what is it?

looking under the bed of my 96 taco, i noticed a piveted lever attached to the axle, this is curved and attache's to part of the brake system, where the lines to the rear brakes converge?, seems to be a lever of some sort? what is it? and what's it's function?
tia!
Rick. Ore

Sounds like part of the mechanism for the load proportioning valve. If it's what I think it is, it provides feedback to the load proportioning valve that tells how much difference in front-to-rear pressure the brake sytem applies.

The lower your truck sits in the rear, the greater the weight on the rear wheels and the more brake pressure can be applied to the rear wheels without locking them up. This lever signals the load on the rear wheels to the load proportioning valve by sensing the suspension position and telling the load proportioning valve to send more brake line pressure to the rear wheels.

This is actually part of the e brake. It helps in the force of the brake that is aplied. If you apply little force from the e brake, there will be a greater force applied to the brake in the rear. Toyota didn't put the load leveling braking on till the 05 tacoma. I don't know what that is actually called.

think i'll vote for option #1, as there is no mechanical link to the e-brake assy. thanks for the input from all.
as for not being used untill the '05 taco? got no idea! but the mechanism's there, hmmmmm. could be an experimental prototype that got loose into the public! my god! i'm a freaking guinie pig call ralph nader!
hehe!
thanks!
Rick, Ore