2015 TOYOTA TACOMA brakes

232 2-5. Driving information
CAUTION
■When towing a trailer
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.
●If the gross trailer weight exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer brakes are
required. Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all appli-
cable federal and state/provincial regulations.
● Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehi-
cle’s braking effectiveness.
● Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both
the trailer and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch
ball, there is danger of the trailer wandering into another lane.
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
Use only the position recommended by your Toyota dealer. Do not install the
trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
■ Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights. Directly splicing trailer lights may damage
your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.

397
4-2. Maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator pedal • Moves smoothly (without uneven
pedal effort or catching)?
Automatic transmission “Park”
mechanism • Can the vehicle be held securely
on an incline with the shift lever in
P?
Brake pedal • Moves smoothly?
• Does it have appropriate clear-
ance and correct amount of free
play?
Brakes • Not pull to one side when
applied?
• Loss of brake effectiveness?
• Spongy feeling brake pedal?
• Pedal almost touches floor?
Clutch pedal • Moves smoothly?
• Does it have correct amount of
free play?
Head restraints • Move smoothly and lock
securely?
Indicators/buzzers • Function properly?
Lights • Do all the lights come on?
• Headlights aimed correctly?
Parking brake • Moves smoothly?
• Can hold the vehicle securely on
an incline?
Seat belts • Does the seat belt system oper-
ate smoothly?
• Are the belts undamaged?
Seats • Do the seat controls operate
properly?

5
When trouble arises
467
5-1. Essential information
If your vehicle needs to be towed
Before towingThe following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact
your Toyota dealer before towing.
● The engine is running, but the vehicle will not move.
● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Emergency towing (4WD models and PreRunner only)
If a tow truck is not available, in an emergency your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using a cable or chain secured to the emergency
towing hook. This should only attempted on hard, surfaced roads for
short distances at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The
vehicle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in
good condition.
Type A Towing hook
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by
your Toyota dealer or a commerci al towing service, using a lift-type
truck or a flat bed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all to wing, and abide by all state/pro-
vincial and local laws.
The wheels and axle on the groun d must be in good condition.
If they are damaged, use a towing dolly or flat bed truck.

468 5-1. Essential information
Type BTowing hook
■Emergency towin g procedure
The engine switch must be in the ACC (engine off) or the ON
(engine running) position.
4WD models: Put the front-wheel drive control switch in H2.
Put the shift lever in N.
Release the parking brake.
CAUTION
■ Caution while towing
●Use extreme caution when towing the vehicle.
Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which place excessive
stress on the emergency towing hook and the cables or chains. Always be
cautious of the surroundings and other vehicles while towing.
● If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering
will not function, making steering and braking more difficult.

484 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
CAUTION
■If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could
cause loss of vehicle control and re sult in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire
inflation pressure immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pres-
sure adjustment, it is pr obable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires.
If the tire is flat, change to the spare tire and have the flat tire repaired
by the nearest Toyota dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate,
you could lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning syste m may not activate immediately.
■Maintenance of the tire
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label (tire and load information label). (If your vehicle has tires of a differ-
ent size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label [tire and load information label], you should determine the
proper tire inflation pr essure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS-ti re pressure warning system) that
illuminates a low tire pressure telltal e (tire pressure warning light) when
one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly,
when the low tire pressu re telltale (tire pressure warning light) illumi-
nates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel effi ciency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.

498 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
CAUTION
■Replacing a flat tire• Do not touch the disc wheels or the area around the brakes imme-diately after the vehicle has been driven.
After the vehicle has been driven the disc wheels and the area
around the brakes will be extremel y hot. Touching these areas with
hands, feet or other body parts while changing a tire, etc. may
result in burns.
●Failure to follow these precautions could cause the wheel nuts to
loosen and the tire to fall off, resulting in death or serious injury.
• Have the wheel nuts tightened with a torque wrench to 83 ft·lbf (113 N·m, 11.5 kgf·m) as soon as possible after changing wheels.
• When installing a tire, only use wheel nuts that have been specifi- cally designed for that wheel.
• If there are any cracks or deformations in the bolt screws, nut threads or bolt holes of the wheel, have the vehicle inspected by
your Toyota dealer.
• Do not attach a heavily damaged wh eel ornament, as it may fly off
the wheel while the vehicle is moving.
• When installing the wheel nuts, be sure to install them with the
tapered ends facing inward. ( P. 437)
■When using the temporary spare tire
●Remember that your temporary spare tire is specifically designed for
use with your vehicle. Do not use your temporary spare tire on another
vehicle.
●Do not use two temporary spare tires simultaneously.
●Replace the temporary spare tire with a standard tire as soon as possi-
ble.
●Avoid sudden acceleration, deceleration and braking, as well as sharp
cornering.

514 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
CAUTION
■If the engine has to be turned off while driving
●Power assist for the brakes and steering wheel will be lost, making the
brake pedal harder to depress and the steering wheel heavier to turn.
Decelerate as much as possible before turning off the engine.
● Never attempt to remove the key, as doing so will lock the steering wheel.

531
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
Brakes
*1: Minimum pedal clearance when depressed with a force of 110 lbf (490 N,
50 kgf) with the engine running.
*2: Parking brake pedal travel when depressed with a force of 67.4 lbf (300 N,30.6 kgf).
*3: Parking brake lever travel when pulled with a force of 44.9 lbf (200 N, 20.4kgf).
Chassis lubrication (4WD mode ls and PreRunner with 2.7L
4-cylinder [2TR-FE] engine only)
Pedal clearance*1
2WD models except
PreRunner
PreRunner
4WD models 4.5 in. (115 mm)
4.4 in. (111 mm)
Without off-road package
4.4 in. (111 mm)
With off-road package
3.6 in. (91 mm)
Pedal free play 0.04  0.24 in. (1  6 mm)
Brake pad wear limit 0.04 in. (1.0 mm)
Brake lining wear limit 0.04 in. (1.0 mm)
Parking brake pedal travel*2
(pedal type)7 — 10 clicks
Parking brake lever travel*3
(lever type)7 — 10 clicks
Fluid type
FMVSS No. 116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703
Propeller shafts Spider Lithium base chassis grease, NLGI No.2