Ok, well, I did what Adam F said, and just unbolted the starter and did the repair with the starter still in the vehicle! No need to take it out of the vehicle. Not bad at all! The trick is unclipping the mud flap guards in the inner passenger fender, then smooth sailing. Took 2 hours. I got the contacts at my Toyota dealer. They had 3 different styles, and I just bought two of each, and returned the ones I didn't use.

After unbolting the starter bolts (use 2 long extensions 6" or more with 1/2 drive/and the largest ratchet you have with swivel, remove the trans stick, unbolt the brakeline), you can twist the started around to face the passenger side wheel well. This lets you remove the 3 bolts on the solenoid cover:


With cap off. The bottom contact is the one that wears out and the one that everyone is replacing:


I only replaced the bad contact, as the other was barely worn. Comparo of old and new contact. Crazy how much the plunger dug into it over time:


Next, I put some brake cleaner on a rag and wiped out the inside and installed the new contact, on bottom in photo:


After two hours, this is what I was left with:


Remember, you DO NOT have to remove the starter to do this repair.

 

Wow I wish I would have known that like a year ago when I got in a bind and had to give autozone my Toyota stater and now Im stuck with a duralast. i wonder if this ever happens to me I can get replacement contacts?

 

Back from the dead I realize. But...I just did this this afternoon and it worked out great.