service questions

[Rob]

have just replaced front discs, incredibly easy job ( great design toyota). when replacing brake pads left side had backing plates 2 on each pad right had none, is this normal...

Obviously a 3rd gen then if it was that easy
You should have had 8 shims in total (4 per side, ie 2 per brake pad). There should be 1 silver shim and 1 slotted black plastic coated shim per pad. The black one goes next to the pad, and the silver one goes next to the black one, and the caliper pistons. Apply a thin layer copper grease to all sides of the shims.