recently my starter quit and im about to by a new one but i wanted to make sure that i need a compleat new one. I noticed on 4crawlers websight he has starter brushes available, is this a common problem with toyota starters? When i would turn the key it would click then turn it agian then click, about every 5-8 time it would engage. Does this sound like bad brushes?
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Its the copper contacts inside the solenoid that wear. The starter motor does have brushes, but they last a very long time and the sypmtom of worn brushes is a slow-cranking starter (gets sloer and slower over time).

Worn contacts are very common, the click-and-no-crank is the common symptom, what you are hearing is the solenoid plunger pulling in, but since the contact is worn out, the electrical contact is not made and thus the starter motor gets no current. The "click" is always there, but since the starter motor is normally cranking over the engine, you just don't hear it. However, without the noise of the cranking starter, you now hear the loud click of the solenoid.

Best bet is to do the troubleshooting steps listed on my page, or at least pull the starter out and open the up the solenoid and see if the contacts are gone. That way you'll know that:
#1 they are the cause of the problem (they may not be)
#2 whether one or both are worn
#3 which type you need, 4 basic shapes:

You hit the nail right on the head. Get yourself a new set of brushes and contacts. Your not going to find a finer starter than your stock one, I wouldn't recommend aftermarket and a new Toy starter is big bucks.

hey thanks, i'll check it out tonight and let ya know

I had that same poblem a few months ago. I went ahead and replaced the whole thing. I got mine from Aautozone for about $30. Lifetime at that. of course the price might vary from year and model. But, you might what to check. I personnal hate waiting for stuff to come in the mail. The PO replaced it a while back so it wasn't original. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

"Lifetime" guarentee is just a gimmick to sell
otherwise crappy units. Means diddly squat if
the starter fails in the middle of nowhere
(assuming you are going to wheel your rig).
Is Autozone gonna cover the cost of recovery
and/or tow?

YOu may be right..guess if the starter fails ...you can always push start it...assuming you have a manual trany....never the less...if it does fail...they replace it for free...I wouldn't worrie...I go out have fun with friends and family..something breaks...heck..gives me something to do on my day off. Aside from my carb...the starter is the only thing I have replaced in my 80 toy. rather it be lifetime or not...