Looking to improve the stopping performance of your Toyota Tacoma?
So was I, and what better way then to upgrade the OEM brakes & rotors with a kit by EBC. In today’s article I go over installation of the S14KF1143 S14 Greenstuff front brake and rotor kit on my 2013 Toyota Tacoma.
*This article is to be used for informational purposes only and gives a representation of the jack points used along with photos of the finished assembly. Link available to find this kit on Amazon.
EBC Greenstuff and RK Rotors kit, Toyota Tacoma TRD
Pads available for every type of driving style, from racing applications to improvements on your daily driver
I have no plans of racing a 4,000lb truck but I do use it to tow from time to time. While towing heavy loads it can really stress the stock braking equipment. Because of this, I felt it was time for an upgrade and decided on the Greenstuff pads by EBC.
If choosing pads for your vehicle check out their website, EBCbrakes.com
*2013 Toyota Tacoma TRD has a towing capacity of 3,500lbs
Step 1, Jack it on up! Toyota Tacoma TRD Front Jack Point
Before jacking up the truck I made sure to loosen all of the front lug nuts, set the parking brake and block the rear wheels. On this model (2013 Toyota Tacoma TRD), there is a jack point directly behind the front skid plate. Black round rubber mount about the size of a hockey puck.
To lift the vehicle, a Daytona 3 ton long-reach jack was used (Harbor Freight gem), and it did the job with ease. A few pumps of the handle and both front tires were in the air, a few more and I was able to position two jack stands under the frame for safety.
If you are looking for a new floor jack I would highly recommend the Daytona Series by Harbor Freight. Sure, they are big and heavy but work great. This model has an extended reach design for low cars and foot pump if you find yourself in a tight space.
Daytona 3-ton Long Reach Low Profile Jack specs:
- Maximum Lift Height 24-1/4″
- Minimum Height 3-1/4″
- Material: Steel
- Overall Weight 103lbs
Remove the Old Pads and Rotors
Changing the front brakes on my 2013 Toyota Tacoma was pretty easy. While this article is not meant as a how-to, here are a few of the steps I did in this process. If this is your first time doing these brakes I have linked a great video at the bottom of the page.
- Spray the two guide pins and two caliper bolts with a penetrating fluid (PB blaster, etc)
- Remove the safety clips from each guide pin, use a punch to help work the pins out
- Take care when removing the bottom pin, there is metal spring to keep track of
- With the two pins out you can use a screw driver (between pad and rotor) to compress the pistons
- Once compressed the pads should pull out easily
- Remove the two caliper bolts on the back of the caliper and use a bungee to hold the loose assembly
- Use a plastic dead-blow hammer to knock the rotor loose
Here is an excellent YouTube video that goes over this process in greater detail:
EBC Green Stuff Front Brake Pads and Rotors kit, Toyota Tacoma Upgrade kit
Photo of the new EBC black rotor and Green Stuff pads.
**Check Pricing & Vehicle Compatibility on Amazon**
The EBC rotor is Geomet Anti-Rust coated which leaves a high quality matte black finish. Much nicer than a painted rotor from the local auto-parts stores. Hopefully this will hold up well to the salt roads here in the northeast.
“Should you clean rotors with brake cleaner before installation?”
Typically Yes, It is common practice to clean the packing oil off of any rotor. However, with this EBC kit the installations explicitly state “DO NOT clean the rotors”. They say the Red “Brake-IN” section of the brake pad will clean the rotor and begin the process of bedding the pads. No cleaning required.
When it comes to brakes who am I to argue with the experts?
So for my installation I followed their instructions and installed the rotors “as-is”, just like they were out of the box. *be sure to follow the manufactures directions that come with your kit as they may differ.
More on Rotor Cleaning
One thing I did notice with these EBC rotors vs low-cost autoparts store brands. On low-cost rotors they are typically packed/shipped in bags with a light film of grease/oil to protect the metal from rusting.
It is advised to clean off this packing oil with brake cleaner before installation. If not. This slick grease will get onto your pads, resulting in reduced friction and braking performance.
However, with the EBC rotors they seamed to have a “dry” black coating. My guess is that this coating does a better job against rust to where the packing grease/oil is no longer required? Time will tell.
Where to buy EBC Brake Pads & Rotors
If you are thinking about upgrading your braking system for towing or “spirited” driving I would highly suggest EBC products. They can be hard to find locally so I have always ordered them online as a kit, shipped right to your house.
**Find EBC Brake Pad & Rotor kits on Amazon**
The one in the link above fit great for the 2013 Toyota Tacoma and I believe it will also work on 4-Runners of the same year. To make sure you get the right kit for your vehicle, be sure to add in your vehicle information to “Check Compatibility”.
What to do with Old Brake Rotors?
Well you could throw them away or clean them up to be used on a weight bench. Or you could leave them outside to test Rust Preventive products on.
The photo below is a shot of the old rotor laying outside. After cleaning up the surface with a wire cup drill attachment I applied some Fluid Film to half of the rotor to see how well it will protect the bare metal from rust.
I will update this in a few weeks to see how well the Fluid Film did vs the non-treated surface. Check back soon to see the results!
To find out more about Fluid Film and Corroseal check out the articles below.
BONUS – Second Gen Tacoma Console Safe by Lock’er Down
Made in the USA using 12 gauge domestic cold rolled steel this thing is a beast!
Since the second generation Tacoma’s do not come with a locking glove-box. This is the perfect solution for storing valuables like wallets, phones, and other expensive items when leaving your truck unattended.
Easy to install with the included instructions.
This safe was designed to drop into the center console and bolts directly to the truck to secure it in place (new bolts included). Overall, the entire installation took less than 30 minutes.
Keep in mind, due to the thickness of the metal. You will lose a bit of storage space. But in my opinion it is well worth it for the piece of mind this safe offers.
Features:
• 12 Gauge Steel
• Durable Black powder coat finish
• 4-Digit Combination lock (user settable)
• Made in the USA
***8 Month, 6k miles Update**
It has been 8 months and roughly 6,000 miles since I installed the EBC Greenstuff Brake pads and rotors on my Tacoma.
What are my impressions of this kit? Was it worth it?
Yes, overall I am very happy with the purchase of the kit. Here are a couple of the pros and cons I experienced.
First off…Cons
The biggest con I see with using these pads vs the less expensive pads typically found at your local autoparts stores is the dust.
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