I'm at 77k and the brakes are pretty soft. Still all original parts. What should I replace?

Front pads
Rotors re-cut (if needed)
Rear shoes
Bleed the system

Anything else? All of this? I am doing all this tomorrow. Thanks!

 

i would replace the wheel bearings

 

It's a good practice to have your rotors turned with that kind of mileage on them (don't ask me how I know).....

 

How hard is it to replace the bearings?

 

Not easy on 3rd gens, the bearings have to be presed out of the hub, not really DYI unless you have access to a press. At 77k they shouldn't need done yet.

 

If the breaks feel soft, flush the brake fluid. I used a power bleeder and it took 15 minutes. Make a huge difference in the pedal feel.

 

Despite my complaints to everybody and their mother about soft brakes on my '00 as compared to my '90, I've yet to have them feel like they did on my '90, even AFTER rotor and brake pad replacement and bleeding. That doesn't mean, however, that you need to replace anything.

Don't let the mileage fool you. I've had 6 Toyota's, 5 of which typically went 100k-175k on each set of brakes before the DEALERSHIP would even consider replacing them (unlike every domestic vehicle I ever owned that could barely squeeze 30-40k out of a set of brakes...).

 

I've never had to relace a set of rear pads on any Toyota I've owned and I wait until I hear the "squeeker" kick in on the front pads before I replace them. Then I pull everything apart myself, have a buddy turn my rotors for $20, Replace pads with factory parts and I'm good for at least another 60,000. I've had to do my brakes once in ten years

 

I've never had to REPLACE a set of rear pads either

 

replaced rear breaks only because axle seal leaked diff oil all over the shoes

 

same here.
I had my rotors turned once, and it helped out a ton. When the squeelers kick in I'll buy new rotors. I don't like the idea of having them turned twice and taking more material off.