3rd Gen Toyota Tacoma Tacoma Front Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

3rd Gen Toyota Tacoma Tacoma Front Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement - Tacomavibes

Changing the front rotors and brake pads on your 3rd-gen Toyota Tacoma is straightforward if you have the right tools for the job and follow the proper steps outlined. This Front Rotor and Brake guide for the 3rd-gen Tacoma will walk you through the entire process, ensuring a smooth and safe brake job.

Before we dive into the installation process, please find below a list of required tools and equipment to make this install go as smoothly as possible. 

Tacoma Brake & Rotor Replacement Required Tools & Supplies:

 

Step-by-Step Guide for the 3rd Gen Tacoma Front Rotors Brakes

It probably comes as no surprise that the rotors and brakes for your 3rd Gen Tacoma are located behind the front two tires of the vehicle. This is where we will start. 

1. Prepare Your 3rd Gen Tacoma

Before you lift the truck I highly recommend “breaking” or loosening the lug nuts. I have a 19mm lug not with my spline key for the Stealth Custom Series Ray 10’s but I believe stock Tacoma wheels are anywhere between 19-22mm. 

Once the lugs are loosened, raise the front of the Tacoma until the wheel is slightly off the ground and place a jack stand under the truck for safety. 

Now that your Tacoma is floating, remove the wheels and let’s move into removing the old rotors and brake pads on your 3rd Gen Tacoma.

2. Remove the 3rd Gen Tacoma’s Brake Hardware

It’s worth noting that new brake pads do not always mean new rotors are required. This will be subjective to the driver and the overall wear of the rotors. When writing this, my 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Offroad has 87k miles and has not gotten new rotors, so it’s safe to assume they’re due. 

Start by removing the brake hardware around the caliper itself. You’ll notice two clips, an anti-rattle spring, and two pins. As noted in the tools section, a small ball-pine hammer and needle-nose pliers can be used to speed up this process of removal. Once these have been removed, I recommend saving the hardware (just in case) as some new kits do not always supply updated hardware. Also, having a backup in case of a failure never hurts. 


3. Release Brake Fluid Pressure from the 3rd Gen Tacoma

I often hear complaints of front brake pad removal for the 3rd Gen Tacoma and cars in general. More often than not, it’s because the cap of the brake fluid reservoir has not been removed to allow the front calipers and subsequently the pads from spreading out.

In this step, remove the cap on the brake fluid reservoir to allow fluid to move freely when spreading the pads. Yes, it’s that simple.

4. Remove the Front Brake Calipers of the 3rd Gen Tacoma

Start by removing the 12mm brake line bracket then use a zip tie or cordage to keep this off to the side. Be sure to have additional cordage or zip ties ready.

Then, remove the two 17mm sockets that hold the brake caliper of the 3rd Gen Tacoma in place. I’d recommend a breaker bar here to loosen these two 17mm bolts. 

Remember those zip ties or cordage? Grab that and carefully suspend the caliper out of the way to ensure you do not damage existing brake lines but maintain space to remove the front rotors on the Tacoma. 

5. Remove the Old Rotor

I won’t lie, PB plaster is a game changer here and I wish I had used it on my driver side rotor. Instead, I opted for hammering away for 30 minutes. 

Be smarter than me, use a PB blaster to avoid battling rust - rust is an incredibly strong compound.

After applying some PB blaster and letting it sit for a minute, begin to gently tap the front rotors with a hammer to loosen it. There will absolutely be brake dust and rust falling off, so don’t be concerned if you see this.

If the rotor is stuck, and I mean really stuck, there are two designated holes to back it out. I believe it's an 8x1.25 bolt that allows you to back it off, but always consult your owner's manual, as these things can vary.

By now, you hopefully have the front rotors of your 3rd Gen Tacoma off. Let’s move on to the next stage which is putting on new front rotors for your Tacoma.

6. Install the New Front Rotors to your 3rd Gen Tacoma

If you were battling rust like I was trying to get the old front rotors off, then I’d highly recommend applying anti-seize lubricant where the new rotor will mount to avoid future sticking. Once the anti-seize has been applied, place the new rotor onto the wheel hub. Now you’re ready to reinstall the Tacoma front brake caliper. 

7. Reinstall the 3rd Gen Tacoma's Front Brake Caliper

Now we’re going to go in reverse order. Instead of taking the caliper off, now we’re putting it over the new rotor while ensuring it doesn’t fall or damage brake lines. Be sure to tighten those two 17mm bolts to 90ft lbs and place the 12mm brake line bracket back as well. 

8. Install the New Brake Pads

Similar to the anti-seize on the rotors, apply it to the outer edges of your new brake pads (NEVER on the inner surface that contacts the rotor). Once anti-seize has been applied, insert the inner brake pad first and ensure the silver tooth is positioned facing out to the left. Now, place the outer pad into position as well. 

Note: The pistons may require a brake caliper tool, vice grips, sea clamps or otherwise to create room for the brake pads. Take your time here and do not damage the components of the caliper or the rotor. Slow and steady wins the race.

9. Reinstall the 3rd Gen Tacomas Front Brake Hardware

With the new rotors and front brake pads for the 3rd Gen Tacoma installed, let's now add in the new brake hardware (if included in your kit).  I’d recommend avoiding the reuse of old hardware, but I have also re-used old hardware as well - dealer's choice here.

Install the new clips, pins, and anti-rattle springs. You can use a hammer here to gently tap the pins into place, but do not force them. They should be love taps at best. Everything should fit smoothly. Once everything is completed, do a once-over of all your work, ensure things are properly torqued to spec, throw out any trash, and put your tools away.

10. Final Checks

Before lowering your 3rd Gen Tacoma, verify the following:

  • All four clips are securely in place.
  • The brake fluid reservoir cap is closed.
  • All bolts are torqued to specification.

Once confirmed, reinstall the wheel, tighten the lug nuts to spec, and lower the vehicle. Congratulations! You've successfully replaced your Tacoma's front rotors and brake pads.

Pro Tip: Pump the brake pedal a few times before driving to ensure the pads are properly seated against the rotor.

Toyota Tacoma Front Brakes & Rotors FAQs:

  • How much does a 3rd Gen Tacoma Brake Pad replacement cost
    • Overall, I spent around $300 on new front brake pads, rotors, hardware, and anti-seize. All of the items are needed. I did not pay for labor, as this is an easy DIY 3rd Gen Tacoma maintenance job.
  • How often should you replace 3rd Gen Tacoma Brake Pads and rotors
    • It will vary, but I typically replace my brake pads anywhere from 30k-70k miles, depending on the use. Since I’m towing my RV/home these days, I’m doing them every 35k. Rotors will need to be changed less and can be done every 50-70k miles, depending on how they’re holding up.
  • What is the difference between Toyota OEM and aftermarket rotors?
    • Toyota’s OEM rotors are said to last longer, and I’m inclined to agree. Additionally, they’re originally designed to be on the platform, whereas aftermarket rotors are not. That said, I will use aftermarket rotors if I find the OEMs to be too expensive or hard to acquire. 
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