Tacoma 2nd gen rear drums are reliable for 80,000+ miles but slow to inspect and a pain to service the first time — once you've done it, the procedure is repeatable and the parts are inexpensive.
The 2005–2015 Tacoma kept rear drum brakes across the production run, partly because Toyota was building a truck and drums handle long durations of light braking without cooking pads, and partly because they're cheaper. They work well enough that most owners only replace shoes when they hear scraping or when a brake inspection turns up a contaminated drum from a leaking wheel cylinder.
OEM Toyota shoes are part number 04495-04010, around $55. Toyota also sells a complete shoe kit (04495-35230) that includes the retaining clips and hardware for both sides — at $95 it's worth the upgrade because the hardware on a 100,000-mile truck is usually crusty and worth replacing in one pass. Replacement drums (42431-04061) are about $110 each and only needed if the existing drum is scored past the wear limit or out of round.
Do one side at a time. Leave the opposite side assembled as a reference photo for spring orientation, return spring placement, and adjuster direction. The Tacoma uses a self-adjusting mechanism that engages when you back up and apply the brakes — if the adjuster star wheel is rusted solid, the shoes won't extend as they wear and you'll get a low pedal even with new shoes installed.
Wheel cylinders deserve a look while everything is apart. Pull back the rubber boots; any wetness behind the boots means the seal is going and the cylinder needs replacement before it leaks onto the new shoes.
After install, you'll need to adjust the shoes manually so they're close to the drum, then bed them in with several back-and-stop cycles in an empty lot. Skipping the manual adjustment leaves the pedal soft for the first hundred miles.
| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota OEM Rear Brake Shoe Set | Toyota | ~$55 |
| Toyota OEM Rear Brake Shoe Kit (with hardware) | Toyota | ~$95 |
| Toyota OEM Rear Brake Drum | Toyota | ~$110 |
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.