extra pad life do you really expect to get out of this mod? How much money will you really save? Do you really want to risk having to listen to your truck squeal in protest at every stop sign?
I SAY, AND I SPEAK FROM BITTER EXPERIENCE, TAKE THIS BONE TO ANOTHER DOG!
IN PROBABLY MISSPELLED SPANISH, A OTRA PERRO CON ESE HUESO!
huh?
