TOTO Drake Two-Piece Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet

The TOTO Drake — what it actually is

The TOTO Drake (model number CST744SL for the standard 1.28 GPF elongated comfort-height variant) is the toilet that built TOTO's reputation in the US plumbing-trade channel. Introduced in 1989, the Drake has been in continuous production for 35+ years with only minor flush-volume revisions to comply with EPA mandates. It's not the most water-efficient TOTO, not the prettiest, not the highest-performing — it's the most reliable, with the broadest parts availability, the most plumber-familiarity, and the lowest service cost over a 20-year ownership.

If you're choosing between the Drake (CST744SL, ~$380) and the Drake II (CST454CEFG, ~$430), the question is whether you want CeFiONtect glaze and Double Cyclone flush ($50 upgrade) or you want the Drake's stronger plumber-trade-channel pedigree. For commercial buildings and rental properties, the Drake wins. For owner-occupied primary residences, the Drake II is the better long-term value.

The G-Max flush — what it is and how it differs from Drake II's Double Cyclone

The Drake uses TOTO's G-Max gravity-fed flush — the original TOTO flush technology, introduced in 1989. G-Max uses a 3-inch flush valve (large for the era), a single jet entering the bowl tangentially to start the swirl, and a siphonic trapway that completes the flush via gravity siphon action. MaP score: 800g (the minimum threshold for "strong flush" is 500g; over 700g is considered excellent).

The Drake II's Double Cyclone flush upgrades this with two angled jet nozzles at the rim creating a centrifugal vortex. Better bowl-cleansing at the same water volume, same gravity-siphonic trapway design. MaP score: 1,000g+ (genuinely better).

For households with average paper-use and waste-volume habits, the Drake's G-Max flush is more than sufficient — it cleared waste reliably for the entire 1990s and 2000s before Double Cyclone was even an option. If you're sensitive to bowl-streaking or have heavy users, the Drake II's $50 upgrade is worth it. If you're rebuilding a rental property, the Drake's broader parts availability and lower cost wins.

The Drake variant matrix — decoding the model numbers

The model-number coding: CST = TOTO close-coupled toilet (two-piece), 74 = Drake series, 4 = 1.6 GPF (or 3 = 1.28 GPF), S = standard glaze (or E = CeFiONtect), L = Universal/comfort Height (omitted = standard height). Plumbing supply houses use these codes; know the exact variant before ordering.

What's in the box (what you actually get)

• Tank with pre-installed flush mechanism (Korky-compatible flapper, Fluidmaster-compatible fill valve)
• Bowl with mounting bolt holes pre-drilled for standard 12" rough-in
• Tank-to-bowl gasket and brass bolts (pre-installed in box)
• Wax ring NOT included — buy separately ($5-10 at Home Depot)
• Soft-close seat NOT included — TOTO SoftClose SS113 (elongated) is the recommended seat ($45-75)
• Installation manual

Install requirements and the procedure

• Rough-in: 12 inches (the US standard). 10" and 14" variants are available but special-order.
• Floor flange: standard 3-inch or 4-inch PVC or cast iron with the universal mounting-bolt slot pattern.
• Supply line: 3/8" compression-fit. Use a flexible braided line ($8) rather than rigid copper for easier service later.
• Shutoff valve: 1/4-turn shutoff is the modern standard. If your bathroom still has an old multi-turn gate valve, replace it during install — gate valves seize over decades and become useless when you actually need to shut off.
• Wall clearance: bowl is 28" front-to-back. Front of bowl should have at least 18" clearance to the opposite wall or door (standard code minimum is 15" centerline-to-wall, 21" centerline-to-centerline of fixtures).

The Drake install procedure (90 minutes for a competent DIYer)

1. Remove existing toilet (shut off water, disconnect supply, unbolt floor bolts, lift toilet off — typically with help; ~80 lb).
2. Scrape old wax ring off the floor flange.
3. Inspect the floor flange — if cracked or too low (more than 1/4" below tile), repair before proceeding (flange extenders or replacement may be needed).
4. Install new wax ring on the floor flange. The wax-ring-with-flange-extender style ($6 vs $4) is more forgiving of slightly-low flanges.
5. Position the Drake bowl on the wax ring. Press straight down — don't twist or rock (you'll break the wax seal).
6. Use mounting bolts to anchor bowl to flange. Hand-tighten, then 1/4 turn — never overtighten on porcelain.
7. Set the tank on the bowl, aligning the tank bolts through the bowl-side mounting holes.
8. From under the bowl, install metal washers and nuts. Tighten alternately — porcelain cracks if uneven.
9. Reconnect supply line to the bottom of the tank.
10. Open shutoff valve. Tank fills. Test flush several times.
11. Check for leaks at: supply connection, tank-to-bowl junction, base of bowl (wax ring seal).

