05 Tacoma poor brake performance

Experiencing poor brake performance with my 2005 Tacoma 4WD Dbl cab. Inspected and replaced rear brake shoes. Also inspected fronts and the pads are only 1/2 worn. (Replaced front pads & calipers approx. 20,000 miles ago). Rotors have approx. 40,000 miles. I probably will replace front pads anyway. What type and brand of brake pads are recommended? I tow my boat only twice a year for a very short distance.

 

Define your idea of poor brake performance !!

I have the Toyota pads and Rotors on my truck now for about 75,000 miles

I put Napa Ultra Premium Shoes with new drums on the rear about 10,000 miles back

I am happy with the way the truck stops loaded with 1000 pounds plus

 

More force than normal. Also I hear a "thud" sound coming from the drive line when I come to a complete stop and then when starting to roll.

 

I always get OEM pads and shoes, for the best performance.

 

OEM pads and shoes are ok during normal driving but when heated up, they can lose their bite. I have 20K miles on my OEM pads/shoes and rotors and after driving up and down the mountain passes during a 1K mile trip, I noticed that they take longer to stop heated.

I'll do an upgrade when time to change. I'd probably use slotted disc with Hawk LTS pads and SS lines. That's what I have now on the 4Runner with Brembo blanks with excellent results.

 

Anyone have any experience with AutoZones Duralast Gold Ceramic pads or Advance auto Carquest Wearever ceramics?

 

I have the Napa Ultra Ceramic pads on my 4Runner only because they sent me the wrong ones .

Then I drive to avoid using my brakes

 

When was the last time the brake fluid was changed? It doesn't last forever . Have you inspected the rubber brake lines going into the calipers? Old ones sometime will swell, causing poor braking.
The drive line clunk is commonly u-joint.

 

The brake tubing along the frame with the fluid was changed July 1015 when Toyota replaced the Frame.
The flexible brake hoses look fine. I will examine the system a bit closer this week. As for the (clunk) sound from the drive line. It looks like it's the gear lash in the rear differential. It just seems more noticeable because it feels like the rear brakes are doing most of the stopping.

 

I know the Autozone Gold Ceramics eats your rotors. I had to replace all four on a 2010 4runner after these pads.

 

Yes just did my pads and rotors this spring the pads are great I also got the Duralast Gold Rotors as well. I used to have a high pedal effort too until I replaced my rear shoes and adjusted them properly. OP if you have a high pedal effort try adjusting your rear shoes. There is an auto adjustment mechanism as well that adjusts when you use your parking brake. If you rarely use your parking brake then the shoes go out of adjustment causing the front brakes to do most of the work.