Toyota V-shaped brake pad springs

[eljefino]

OK, we all know what these are for, reducing drag by helping the pads stand off from the rotors. They don't do much but they must do something. I am NOT talking about abutment clips, to be clear, but those 0.040" or so wire springs that fit in the little holes by the pad ears and form a V. Two of them form an X.

My question is, how does Toyota decide what cars get these and what cars don't? Was just doing the rears of my wife's 19 Prius AWD-E, replacing factory parts, and there were no springs to be seen.

AutoZone asked me if I had the springs, as it mattered for choosing which pads to buy. But both the "with springs" part number and "without" came predrilled with the appropriate holes. Makes sense, as it does no harm being ready for options.

A Prius certainly deserves low rolling resistance. I've owned this car since new and been the only one to touch it maintenance-wise. The springs didn't rust away, snap, and fall out, as I've had cars (Camry) that did that and left remnants behind. IMO it should have springs. So how did Toyota decide, no?

 

[AutoMechanic]

I know exactly what you’re talking about. These are mainly found on the front of the Sienna and Highlanders that have double piston front calipers. I haven’t seen them anywhere else on Toyota at least not with factory pads. I can say most of my coworkers do not put them on but I put them on that way I’m covered if something goes wrong. Being that it’s only on the double piston calipers it tells me that maybe those need a bit of assistance with bringing the pad away from the rotor but I don’t know the specifics behind them choosing which ones get double calipers or what.

 

[FowVay]

My Nissan Frontier had them haphazardly installed from the factory. One disc had two of them, one disc had one of them, the rears had none of them, and it's hit or miss whether they come with replacement pads.

I can't see them serving much purpose but if I have them I'll install them. If not then I'll find something else to worry about.

 

[benjamming]

I know exactly what you’re talking about. These are mainly found on the front of the Sienna and Highlanders that have double piston front calipers. I haven’t seen them anywhere else on Toyota at least not with factory pads. I can say most of my coworkers do not put them on but I put them on that way I’m covered if something goes wrong. Being that it’s only on the double piston calipers it tells me that maybe those need a bit of assistance with bringing the pad away from the rotor but I don’t know the specifics behind them choosing which ones get double calipers or what.

A 2018 Tundra with 5.7L I worked on this weekend had them as well.

 

[AKhan87]

These are mainly found on the front of the Sienna and Highlanders that have double piston front calipers. I haven’t seen them anywhere else on Toyota at least not with factory pads.

Avalon & ES350s have them from the factory and it is a single piston caliper.

Volvo S60 from 2006 had them as well, and it was also a single piston caliper.

I can say most of my coworkers do not put them on but I put them on that way I’m covered if something goes wrong.

Good, your coworkers are imbeciles, probably the same guys who will leave off a lot of random parts (brackets, bolts, etc...) because they thought it wasn't necessary, they definitely know more then the vehicle manufactures.

I hate buying new or used random parts that someone before thought wasn't important enough to replace or put back as it was, especially in the engine area.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Avalon & ES350s have them from the factory and it is a single piston caliper.

Volvo S60 from 2006 had them as well, and it was also a single piston caliper.

Good, your coworkers are imbeciles, probably the same guys who will leave off a lot of random parts (brackets, bolts, etc...) because they thought it wasn't necessary, they definitely know more then the vehicle manufactures.

I hate buying new or used random parts that someone before thought wasn't important enough to replace or put back as it was, especially in the engine area.

That’s right the Avalon does too. We don’t see many Avalon at my dealership so I had forgotten about them. And Lexus I thankfully don’t work on many of those either but I may have seen it on some of those too.

 

[supton]

I don’t think I have seen them on the rear of mine, and I don’t understand why. Seems like, if its a good idea, then it’s a good idea on all corners.

Have thought about adding to the rears on my cars. Been too lazy so far.

 

[alcyon]

My JDM 89 Soarer has them.

 

[Jetronic]

Some hyundais had them too

 

[meep]

Pretty sure my sons ‘19 4R have them, as well as a friend’s 4 cyl Camry.

 

[Rmay635703]

Nearly any vehicle can have these installed aftermarket.

I had a set on a 2001 Honda Insight, made a large difference in fuel economy.

These clips honestly are a terrific way of making your brakes last longer on cars that no matter what you do have the brakes hang, clean lube hang add clips problem solved.

Wish that site still existed, bought several sets for under a buck each over the years after discovering them on ecomodder. Finding ones that fit your car is challenging.

 

[D60]

Furthermore, on the 4 piston truck calipers, why do they only put them at top or bottom? There are holes and enough room for upper and lower.

If you only use one you're really only forcing the top or bottom pistons apart.

I did front brakes on an '06 H3 and the front calipers seemed nearly identical to Toyota and used one per caliper, too. IIRC we had enough springs to do both per caliper and that's what the owner wanted, so we did.

Ford used something similar on '04-08 F150s

Finally, the Toyota springs are perfect for propping open the trans t-stat when refilling, so hang on to one

 

[michaelluscher]

I just put rear brakes on a 2017 Optima, it has them on the rear
Fusion/Milan have them on all 4 corners
I always thought it was a low drag thing?
Or to prevent that rubbing/dragging noise as the pad glides against the rotor when not braking

 

[GoOil97]

On the 2021 and newer ES 350, they don't come with these clips. Not sure why? I have a 2022 and have replaced the front brakes with a powerstop kit and noticed the OEM ones didn't have them, neither were they in the powerstop kit.