If you have recently noticed an audible squealing coming from your brakes as you slow down or attempt to stop, it is time for a brake replacement. Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks have front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. In the front, you will have to replace the brake pads and in the rear, you will change the brake shoes. The procedures for replacement vary slightly between the two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive Tacoma models.
Twist the front wheel lug nuts counterclockwise to loosen them with a tire iron. Lift the front of your pickup truck and position the two jack stands below either side of the front axle. Lower your truck onto the jack stands with the jack. Twist the lug nuts out completely and slide the wheels towards you until they come off.
Push the C-clamp over the brake caliper and compress it if you have a two-wheel drive Tacoma. For four-wheel drive trucks, separate the pin retaining clip on the brake caliper and the retaining pin at the base of the brake pad.
Twist the mounting bolt for the caliper counterclockwise with a socket until it comes out for two-wheel drive trucks. Lift the caliper off the rotor. If you have a four-wheel drive truck, slide the pad retaining pin out from the base of the brake pad along with the anti-rattle spring.
Pull the original brake pads out of the caliper, if you have a two-wheel drive truck. For four-wheel drive models, slide the retaining pin out of the top part of the brake pads and pull the pad out from the exterior of the brake caliper.
Push the new pads down into the caliper until they sit in the same position as the original pads. Return the caliper to its original position and secure the mounting bolt in place, if you have two-wheel drive. With four-wheel drive trucks, compress the caliper with two flat-head screwdrivers, then push the replacement pads into the caliper. Repeat for the remaining front side.
Reverse the disassembly procedures you used previously to reassemble your front brakes. Slide the wheels back on and tighten the lug nuts with the tire iron.
Loosen the lug nuts on both rear wheels in the same manner as the front wheels. Move the two jack stands to both sides of the rear axle and lower your truck with the jack. Remove the lug nuts completely and slide both rear wheels off of your truck.
Insert both 8-by-1.25 mm bolts into the drum and switch back and forth equally between the ratchet and socket to separate the drum from the hub.
Pull out the upper return spring that links the two brake shoes, using the spring pliers.
Hold the pin on the backing plate and twist the spring off the pin with the spring tool. Pull the shoe and the anchor spring out of the drum.
Pull the retainer spring out of the front drum shoe using the same method and unplug the parking brake cable from the bell crank. Pull out the adjuster lever, then pry off the washer with a flat-head screwdriver. Slide the parking brake lever out and then the forward shoe.
Unplug the remaining parking cable and separate the adjuster lever spring from the shoe. Pull the shoe adjuster out and replace all of these components by working in reverse. Complete these steps on the remaining rear side.
