I need to adjust my rear drum brakes so I don't warp my rotors..HELP!!!

[FootballFreak]

My dealer told me that if I don't adjust my rear brakes that I will warp my rotors because they don't self adjust. I would like to do this myself. Is there anyone who knows how that would help me? Thanks to all who posted replies to my last post. Jim

[Matador98]

Unless I'm smoking crack, our drums do self-adjust.

Even my 1987 land cruiser self-adjusts.

[FootballFreak]

My dealer said that early trucks have had issues with raer brake adj. after about 6000 mi. the rears stop grabbing and the fronts take all the weight. this has been an ongoing problem so this is what i was told needs to be done

[supritdeol]

take it to a brake shop, its less than 30 dollars.

[donstergarage]

If that was the case, I would expect you could find a related TSB. Otherwise, it sounds suspect 2 me.

[MrBeanley]

My dealer said that early trucks have had issues with raer brake adj. after about 6000 mi. the rears stop grabbing and the fronts take all the weight. this has been an ongoing problem so this is what i was told needs to be done

...or get in the habbit of using your parking break regularly. I was told that using the PB will hit the adjusters just like baking up does. Besides, it'll keep the PB cable from getting crudded up and breaking when you really need it.

Just my $0.02...

[wylcat]

just some FYI, tundra rear brakes DO self adjust when you use the parking brake regularly. They however DO NOT adjust when backing like domestic trucks do. My suggestion to anyone owning any year tundra with drum rear brakes is to disassemble the brake hardware, clean thoughly all parts and lubricate the star adjuster with waterproof anti-seize and to coat the landing pads of the backing plate where the shoes contact it.this will ensure smooth and even self adjustment when using the parking brake. I also have adjusted my rear brake bias by adjusting the length of the eyebolt on the load sensing porportioning valve assembly.

[Matador98]

...or get in the habbit of using your parking break regularly. I was told that using the PB will hit the adjusters just like baking up does. Besides, it'll keep the PB cable from getting crudded up and breaking when you really need it.

Just my $0.02...

Yeah, that is what I mean. Adjust with normal use of the PB...which I find to be common sense...but I just can't seem to get the wife to use it. Maybe someday.

[MrBeanley]

Woa, now. Wait just a minute. I didn't realize there was a wife involved with this problem.

My condolences, man!!

[KLS]

You can adjust the rears easily by lying under the truck and pulling on the parking brake cable at each wheel. You'll hear the brake adjuster click if you listen closely. If it doesn't click, either the brakes are fully adjusted or the adjuster is stuck from lack of use.

I also have adjusted my rear brake bias by adjusting the length of the eyebolt on the load sensing porportioning valve assembly.

Does this change the brake front/rear bias, or just the maximum braking effort? I thought it was just the maximum to relate to the load on the rears and corresponding tire traction.


Ken

[wylcat]

You can adjust the rears easily by lying under the truck and pulling on the parking brake cable at each wheel. You'll hear the brake adjuster click if you listen closely. If it doesn't click, either the brakes are fully adjusted or the adjuster is stuck from lack of use.

Does this change the brake front/rear bias, or just the maximum braking effort? I thought it was just the maximum to relate to the load on the rears and corresponding tire traction.


Ken

it does change the "bias" between the front and rear. by lengthening the rod you increase the amount of pressure delivered to the rear wheels. it is a must to do this if the rear has been raised above stock height(mainly because by raising the rear you will have reduced the rear bias). to get the adjustment perfect you will need a pressure gauge front and rear. or you can adjust "by the seat of your pants" until you are satisfied. I believe the pressure difference target is somewhere aroung 70/30 (f to r) there is a procedure for adjusting it in the technical knowledge base.

[chrislloyd]

i have used the parking brake each and every time i put the car in park.. from day 1. my brakes have never self adjusted. i was one of the lucky ones (eye-roll) that had a number of free brake sets on toyota. they put complete new rear brakes on... hmm early 2002. after about 5-6k miles.. the thing starts to severely dip in the front under normal braking.

i just have the rear brakes adjusted ( using the star thing) each time i get the tires balanced.

i wish the auto adjuster worked.might help save front brake pads

i also know ts getting worse because the parking brake pushes lower and lower to the floor. lately.. it has been getting worse in 2-3k miles

[Mike Donofrio]

i have used the parking brake each and every time i put the car in park.. from day 1. my brakes have never self adjusted. i was one of the lucky ones (eye-roll) that had a number of free brake sets on toyota. they put complete new rear brakes on... hmm early 2002. after about 5-6k miles.. the thing starts to severely dip in the front under normal braking.

i just have the rear brakes adjusted ( using the star thing) each time i get the tires balanced.

i wish the auto adjuster worked.might help save front brake pads

i also know ts getting worse because the parking brake pushes lower and lower to the floor. lately.. it has been getting worse in 2-3k miles

Do you ever do you brakes yourself? The reason I ask is that the brakes get crudded up pretty quickly from 'wheeling, brake dust, etc. It's a pretty basic job to remove the brake parts, clean them off and then apply anti-seize to the bottle screw/star adjuster and also just to make sure everything's humming nicely. Mine don't really self adjust too well either, but since I get to do brakes about every 20-30K miles I figure what the hey. As a result of this design I can do my breaks like a Nascar pit crew!

Are you listening Toyota? These brakes belong on an Echo!

[KLS]

Chris,
If you can remove the rear tires and the brake drums, you can look at the brakes and the self adjusters. Pull on the parking brake cable and you should see the self adjusters work. If they don't, as already said, clean things.

When you see how the adjusters work, you can back them off several notches, then pull the cable and watch them tighten.


Ken

[sequoiasoon]

Maybe it will help. When I redid the rear brakes on my Corolla I was looking at the whole assembly. The shoes always shift slightly depending if you go forward or backward. By the look of the Corolla it appeared that if I used the parking brake after backing up and stopping a little quicker with foot still on brake pedal it gives a little more room to adjust. Since I started doing this my parking brake lever definitely stays tighter so I know they are holding better. The car also seems to stop better. In the past the lever seemed to loosen up much faster and I always had to apply another click or two to get it to hold the car.