What owners report — the long-term reality

Drake owners are remarkably consistent in their feedback after 5-15 years of ownership. Common themes:

• The flush "just works." No double-flushing, no streaking, no clog complaints in normal use. Reports of 15+ years without a single repair are common.
• Flapper replacement at 6-8 years is the typical first service. $5-10 part, 10 minutes DIY. Universal flappers fit (Korky 2032BP for 3" or Korky 100 for 2" — verify your Drake's flush valve size).
• Tank-to-bowl gasket failure at 12-15 years. $12-20 universal kit, 45 minutes DIY. Symptom: water dripping behind toilet.
• Bowl glaze (non-CeFiONtect variants) shows hard-water spots in mineral-heavy US regions. Annual descaling with vinegar (drained tank, vinegar-soak, scrub) keeps the bowl clean.
• Trip-lever chrome dulls at 10+ years. $10-15 universal handle replacement, 5 minutes.
• Average service life before full replacement: 25-30 years. The porcelain itself usually outlasts the household; reasons for replacement are typically remodel-driven, not failure-driven.

Where the Drake wins vs Drake II

• Lower cost — $50-100 less than equivalent Drake II
• More widely stocked at plumbing-supply houses (Drake II is increasing in stock but Drake remains the default)
• Better-known to US plumbers — Drake has 35 years of trade-channel familiarity vs Drake II's ~15 years
• Parts have longer-established aftermarket ecosystem
• The 1.6 GPF variant (CST744SL) is still available for rental properties / older homes where 1.6 GPF is required

Where the Drake loses vs Drake II

• Flush performance. G-Max 800g vs Double Cyclone 1,000g+ MaP. Real-world difference: more visible bowl-cleansing on Drake II
• Glaze. Standard glaze on base SKU; CeFiONtect on -CEFG variant only at $50 upcharge. Drake II includes CeFiONtect as standard.
• Bowl design refinement. Drake II uses a tighter siphonic trapway design with better water-distribution geometry.

Where the Drake wins vs other brands at this price tier

The verdict — should you buy a Drake?

Buy the Drake if:

• You want TOTO brand DNA but the Drake II premium isn't worth $50 to you
• You're rebuilding a rental property and want plumber-trade familiarity
• You have an older home with a 1.6 GPF requirement (CST744SL variant)
• Your bathroom uses the standard 12" rough-in and you don't need anything special
• You want the absolute lowest-maintenance TOTO that's still a "real" TOTO (not the entry-tier UltraMax)

Skip the Drake and choose Drake II if:

• This is an owner-occupied primary bathroom that you'll use for the next 20 years
• You want CeFiONtect glaze (cleaning interval matters to you)
• You have hard water and standard glaze is a real issue
• The bathroom is the design statement of the room (the small visual refinements of Drake II matter)

Warranty

TOTO Drake residential warranty: 1 year on tank trim, 5 years on tank components (flush valve, fill valve, flapper), lifetime on porcelain. Soft-close seat (sold separately) has its own 1-year warranty. Warranty claims through TOTO USA Customer Service (Atlanta, GA distribution). Parts are stocked at major plumbing-supply houses for same-day pickup; OEM parts ship 5-7 business days from TOTO direct.

Pricing reality (2026)

Drake elongated 1.28 GPF without CeFiONtect glaze (CST743SL): $358-$429 depending on retailer. With CeFiONtect glaze (CST743EL): $398-$469. Home Depot and Lowes occasionally have $50 off coupons; Ferguson and Build.com typically beat orange-box pricing on volume. Closeout pricing on Drake colors (Sedona Beige, Bone) appears periodically — sign up for Build.com discount emails to catch.