Hi folks. Looking for cheap brake upgrade options for my RX300 AWD. I was told the Supra 4 pot/piston brakes are a bolt on upgrade, but they are hard to find. Has anyone tried using these as an upgrade to their brakes? If not, do you folks this these would work/fit?

 

You will need to confirm 100% that the caliper mounting bolts with mount up to your knuckle (caliper mount spacing). Measure the distance between the two mounting holes with a caliper and go to a junkyard and find something with identical spacing. Piston size can be checked on Rockauto.com to determine if the brakes you are looking for are actually bigger or not. Since I have a 2002 Highlander, I can grab 2008+ Highlander brakes for a large front upgrade, this upgrade is also available for the 2004-2009 RX but not for the 1999-2003 RX as your car is on a different platform - despite me sharing your rear suspension. Stainless steel brake lines also help, I have Goodridge 21550 stainless steel brake lines. These will fit on your car and improve modulation/feel and refresh your car with some brand new lines to replace your old crusty ones.

I am going to try to fit on 1991-1997 Previa rear brakes soon and will report back with results. These calipers are a lot beefier and share similar spacing to the 1999-2003 RX / 2001-2003 Highlander rear calipers. The Previa's rear rotor is a slightly larger diameter with the advantage of being vented. The parking brake is slightly larger so I may have to come up with a solution for that. Rear brakes are always a harder deal to figure out. For the best quality, I'd go with some Centric or Cardone rebuilt units from Rockauto, also buy the best pads and rotors you can get for maximum power and reliability. Good luck! Brakes are worth every penny.

 

Also check the radial size and thickness to clear the rims, or you will be purchasing new rims.

Go for the mod with realistic expectations. If your current brakes can activate the ABS then you will not get shorter stopping distance. Brake fading will improve and the feel/effort will improve with an upgrade.

Salim

 

Much tanks for the responses guys. The Supra brakes did not fit btw (i got a set to test fit). So will measure as noted. And the SS brake lines are a plan - thanks for the part numbers. Await feedback on your experiment MattRX

 

^^This goes against what I thought that I knew to be true. I thought the RX330 and then RX350 front caliper/rotor fit the RX300 assuming you have the wheel clearance.

 

I worded the post pretty badly. The RX300 AWD’s rear brakes & knuckles are shared with a 2001-2003 Highlander AWD. The FWD RX has the old pre 2002 Camry’s fitment and the FWD Highlander has the 2002+ Camry’s fitment.

For the front it can indeed use 330/350 319mm rotor, or 328mm 08+ Highlander front setup as long as you have some 17” rims for clearance. Or you can use ES330 calipers if you want dual piston while being able to run the stock rotor & 16” rims.

 

This is the only post I can find for front caliper upgrade. My AWD 1999 RX300 with stock wheels needs new front calipers and I was wondering if anyone has tried the ES330 dual piston calipers

 

People with RX300s have put on 2010+ RX dual piston calipers after switching to 17" wheels. I'm not sure if anyone has done ES330 on an RX yet, but a few 1st gen Highlander guys and 90s Camry guys have. You would get to reuse your stock rotors with those but you'd need ES330-specific brake pads and hardware for the brake pads.

The ES330 / 5th gen Camry, 1st gen Highlander and RX300 all share the front rotor and brake fitment up front to the knuckle

 

That's why I love this forum. You guys always have a way of putting something else in my head I need to spend money on. Now all of the sudden I want, no need, upgraded calipers. I never realized I didn't like how my RX300 braked until just now, sitting at my desk, no where near my vehicle. Thanks. Thanks a lot....