Gen 3 brakes, need shims & fitment kits?

This shims and fit kits (bracket clips) are reusable in areas that do not see snow or road salt. We usually bend the ears of the shims very gently (to make them fit better) and apply some Molykote M77 or CRC brake caliper grease to the shims before install.

The fit kits (bracket clips), at least out here, are reusable after a cleaning with a small wired toothbrush. It is best to not remove them from the bracket if there are no rust issues in your area.

 

The fitting kits are typically the only parts I've needed to replace on mine (Indiana, uses salt).

Shims, pads, rotors, everything else last practically forever with regular inspection.

The fitting kits are very slippery from the factory, with a dry coating, sort of like teflon.

If that's worn off but the metal is still shiny and smooth, they're more or less ok.

If they have rusted rough enough that the pad ears don't slide in them super easily, time for new ones. They're cheap.

No grease there; just attracts grit.

 

I have found that some shims will separate after a while. Usually by the 3rd brake job, you will find the Teflon layer on the shims start to peel off.

Grease on the fit kit is subjective. A lot of people do it and use way too much. If I add any grease, I add a faint film to the ears of the pads only.

But some OEM’s, such as Subaru, want the entire clip to be greased. In those situations, I just use a disposable HF paint brush and paint the thinnest layer possible.

 

I suppose the difference might be Toyota doing the dry Teflon thing instead?

 

I like to apply the anti-seize sparingly to the smaller of the two components that'll be in contact, gets it just in the contact zone. You'll still get a slight amount of "squeeze out" around the perimeter.

 

I don't mean to pick on anyone else's preferences, I just try on PriusChat to describe what Toyota recommends, unless I say I'm making a different recommendation and I say why. Because PriusChat readers have a right to know that.

 

Pretty sure a shim kit and a fitting kit is both sides.

 

One kit per axle.

 

'Axle' being 'pair of wheels at the same distance from the front of the car', despite the front 'axle' being two shafts, and the rear 'axle' being an H-shaped stamping with stubby hubs on two ends.