Seeking advice on R/R Taco front brakes

I only use Toyota brake pads. You can find quality aftermarket pads that don't create a ton of dust or squeak but I'm not willing to play Russian roulette trying to find them!

For instructions I would suggest you buy a repair manual. Haynes and Chilton's are both pretty good.

You probably don't need shim kit if that is what you are talking about since you listed this as a 99 in another thread, but you will need the anti-squeal gel that comes with it. If you can't get the gel by itself at Toyota you can get some at any retail parts store.

1) Get some OEM Dealer pads (they have a great wear lifetime) or Performance Friction pads from Autozone. If they say they don't have any to fit your 4wd Tacoma, ask for the same pads for a 4wd 4Runner, they'll have 'em then....and they're the same pads. 2) Go to or and go to the brake write-up on the RHS of the page. Easy stuff. 3) The shims from your old pads should be fine. Get some anti-squeal compound from Autozone while you're there picking up your pads and be sure to apply it to the backs of your pads, NOT ONTO THE FRICTION SURFACE.

Have fun, it should take you about two hours total.

-Rob

Bard gives good advice. Haynes makes a good manual and so does Chilton. I use a Chilton Toyota shop manual, part #(8163) 68602, and I also have a Toyota D-I-Y Maintenance and Light Repair manual, part #

00400-DY001. Both manuals provide enough information to swap out your pads safely.

Depending on your priorities, you may or may not be overly concerned with brake pad build-up, or dust. I've got silver alloy wheels on my S-Runner, and I wish I didn't have to wash them so frequently to keep the brake pad dust off, but I must. My first priority is braking performance--everything else is secondary. The pads I'm using deliver terrific performance, and many other performance-minded Tacoma owners agree. They're made by Performance Friction and you can buy a set at Auto Zone for less than $40. They come with a lifetime guarantee. If you do your own maintenance work, that means free brakes for life. Their only downside is the amount of dust they produce.

Ask for part# 4334, and make sure it says "Perfomance Friction" on the box.

Raybestos QS Quiet Stop ceramic pads are also excellent.