Left Rear Brake Fire

Yes I did. Always do.

 

Have you ever smelled anything prior to this incident? Lately, just about every time I park the truck in the garage I pick up on a burning smell from the rear of the truck and I can't find the source. I've been sorta-kinda thinking the drums may be dragging and overheating.

 

Excellent. Thank god you did.

 

My truck doesn’t fit in a garage, and it’s always windy AF in Florida.

I can say that after redoing the brakes today, the truck rolls freely and with less effort when not in gear. Makes me think I had dragging brakes all along. I’ve never had rear shoes wear out this fast.

 

NHTSA time for sure.

 

I've been feeling like I'm down on power for ages now. I wonder if that's the cause...

 

I really doubt the factory didn't install the retainers and you went 40k without a problem. The reason you didn't find them in the drum is because they get jammed between the turning drum and shoes and wear down to a powder and fall out.

 

I've looked at your photos, and have a few questions--this is AFTER you did the repair? What is the liquid inside/under the tire? Is this gear lube? If so, then your problem was from a leaking outer axle seal. This gets diff lube onto the shoes, and can cause them to freeze the shoes to the drum. Generally they will break away, but often they will cause your shoes to drag significantly and can lead to this issue. Not sure what to say about missing parts here.
One of the causes for the leaking seal could be bent axle (the shaft, not necessarily the housing), also a bad bearing which wouldn't be real likely. Another would be the breather is clogged. If the oil smelled kinda nasty, like old rotten eggs, sulfur smell then it's gear lube. Tell us some more.

 

The retainers can come off if the drums are removed repeatedly without care to the rust lip formed on drums.

This won't happen to every truck, but the drum brakes can fail on all 2005+ tacomas.

You guys have nothing to fear. This normally makes a hell of a racket then you bring it to a shop.

Don't listen to this fear mongering.

 

It was definitely brake fluid.

 

Fear mongering?

Lol.

 

What was actually 'on fire'? The brake fluid? Rubber wheel cylinder caps?

I've seen old circle track cars run with drums on the front adjusted tight enough (intentionally) to steer the car by a brake tap glow red after a couple of laps and nothing burst into flame, so you really have my curiosity on that.

 

Fluid was on fire

 

Holy shit - following to see what Toyota says

 

This is the OP’s fault. He turned the raised white lettering on his tires inward. This can cause all sorts of problems....

 

I would of let the thing roast and then made an insurance claim

 

Taking the truck and the brake hardware I removed to a dealer in Palm Beach this afternoon to have a regional guy look at everything. I got a call from them at 0700 this morning and they are very interested in the retainer pins that have a 90 degree bend in them. I have been asked to not post any pics on any social media outlet until further notice.

 

Bwahahahahahaha! It failed because I'm not one of the kool kids.